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Fresh Air

Remembering Diane Keaton

Fresh Air

NPR

Tv & Film, Arts, Society & Culture, Books

4.4 • 34.4K Ratings

šŸ—“ļø 14 October 2025

ā±ļø 48 minutes

šŸ§¾ļø Download transcript

Summary

The incomparable Diane Keaton died last week at age 79. Her career spanned more than five decades and 60 film and TV roles, including standout performances inĀ Marvin's Room,Ā Reds,Ā The First Wives ClubĀ andĀ Something’s Gotta Give. But it was her starring role in the Woody AllenĀ classicĀ Annie HallĀ that made Keaton an American film icon. The Oscar-winning actor spoke with Terry Gross in 1997 about finding the character's voice, her audition forĀ The Godfather, and what she wants in a director.Ā 

Also, TV critic David Bianculli reviews a new documentary about SCTV andĀ SpaceballsĀ star John Candy.Ā 

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Transcript

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0:00.0

Our Common Nature is a musical journey with Yo-Yo Ma and me, Anna Gonzalez, through this complicated country.

0:08.0

We go into caves, onto boats, and up mountain trails to meet people, hear their stories, and of course, play some music, all to reconnect to nature.

0:20.0

Listen to Our Common Nature from WNYC, wherever you get podcasts.

0:24.5

This is Fresh Air. I'm Terry Gross.

0:27.3

Today, we remember actor Diane Keaton, who has died at the age of 79.

0:32.3

We'll listen back to my 1997 interview with her.

0:35.8

Among the things we talked about were her performance in Annie Hall for which

0:39.3

won an Oscar and her role on The Godfather. First, we'll hear an appreciation from our TV critic,

0:46.0

David Biancule. Diane Keaton, over her long and distinguished career, demonstrated her ability to excel

0:53.3

in a number of different venues.

0:55.8

She acted in dozens of film comedies and dramas, earning Tony and Oscar nominations along the way.

1:02.7

She wrote more than a dozen books, including a memoir, and directed documentary and scripted movies as well.

1:09.9

She was a gifted singer, as evidenced by her unforgettable rendition of Seems Like Old Times in Annie Hall.

1:17.1

And for that same 1977 Woody Allen film, she won an Academy Award as Best Actress.

1:24.4

She played the title role of Annie Hall, a woman who meets a neurotic writer and comic

1:29.3

named Alvey Singer, played by Woody Allen. Over the course of the film, Annie and Alvey

1:35.1

fall in love, then fall out of love. On a plane trip, back from L.A. to New York, we hear their

1:42.2

thoughts as they sit there silently.

1:52.1

Silently, that is, until Annie addresses Alvi directly and finally speaks her mind, as does he.

1:58.6

I have to face facts. I adore Alvi, but our relationship doesn't seem to work anymore.

2:02.6

I'll have the usual trouble with Annie in bed tonight. What do I need this?

2:04.6

If only I had the nerve to break up,

...

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