NEED TO KNOW
\nDiane Keaton’s cause of death has been revealedThe actress died of pneumonia on Oct. 11, according to a statement from her family exclusively given to PEOPLEPEOPLE first reported on Saturday, Oct. 11, that the Oscar winner died in California at the age of 79<\/p>\n
Diane Keaton<\/a>‘s loved ones are speaking out after her death.\n<\/p>\n In an exclusive statement to PEOPLE, the Oscar-winning actress\u2019s family confirmed she died of pneumonia on Oct. 11\u00a0and expressed their gratitude for the outpouring of support.\n<\/p>\n “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,” reads the statement.\n<\/p>\n Keaton’s family went on to share the causes she was passionate about: “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.”\n<\/p>\n PEOPLE first reported on Saturday, Oct. 11, that the Oscar-winning actress had died in California at the age of 79. “There are no further details available at this time, and her family has asked for privacy in this moment of great sadness,” a spokesperson said at the time.\n<\/p>\n A source told PEOPLE Oct. 11 that Keaton’s health “declined very suddenly<\/a>, which was heartbreaking for everyone who loved her.” Her death “was so unexpected,” added the source, “especially for someone with such strength and spirit.”\n<\/p>\n “In her final months, she was surrounded only by her closest family, who chose to keep things very private. Even longtime friends weren\u2019t fully aware of what was happening,” said the source.\n<\/p>\n Diane Keaton with her kids, Dexter and Duke Keaton.<\/p>\n Chelsea Lauren\/Variety\/Penske Media via Getty\u00a0<\/p>\n Keaton rose to fame in the 1970s thanks to her role in\u00a0The Godfather<\/a>\u00a0films and her collaborations with director\u00a0Woody Allen<\/a>. She won an Oscar for Best Actress for 1977\u2019s\u00a0Annie Hall. Her long career included movies like\u00a0The First Wives Club, multiple collaborations with director\u00a0Nancy Meyers<\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0Book Club\u00a0franchise.\n<\/p>\n Later roles for Keaton included\u00a0The Family Stone,\u00a0Because I Said So,\u00a0Finding Dory and\u00a0Poms. She made a rare TV appearance with a starring role in HBO\u2019s 2016 limited series\u00a0The Young Pope. Keaton also worked as a director, helming the 1987 documentary\u00a0Heaven, 2000\u2019s\u00a0Hanging Up\u00a0and an episode of\u00a0Twin Peaks.\n<\/p>\n