Richard Gere Pays Tribute To Maybe I Do Co-star Diane Keaton, Calls Her 'Sweet, Gentle'

Diane Keaton was in iconic films and she dated some of the biggest stars of her generation, and yet she somehow remained other and defiantly herself despite so many years working in the Hollywood system.

Eccentric and approachable, with a sort of effervescent charm, it's no surprise that she played muse to so many, from Woody Allen to Nancy Meyers. The actress passed away on October 11 at the age of 79 and her old pal Richard Gere has paid sweet tribute to the legendary actress after her demise.

Richard Gere Pays Tribute To Diane Keaton

Diane and Gere first co-starred in Looking For Mr. Goodbar in 1977 and then in the 2023 film Maybe I Do. During Thursday's appearance on the Today show, Richard said, "Obviously, I think about her now. We made a film a few years ago, too. I hadn't seen her in a long time." Recalling the tough times together on Looking For Mr. Goodbar sets, the actor added, "“That was a difficult film, this very kind of raw, sexual film. And she’s pretty shy and skittish. And I was, too. That was my second film, and we kind of took care of each other, getting through these kinds of challenging physical scenes with each other.""But I remember how sweet and gentle she was and how real. I think anyone who's ever worked with her will say, ‘This is a real person,’" Gere concluded.

RIP Diane Keaton

The veteran actress, died due to pneumonia, her family confirmed. “The Keaton family is deeply thankful for all the love and support they’ve received over the past few days for their beloved Diane, who passed away from pneumonia on October 11,” the family said in a statement, according to People magazine. Her family also shared that Diane had a deep love for animals and was always devoted to helping the unhoused community. They added that anyone wishing to honour her memory could make a donation to a local food bank or animal shelter, causes that were close to her heart.