Al Pacino has spoken out on the death of his former lover Diane Keaton.
The Oscar-winning actor passed away at the age of 79 on Saturday (October 11), with her family confirming her cause of death as being the result of pneumonia.
While an outpouring of tributes have flowed out of Hollywood, the Californian's ex has been notably silent. Pacino and Keaton first met in the early 1970s, during the shooting of The Godfather, but didn't start dating until the release of the second epic in the trilogy, in 1974.
They continued an on-off relationship until 1990, when Keaton decided to call quits on their time together due to Pacino's reluctance to marry.
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Now, after taking a few days for the heartbreaking news to settle in, the Scarface actor has issued a deeply emotional tribute to Keaton.
"I am deeply saddened by Diane Keaton’s passing," he told Deadline.
"When I first heard the news, I was shaken. Diane was my partner, my friend, someone who brought me happiness and on more than one occasion influenced the direction of my life. Though over thirty years has past since we were together, the memories remain vivid, and with her passing, they have returned with a force that is both painful and moving.
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"She lived without limits, and everything she touched carried her unmistakable energy. She opened doors for others, inspired generations and embodied a once-in-a-lifetime gift that radiated through her work and her life."
The New Yorker continued: "On screen, she was magnetic - lightning and charm, hurricanes and tenderness. She was a wonder. Acting was her art, but it was only one of the many ways she expressed her imagination and creativity.
"People will miss her, but more than that, they will remember her. She left a mark that cannot fade. She was unstoppable, resilient and above all, deeply human.
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"I will always remember her. She could fly - and in my heart, she always will."
Friends have described the star's death as having been 'sudden', with a source close to People calling her death 'unexpected'.
The Los Angeles Fire Department confirmed they rushed to Keaton's home just after 8am on Saturday (October 11), with paramedics also on the scene, and one person taken to a nearby hospital for treatment before being pronounced dead.
Meanwhile, her family issued a statement to the magazine to thank fans for their 'love and support'.
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"The Keaton family are very grateful for the extraordinary messages of love and support they have received these past few days on behalf of their beloved Diane, who passed away from pneumonia on October 11," the statement, issued to People, read.
"She loved her animals and she was steadfast in her support of the unhoused community, so any donations in her memory to a local food bank or an animal shelter would be a wonderful and much appreciated tribute to her."
Topics: Hollywood
Joe Yates