Diane Keaton’s cause of death has been revealed.
The actress died of pneumonia on Saturday, her family revealed in a statement given to People on Wednesday.
“The Keaton family is extremely grateful for the extraordinary messages of love and support they have received over the past few days on behalf of their beloved Diane, who passed away from pneumonia on October 11th,” the family said.
They continued, “She loved animals and was a staunch supporter of the homeless community, so making a donation to your local food bank or animal shelter in her memory would be a wonderful and much appreciated tribute to her.”
A family spokesperson previously confirmed that Keaton died Saturday in California. She was 79 years old.
A friend told People magazine that Keaton’s health deteriorated “very suddenly” and unexpectedly rapidly in the months leading up to her death, calling it “heartbreaking for everyone who loved her.”
Although Keaton has chosen to keep her health struggles private, there have been major changes in her life.
Keaton surprisingly put his Los Angeles “dream home” on the market in March for $29 million, even though he had said he intended to live there permanently.
Keaton was known to walk his dogs daily in the Brentwood area, but had not been seen in recent months, another person said.
The Oscar-winning actress last posted on Instagram in April, looking healthy and happy as she snuggled up with her dog Reggie.
Although Keaton was never married, she had an on-again, off-again relationship with her “Godfather” co-star Al Pacino for about 20 years before they broke up in 1990. She is also known for dating “Annie Hall” director Woody Allen and actor Warren Beatty.
In her 50s, she adopted two children, a daughter, Dexter, and a son, Duke.
In a 2012 AARP interview, Keaton spoke candidly about his fears of not being able to be around his children as he gets older.
“I am very aware that my father died at the age of 68, and my mother’s brain really started to work in her early 70s,” she told Parade. “When I think about my children in their 20s and 30s and myself in my 70s and 80s, that certainly worries me.”
“‘I want to be there for them,'” she added. “I want to keep my body and mind strong and share all of my life lessons with them. But I also know that they need the freedom and independence to learn on their own.”