Francis Ford Coppola Pays Tribute To The Godfather Star Diane Keaton, Reveals She Based Character On Wife Ellie - See Post

Diane Keaton, who died at age 79 on October 11, has left a legacy of trailblazing roles that left an impact on filmmakers and actors alike. One of those was Oscar-winning director Francis Ford Coppola,

who shared how he watched Keaton in her film debut and knew he had to cast her in his film, The Godfather. Coppola also revealed an intriguing tidbit about her character, which ranks high up after actors Marlon Brando and Al Pacino.

Francis Ford Coppola calls his The Godfather star Diane Keaton 'endlessly intelligent'

On Instagram, Coppola shared photos of Keaton as Kay Adams, wife of Michael Corleone's (Al Pacino) second wife, and wrote, "Words can’t express the wonder and talent of Diane Keaton. Endlessly intelligent, so beautiful. From her earliest performances in “Hair” and throughout her amazing career, she was an extraordinary actor. I saw her in the film “Lovers and Other Strangers” and knew I had to have her play Kay in The Godfather, (which she told me she based on my wife Ellie) and her wonderful work in “Annie Hall” while simultaneously setting a new fashion trend. Everything about Diane was creativity personified."

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In 2020, Keaton told Vanity Fair that she didn't know why she was cast in the film. She auditioned with Martin Sheen and James Caan, who were up for the role of Michael Corleone, along with Pacino. She said Coppola fought to cast Pacino opposite her, "He just held onto A. He would have me work with the other two, and they were wonderful. But it was always Al.”ALSO READ: Oscar Winning Actress Diane Keaton Dies At 79

Keaton's The First Wives Club co-stars also remember their friend

Another cult film from Keaton's filmography is The First Wives Club (1996), co-starring Bette Midler and Goldie Hawn. Both actresses wrote moving messages for their late friend. On Instagram, Midler posted, “The brilliant, beautiful, extraordinary Diane Keaton has died. I cannot tell you how unbearably sad this makes me. She was hilarious, a complete original, and completely without guile, or any of the competitiveness one would have expected from such a star. What you saw was who she was…oh, la, lala!”

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Hawn added, "You stole the hearts of the world and shared your genius with millions, making films that made us laugh and cry in ways only you could. I was blessed to make First Wives Club with you, our days starting with coffee in the makeup trailer, laughing and joking, right through to the very last day of filming. It was a roller coaster of love. We agreed to grow old together, and one day, maybe live together with all our girlfriends. Well, we never got to live together, but we did grow older together. Who knows… maybe in the next life. Shine your fairy dust up there, girlfriend. I’m going to miss the hell out of you."

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Keaton is survived by her adopted children, Dex and Duke. Despite having several high-profile romances with co-stars such as Woody Allen, Pacino, and Warren Beatty, Keaton never married.