Friends Detail How Beloved Diane Keaton Was Amid Illness ‘for a While’

Diane Keaton’s family announced her cause of death on Wednesday, Oct. 16, and with that, a friend opened up about Keaton’s struggles in the end as she was dealing with an illness.

A longtime friend of the actress told TMZ that she was “struggling with an unnamed illness leading up to her October 11 death,” adding that the “decline in Diane’s health meant news of her passing was “not a shock” to the pal.”

Diane Keaton’s Family Reveals Cause of Death

“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,” a statement said. Her loved ones also encouraged fans to honor her memory in a way that reflects what she cared about most. “She loved her animals and was steadfast in her support of the unhoused community,” they shared.

“Any donations in her memory to a local food bank or animal shelter would be a wonderful and much appreciated tribute.”

Keaton tragically passed away on Oct. 11 at age 79 in California. Initially a statement by the family said, “There are no further details available at this time, and her family has asked for privacy in this moment of great sadness,” a spokesperson told PEOPLE. However, the family has now provided additional information.

Carole Bayer Sager Revealed Details From Final Visit With Diane Keaton

In an interview with PEOPLE, Grammy and Oscar-winning songwriter Carole Bayer Sager opened up about her final visit with Keaton before her passing.

“I saw her two or three weeks ago, and she was very thin,” Sager says. “She had lost so much weight.”

She also explained how she hadn’t seen too much of Keaton this past year because she had moved to Palm Springs due to the wildfires in California.

“She had to go to Palm Springs because her house had been damaged inside, and they had to clean everything,” Sager explained. “She was down there for a while, and when she came back, I was kind of stunned by how much weight she’d lost.”

But was clear was how much Keaton meant to everyone.

“She was a magic light for everyone,” Sager added. “I just loved her. She was so special, she just lit up a room with her energy. She was happy and upbeat and taking photographs of everything she saw. She was completely creative; she never stopped creating.”

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