A source close to Al Pacino has claimed the star regretted not marrying Diane Keaton during their on-off relationship that spanned two decades.
It was announced on Saturday by a family spokesperson that the Annie Hall actor had died, aged 79.
While no further details of the Oscar-winner’s death were officially released, an insider has since revealed it was ‘unexpected’.
Keaton and Pacino, 85, starred alongside each other in The Godfather trilogy as couple Kay Adams-Corleone and Michael Corleone.
They began dating in 1974 before splitting in 1990 after Pacino allegedly refused to marry the actor after she gave him an ultimatum.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, an insider has claimed it is a decision the Scarface actor has regretted since.
They told the publication: ‘I know he will forever regret he didn’t make his move when he had the chance.
‘For years after he and Diane split, Al used to say, “If it’s meant to be, it’s never too late for a do-over.” But sadly, now it is.’
The source continued: ‘Looking back, Al admits the love of his life was Diane, who he’s always called, “an amazing woman.”‘
They also opened up about why Keaton and Pacino didn’t speak, despite living near each other in Beverly Hills, adding: ‘I once asked him why, and he told me, “There’s no need to talk with each other. We said everything that needed to be said at the time.”‘
Following their breakup, Keaton went on to date Warren Beatty after the two starred alongside each other in Reds.
The actor never married, but in 1996 she adopted her daughter, Dexter, and in 2001 her son, Duke.
Pacino, meanwhile, has also never married so far, enjoying high-profile relationships with the likes of Lucila Polak, Beverly D’Angelo, and most recently, Noor Alfallah.
In his memoir, Pacino admitted that he and Keaton always had ‘a connection.’
‘I have always liked women, but from the time I was very young, I have been shy around them. I don’t woo them. I don’t pursue them. Women either respond to you or they don’t, and if they don’t make the first move toward me, I am a bit reluctant to try again,’ he wrote.
‘But with Diane this time, things were different. We always had a connection. She understood my read on things, and it felt comforting to have someone who got me. So I went after her.
‘We hung out together, and after a couple of months we decided to get together. We found a tempo and a temperature that was right.’
He continued: ‘Being with Diane had a lot to do with my sense of peace and comfort. I had found that kind of comfort that makes you feel and think with the world.
‘I enjoyed the ability to continue this experimental journey, free from the pressures of having to fulfill anyone’s expectations but my own, if I wanted to. But I wouldn’t have a choice in the matter for much longer.’
In 2017, Keaton admitted she thought it was ‘a blessing for them both’ that she and Pacino never tied the knot.
Speaking to The Times, she said: ‘I didn’t even want him to propose. I just thought maybe he would marry me, eventually. I thought, “Don’t even propose — let’s just do it.”
‘But that never happened, and that is a blessing for both of us. It would have been a nightmare for him.’
She continued: ‘We’re very eccentric, he needed a woman that was going to take care of him, I needed a man who would take care of me … It was just very important that we left each other alone, said goodbye. But it wasn’t my choice.’
Metro has contacted representatives for Al Pacino for comment
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.