The late Diane Keaton chose an unconventional path to parenthood when she adopted her children in her 50s — and she’s been candid about why she made her decision.
“I didn’t think I would ever be ready to be a mother,” Keaton – who died aged 79 on Saturday, October 11 – previously said. Diary of the Women’s House. “Motherhood wasn’t a desire I couldn’t resist. It was more like a thought I had been thinking about for a long time. So I dove in head first.”
Keaton welcomed daughter Dexter, 29, and son Duke, 25, by adoption and as a single mother in her 50s. Although Keaton never married during her prestigious film career, she dated some famous faces, including Woody Allen, Warren Beatty and Al Pacino.
In 2019, the Something has to give actress opened up to People about her decision to never walk down the wedding aisle.
“Today I was thinking about this — I’m 71 years old and I think I’m the only one in my generation, and maybe before, who has been single my whole life,” she told the outlet at the time, before adding that “it wouldn’t have been a good idea to get married.”
“I’m really glad I didn’t do it and I’m sure they’re happy about it too,” she added, referring to her Hollywood exes.
Later in 2023, the actress once again reiterated that she was happy living life as a single mother.
“I don’t date,” she said AARP the magazineand at the time, while insisting that it was “highly unlikely” that she would find herself in another romantic relationship in the future. “I don’t remember anyone calling me and saying, ‘This is so-and-so, I’d like to go out with you.’ They don’t happen. Of course not.”

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The famous actress explained her long-standing stance on marriage – a mindset she established when she was a teenager.
“I remember one day in high school, a guy came up to me and said, ‘One day you’re going to be a good wife,’” she said. “And I thought, ‘I don’t want to be a wife. No.’”
Although Keaton’s family requested privacy following her death, many of her co-stars and Hollywood stars paid tribute to the late actress.
“The brilliant, beautiful and extraordinary Diane Keaton has died,” Keaton said The First Wives Club costar Bette Midler shared via Instagram on Saturday. “She was hilarious, completely original, and completely without guile, or any of the competitiveness one would expect from such a star. What you saw was who she was… oh, la, lala!”
Former Keaton Father of the bride The costars also paid tribute to the late actress.
“It breaks my heart. Working with Diane Keaton will always be one of the highlights of my life,” Kimberly Williams-Paisley — who played Keaton’s daughter in the iconic films — wrote in the comments section of People’s Instagram post announcing the actress’ death, alongside a red heart emoji.
Steve Martinwho played Keaton’s husband, the anxious George Banks, in the films, also responded to the late actress’ death.
“Loved!” Martin, 80, wrote via X on Saturday, alongside an old black and white photo of a young Keaton.


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