Diane Keaton Was an Icon. She Also Defended Woody Allen.

The beloved actress had an illustrious career—and an unwavering loyalty to the director even after he was accused of child sex abuse.

By Audra Heinrichs  |  October 13, 2025 | 2:56pm
Photo: Getty Images Celebrities
Diane Keaton Was an Icon. She Also Defended Woody Allen.

Over the weekend, news of Diane Keaton’s death at 79 rippled through Hollywood. Since then, many of the Oscar-winner’s friends, former collaborators, and fans—from Bette Midler to Leonardo DiCaprio to Kate Hudson to Steve Martin—have shared heartfelt tributes in memory.

“How do we say goodbye? What words can come to mind when your heart is broken? You never liked praise, so humble, but now you can’t tell me to “shut up” honey. There was, and will be, no one like you,” her The First Wives Club co-star, Goldie Hawn wrote on Instagram.

“I think she was just really outspoken and I think it was kind of beautiful the way she saw the world, the way she talked about it and the way that she communicated through it. I don’t know, I felt like she always said what was on her mind which is important and impossible not to rub off on one who’s with her,” Amanda Seyfried told the Associated Press.

“One of the greatest film actors ever. An icon of style, humor and comedy. Brilliant. What a person,” Ben Stiller tweeted.

It’s true. Keaton is, and was, nothing short of an icon—in film, fashion, and in maintaining her individuality. She never married and never regretted it. “Today I was thinking, ‘I’m the only one in my generation of actresses who has been a single woman all her life.’ I’m really glad I didn’t get married,” she said in 2019. “I remember one day in high school, this guy came up to me and said, ‘One day you’re going to make a good wife.’ And I thought, ‘I don’t want to be a wife. No.’” And her sense of humor was unparalleled. “I love Instagram! But how many days can I post pictures of my outfit?” she joked that same year.

The beloved actress obviously had an illustrious career, starring in films like Something’s Gotta Give, First Wives Club, The Godfather, and Annie Hall— the latter of which she won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1978.

That film was directed by Woody Allen, for whom Keaton was a longtime creative muse, former girlfriend, and friend. In fact, few in the industry so staunchly stood behind the filmmaker after he was accused of sexually abusing his adopted daughter, Dylan Farrow, when she was seven years old. Allen has vehemently denied any abuse and continues to work often, and with several high-profile actors.

“He’s the strongest person I’ve met in my life. He’s made of steel. And talk about a work ethic—he’s one of the people that really did teach me that you have to work hard,” Keaton told the Guardian in 2014. “But he wanted to. He’s the most disciplined person I’ve known, with the exception of my dad.”

When Keaton was asked whether or not she believed Farrow’s allegations against Allen, she doubled down on her support for him: “I have nothing to say about that. Except: I believe my friend.”

Then in 2018, as Farrow’s allegations gained new traction thanks to the #MeToo movement, Keaton tweeted: “Woody Allen is my friend and I continue to believe him,” Keaton wrote. “It might be of interest to take a look at the 60 Minutes interview from 1992 and see what you think.”

After Keaton’s death was announced, Allen penned an essay published by The Free Press (where else?). In it, Allen waxed poetic about their friendship and one-time relationship, writing: “This beautiful yokel went on to become an award-winning actress and sophisticated fashion icon. We had a few great personal years together and finally we both moved on, and why we parted only God and Freud might be able to figure out.”

Fortunately, mourning Keaton’s loss without ignoring her utterly disappointing and wholly irresponsible allegiances doesn’t require God, nor Freud.

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