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What Diane Keaton shared about her health before actor's death aged 79
As fans continue to mourn the loss of Diane Keaton, many are reflecting on the late actress’s remarkable honesty about her health challenges over the years.
The Oscar-winning star, who passed away on October 11 at age 79, enjoyed a career spanning more than five decades, from her breakout role as Kay Adams in The Godfather to her Oscar-winning performance in Annie Hall.
While Keaton kept quiet about her health in recent months and her official cause of death remains undisclosed, past interviews revealed that she had faced serious medical battles throughout her life.
Diane Keaton’s family history of skin cancer
In a 2015 interview with the Los Angeles Times, Keaton revealed that skin cancer ran in her family, affecting multiple relatives and eventually, herself.
“It’s a family history,” she explained.
“I remember my Auntie Martha had skin cancer so bad they removed her nose. My father had basal skin cancer and my brother had it. It’s tricky with this skin cancer. That’s why you’ve got to put the sunblock on.”
Despite that awareness, Keaton admitted she didn’t take sun protection seriously in her younger years.
“Back in my 20s I didn’t pay attention much,” she said.
“I didn’t research and didn’t really care, and that was stupid because it’s dogged me my entire adult life. I didn’t start sun care until my 40s.”
Keaton first battled basal cell carcinoma in her twenties, and later developed squamous cell carcinoma, which required two separate surgeries for removal.
Her battle with Bulimia
Beyond her cancer struggles, Keaton was also candid about her long fight with bulimia, an eating disorder she said consumed her early years in Hollywood after being asked to drop 10 pounds for a Broadway role.
In a 2014 interview with Dr. Oz, Keaton confessed to eating as much as 20,000 calories a day, detailing a cycle of bingeing and purging that she described as both secretive and self-destructive.
“Typical dinner was a bucket of chicken, several orders of fries with blue cheese and ketchup, a couple TV dinners, a quart of soda, pounds of candy, a whole cake, and three banana cream pies,” she said.
Keaton eventually sought professional help. “Somebody mentioned that I seemed to have some mental issues, so I went to an analyst,” she shared. “I would go five days a week.”
Her openness about her eating disorder helped spark conversations about mental health and body image in Hollywood, subjects rarely discussed publicly at the time.
A legacy of strength, honesty, and humanity
Diane Keaton’s fans and colleagues have continued to flood social media with tributes since her passing. In her final Instagram post, she shared a photo with her beloved dog, Reggie, writing: “Proof our pets have great taste too! Happy National Pet Day from HG & @diane_keaton.”
Behind her effortless charm and quirky humor, Keaton’s willingness to confront painful truths about her health revealed a quiet strength that resonated with millions.
As the world remembers her brilliance on screen, it’s that same honesty and resilience that will remain one of Diane Keaton’s greatest legacies.