Profile of the Day: Diane Keaton

Posted January 5, 2021 by Amanda | No Comment

Happy birthday to Diane Keaton! Today the actress turns 75.

Image: Diane Keaton / Firooz Zahedi, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Keaton was born January 5, 1946 in Los Angeles, California to Dorothy Keaton, a homemaker, and John Newton Ignatius Hall, a civil engineer. With an early interest in acting, Keaton moved to New York City to study at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theater. She took her mother’s maiden name “Keaton” to avoid confusion with another actress named “Diane Hall.”

She first found success on the stage, earning a Tony nomination for her role in the 1969 play, Play It Again, Sam. In 1972, Keaton scored her big break when she was cast in Francis Ford Coppola’s film The Godfather. The role marked the beginning of a fruitful film career. Throughout the 1970’s, Keaton collaborated frequently with director Woody Allen and starred in a number of films, including Annie Hall. The role earned Keaton her first Academy Award and is still considered to be one of the most memorable roles of her career. Throughout her long career, Keaton has starred in wide variety of roles and has earned three more Oscar nominations for her performances.

Most recently, Keaton reunited with her Father of the Bride cast for a mini-sequel, Father of the Bride Part 3 (ish). Also starring Steven Martin, the special virtual event was filmed to benefit World Central Kitchen, a charity organization providing meals to families, children, and seniors in communities impacted by the pandemic.

What’s your favorite film?

Explore Diane Keaton’s family tree on Geni and share how you’re connected to the star.