**Diane Keaton’s Family Reveals She Secretly Battled Dementia Before Passing Away**
*Published October 16, 2025, 8:29 p.m. ET*
Fans around the world were stunned by the sudden passing of beloved actress Diane Keaton. However, RadarOnline.com has revealed that the Oscar-winning star had been secretly battling dementia for years.
Keaton died on October 11, but her family disclosed four days later that her tragic passing was caused by pneumonia.
### “It Was So Sad”
A source close to Keaton told NewsNation that the actress had been fighting dementia for years, which impacted her ability to remember her lines. During the filming of the 2022 romantic comedy *Maybe I Do*, Keaton reportedly had to have her lines fed to her through an earpiece.
“It was so sad,” an on-set source shared. “William H. Macy was very supportive, but it was also frustrating because any time there was a break — a bathroom break, a meal, anything — it was back to square one. It was heartbreaking to watch. She was just so lovely.”
### A Family Battle with Alzheimer’s
Sadly, dementia was not unfamiliar to Keaton’s family. Her mother, Dorothy Deanne, suffered from Alzheimer’s disease for 15 years before passing away in 2008. Alzheimer’s can be hereditary, and Keaton had openly written about the heartbreak of watching her mother’s decline in her 2011 memoir, *Then Again*.
“Goodbye to names of places; goodbye to… recognizing me as her daughter,” Keaton recalled. She also shared how her mother’s journals documented her struggle — going from writing full paragraphs to only being able to write numbers, before eventually losing the ability to communicate through writing altogether.
One poignant 1993 journal entry read: “This is the day I heard I have the beginning of Alzheimer’s disease. Scary.”
### Cherishing Her Beloved Dog, Reggie
Keaton had been active on social media for years but had significantly reduced her joyful posts in recent times. Her last Instagram post was in April, honoring National Pet Day with a photo of herself and her beloved golden retriever, Reggie.
She adopted Reggie in 2020 and reportedly left him a substantial inheritance to ensure his care after her death. According to Hollywood insider Rob Shuter, $5 million of her estimated $100 million estate was placed in a trust for a private home and caretakers for Reggie, as well as ongoing donations to animal charities.
“Reggie was her world,” a close friend told Shuter. “Diane used to joke her great loves were her children, Al Pacino, architecture — and that dog.” Another source shared, “She wanted Reggie to live with the same dignity and humor she did.”
### Mystery Around Her Death Clarified
Keaton’s passing initially sparked questions until her family released a statement on October 15 explaining the cause of death. The *Father of the Bride* star is survived by her two adopted children, daughter Dexter, 29, and son Duke, 25.
“The Keaton family is 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,” the statement read.
They also encouraged fans to honor her memory by supporting causes close to her heart. “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,” the family added.
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Diane Keaton’s legacy as an extraordinary actress and compassionate human being will continue to inspire many.
https://radaronline.com/p/diane-keaton-dementia-battle-suffered-from-disease-years-before-death/
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