Bette Midler Remembers Diane Keaton: A Tribute to a Screen Legend
SHOCKING LOSS: Bette Midler Mourns Loss of Beloved First Wives Club Castmate Diane Keaton
In a devastating turn of events, the entertainment world is reeling from the sudden passing of Oscar-winning legend Diane Keaton. The 79-year-old actress and style icon left behind a legacy that will be deeply missed by her fans, colleagues, and loved ones.
Bette Midler Opens Up About Her Late Friend
In an emotional interview on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, Bette Midler shared heart-wrenching memories of her time working with the late Diane Keaton on their iconic 1996 comedy hit, The First Wives Club. "She was such a genius," Midler gushed about her late friend. "There was something about her that was utterly magical...she was completely her own person and inimitable."
The two actresses' chemistry on screen was undeniable, and their off-screen friendship was just as strong. Midler recalled the time they met for coffee with Goldie Hawn before filming began, saying, "I had never worked or met them before, and we sat down in a cafe...at a round table and I was so intimidated. But then they started telling stories, and I'll tell you, I never laughed harder in my whole life."
Keaton's Tragic Demise
Diane Keaton passed away on Saturday at the age of 79 due to undisclosed causes. The Los Angeles Fire Department received a 911 call reporting a "person down" at her residence, and she was taken to a local hospital by ambulance around 8:08am.
According to Carole Bayer Sager, who wrote Diane's debut single First Christmas, Keaton had been struggling with health issues in the months leading up to her passing. "I saw her two or three weeks ago, and she was very thin," Sager shared. "She had lost so much weight...when she came back, I was kind of stunned by how much weight she'd lost."
Keaton's Legacy Lives On
The Fashion First author left behind a staggering $100M fortune and a family that will miss her dearly. She is survived by her two adult children, Dexter (29) and Duke (25), whom she adopted in 1996 and 2001.
As news of Keaton's passing spread like wildfire, tributes poured in from around the world. Bette Midler shared a heartfelt message with her 1.6M Instagram followers, saying, "I cannot tell you how unbearably sad this makes me...She was hilarious, a complete original, and completely without guile, or any of the competitiveness one would have expected from such a star."
Midler to Honor Keaton's Memory
In the coming weeks, Bette Midler will pay tribute to her late friend in various ways. On October 24, she will be honored with a special award at the New York Restoration Project's 30th anniversary Hulaween bash. The event, held at Cipriani South Street in Lower Manhattan, will feature honorees like Andy Cohen and Busy Philipps, as well as guests Sandra Bernhard and Ben Platt.
Midler's Upcoming Projects
As Midler navigates this difficult time, she will also be celebrating her daughter Sophie's 38th birthday on November 14. The silver-haired triple threat has several projects lined up, including a role in Cut Off, which hits US theaters on July 17. Directed by Jonah Hill and starring Kristen Wiig, the film follows a wealthy family navigating love, loss, and identity.
In a nod to her upcoming project, Midler will make her debut on Bravo's Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen this Thursday, discussing everything from her career to her personal life in a boozy talk show format.
