As fans of cinema mourn Diane Keaton’s unexpected passing, many are reflecting on the actress’s openness regarding the health issues she faced during her life.
Since Keaton’s death on October 11, an outpouring of condolences and tributes has been shared in her memory.
The actress, who enjoyed a career spanning several decades, made her film debut in Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather, portraying Kay Adams, the lover and later wife of Michael Corleone.
Her performance in the 1977 movie Annie Hall won her an Oscar for Best Actress, and she received three additional nominations for this prestigious award in 1982, 1997, and 2004.
The reason for Keaton’s passing has not been revealed, and she kept her health condition private in the months leading up to her death.
However, the famous actress did touch on her health in the past.
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times in 2015, Keaton shared that there was a history of illness in her family, particularly skin cancer.
She remarked, “It’s a family history. I remember my Auntie Martha had skin cancer so severe that they had to remove her nose.”
“My father had basal skin cancer, and my brother had it too. Skin cancer can be tricky. That’s why it’s important to use sunblock.”
Despite this knowledge, she confessed that she didn’t take proper care of her skin when she was younger.
“Back in my 20s, I didn’t pay much attention,” she reflected. “I didn’t do my research and didn’t really care, which was foolish because it has haunted me throughout my adult life, even recently. I only started taking care of my skin in my 40s.”
In her twenties, Keaton fought against basal cell carcinoma. Years later, she faced squamous cell carcinoma, which required two surgeries for removal.
Keaton also sadly revealed that she struggled with bulimia, a disorder where she would binge eat and then induce vomiting.
She admitted that at times, she would consume as much as 20,000 calories in a single day.
She mentioned: “A usual dinner consisted of a bucket of chicken, multiple servings of fries with blue cheese and ketchup, a few TV dinners, a quart of soda, lots of candy, an entire cake, and three banana cream pies.”
She ultimately pursued treatment for her condition.
She stated: “Someone pointed out that I appeared to have some mental health concerns, so I decided to see an analyst. I would attend sessions five days a week.”
After Keaton’s death, many individuals from the film industry have stepped forward to share their condolences and pay tribute to her.
In her most recent social media update, she shared a picture of herself alongside her beloved Golden Retriever, Reggie.
The post’s caption, created in partnership with the home decor brand Hudson Grace, stated, “Proof our pets have great taste too! Happy National Pet Day from HG & @diane_keaton.”
