The exact cause of death has not yet been determined — but 911 audio obtained by TMZ reveals heartbreaking details about what happened to the actress in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Died “peacefully”
More details are emerging about the sudden and tragic death of beloved Hollywood icon Diane Keaton, who passed away at the age of 79. According to 911 audio obtained by TMZ, a dispatcher reported a “person down” in the early hours of Saturday morning, October 11.
“Rescue 19, person down,” the dispatcher can be heard saying before reading out Keaton’s address.
The actress was transported to a local hospital by the Los Angeles Fire Department, TMZ reported. A spokesperson for the department later confirmed that paramedics responded to a medical emergency at Keaton’s residence and transferred a person to a hospital, who was later confirmed to be Keaton.
Her family confirmed her passing to People magazine, saying she died “peacefully” early Saturday morning.
A close friend told the outlet that Keaton’s health had rapidly declined in recent months.
“She declined very suddenly, which was heartbreaking for everyone who loved her,” the friend said. “It was so unexpected, especially for someone with such strength and spirit.”
“In her final months, she was surrounded only by her closest family, who chose to keep things very private. Even longtime friends weren’t fully aware of what was happening,” the source added.
Home damaged by wildfires
Grammy and Oscar-winning songwriter Carole Bayer Sager, who co-wrote Keaton’s single “First Christmas,” recalled visiting her just weeks before her death.
“I saw her two or three weeks ago, and she was very thin,” Sager told People. “She had lost so much weight.”
Sager said Keaton had spent time in Palm Springs after her Los Angeles home was damaged by wildfires, adding.
“She was down there for a while, and when she came back, I was kind of stunned by how much weight she’d lost.”
Despite her health issues, Sager described Keaton as a “magic light” who never stopped creating.
“I just loved her. She was so special—she lit up a room with her energy. She was happy and upbeat and taking photographs of everything she saw. She was completely creative; she never stopped creating.”
Goldie Hawn’s tribute
Another close friend said Keaton “was funny right up until the end.”
“She lived exactly how she wanted to—on her own terms, surrounded by the people and things she really loved,” the friend said. “She had this way of making even ordinary moments feel special. That was just who she was.”
Following the heartbreaking news, tributes flooded social media from Keaton’s friends and former co-stars, including Goldie Hawn, Steve Martin, and Bette Midler.
“Diane, we aren’t ready to lose you,” Goldie Hawn wrote on Instagram. “You’ve left us with a trail of fairy dust, filled with particles of light and memories beyond imagination… Shine your fairy dust up there, girlfriend. I’m going to miss the hell out of you.”
Bette Midler added,
“The brilliant, beautiful, extraordinary Diane Keaton has died. I cannot tell you how unbearably sad this makes me. She was hilarious, a complete original… What you saw was who she was.”
Keaton first shot to fame in the 1970s with her standout role in The Godfather movies and her memorable collaborations with Woody Allen.
She went on to win an Oscar for Best Actress for her iconic performance in Annie Hall in 1977. Over the years, she built an incredible career starring in hits like The First Wives Club, several Nancy Meyers films, and the popular Book Club movies.
Diane Keaton’s death marks the loss of one of Hollywood’s most original voices — a woman whose humor, heart, and timeless sense of style redefined what it meant to be a leading lady
She is survived by her two children, Dexter and Duke, and leaves behind a legacy that continues to inspire generations.
