Ben Williams
Hollywood has been left reeling after the death of acting icon Diane Keaton, who passed away aged 79, and that includes a big regret felt by her past love, Al Pacino.
The Oscar-winning star of Annie Hall and The Godfather left behind an incredible legacy of film, style, and independence, but also a lifetime of love stories that fascinated fans for decades.
Known for her quirky humor, wide-brimmed hats, and defiant stance on never marrying, Keaton, who died on 11 October, often joked that she was ‘glad’ she never tied the knot, like when she told PEOPLE in 2019.
Although we still don't currently know Keaton's cause of death, one of her longest and most famous relationships, with Pacino, has resurfaced in the wake — bringing new light to a bittersweet chapter in both of their lives.
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After dating Woody Allen, Keaton first met Pacino on the set of The Godfather in 1971, where she played Kay, his on-screen wife. She later admitted she developed a ‘crush’ on him while filming, calling him ‘charming, hilarious, a nonstop talker’, and adding: “There was an aspect of him that was like a lost orphan, like this kind of crazy idiot savant. And oh, gorgeous!”
The two went on to have an on-and-off relationship that stretched through the 1970s and 1980s. By Keaton’s own account, she was ‘mad for him’, but their love story wasn’t built to last. She wanted marriage; he didn’t.
After years together, she eventually gave him an ultimatum: marry me or else. Pacino, famously wary of commitment, chose to walk away instead. While Keaton later said she was ‘really glad’ she never married, Pacino reportedly viewed things very differently.
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After her death, following a heartwarming final social media post, sources close to the 85-year-old actor told the Daily Mail that the Godfather legend has been reflecting on the one thing he never did: marry her. One friend said: “Looking back, Al admits the love of his life was Diane, who he’s always called ‘an amazing woman… I know he will forever regret he didn’t make his move when he had the chance.”
The pair lived only a few miles apart in Beverly Hills for years, but according to the insider, 'they never spoke'.
When asked why, Pacino allegedly said: “There’s no need to talk with each other. We said everything that needed to be said at the time.”
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Still, there was never any animosity between them.
When Keaton received the American Film Institute’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017, People noted that Pacino publicly declared: “You’re a great artist. I love you forever.”