Diane Keaton’s death on October 11, 2025, has left an irreparable hole in Hollywood cinema. The actress who had captivated the audience with her nuanced acting passed away at the age of 79. Condolences have poured in from cinephiles all over the world. As per reports, the news of her death has hit her ex-boyfriend and long-time friend, Woody Allen, quite hard.
The two might have dated for a short time, but they remained friends for almost six decades. Within these years, Woody Allen faced serious allegations and became a controversial figure in Hollywood. However, Diane supported the director and defended him against the allegations. Here’s a look at their relationship.
Diane Keaton and Woody Allen started dating after he cast her in his Broadway Show
Woody Allen had cast Diane Keaton in his Broadway show, Play It Again, Sam. After a late-night rehearsal, their connection deepened and they became romantically involved in 1968. They even started living together. However, after around a year of being together, they broke up amicably. Even after their split, they remained friends and became a well-known director-actor duo. Woody Allen and Diane Keaton went on to collaborate on eight films.
The film Annie Hall was loosely based on Diane Keaton and Woody Allen’s relationship
The 1977 film, Annie Hall, marked a turning point in both Diane Keaton’s and Woody Allen’s careers. It made both the actress and the director household names. As per reports, the film takes inspiration from the brief romantic relationship Diane and Woody had. Diane herself admitted that there are some ‘elements of truth to it’. Even the titular character’s name, ‘Annie Hall’ took inspiration from Diane Keaton‘s nickname of ‘Annie’ and her real surname, ‘Hall’. The self-depricating humour and little quirks of Diane were incorporated into the character of ‘Annie’.
Diane Keaton defended Woody Allen amid serious allegations
Woody Allen and his former romantic partner, Mia Farrow, engaged in an intense custody battle over their son, Satchel Farrow. Before giving birth to Satchel, Mia was already a mother of six. She had three biological sons from her ex-husband and had also adopted three girls with him. After Mia and Woody got into a relationship, they adopted another baby girl, Dylan. During a custody battle for their biological son, Satchel, Mia accused Woody of inappropriate behaviour with their foster daughter, Dylan.
Amid these accusations, Mia also stated that she had found compromising photographs of another one of her adopted daughters, Soon-Yi Previn, at Woody Allen’s house. The director acknowledged that he had entered a relationship with Soon-Yi two weeks before the photos were taken. Woody Allen was 56 at the time, and Soon-Yi was 22. Woody Allen defended himself, stating that he was never a father figure in Soon-Yi’s life. The two got married in 1997 and adopted two daughters.
During a media storm, accusing Woody Allen of gross misconduct with his minor foster daughter and his scandalous relationship with Soon-Yi, Diane Keaton defended her lifelong friend. She continued to express that she believed the director. Diane even took to her X (then Twitter) handle and supported Woody Allen in 2018 when he was facing a fresh wave of backlash. She wrote:
“Woody Allen is my friend and I continue to believe him.”
Diane Keaton even once praised Woody Allen and compared him to her father. She called him the strongest person in her life and also praised his ‘constant discipline’. In the Guardian interview, Diane shared:
“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. But he wanted to. He’s the most disciplined person I’ve known, with the exception of my dad.”
What are your thoughts on Diane Keaton and Woody Allen’s love story? Let us know.
Also Read: How Much Was Diane Keaton’s Net Worth? Inside The ‘Annie Hall’ Star’s Massive Fortune Before Death