While the late Diane Keaton was most notably known for her many iconic roles, the famed actress found other, lesser known ways of expressing her creativity.
In addition to acting, Keaton — who died on Saturday, October 11, at age 79 — was also a director, sitting behind the camera for music videos, movies and television shows
The Family Stone star famously — and perhaps surprisingly — even starred in Justin Bieber’s music video for his 2021 hit, “Ghost.”
“Somehow I was part of that song and they asked me to be part of singing that song with them at the beach,” Keaton recalled of her time working with the pop star in a video reshared by Access Hollywood via Instagram shortly after her death. “And it was so much, it was so great. And he was a gentleman. He’s a great guy and so talented and I love that song.”
(Three years later, Keaton took her own stab at music when she released the Christmas single “First Christmas.”)
The Something’s Gotta Give star also directed an episode of Twin Peaks in 1991, as well as a 1990 episode of the series China Beach.
Keaton didn’t speak about her directing career frequently, but in an April 2023 interview with The Hollywood Reporter she explained that directing was tougher than she expected.
“I thought I could do it, but really, it was rough. I don’t mean [people] were rough or anyone, it was me. Sometimes it’d be a little easier, and then other times you’d be anxious,” she explained. “You need to really be on it and really smart about what you’re delving into with the subject that you’ve been given. I get that as an actress more — or an actor type or whatever I am — just by being one of the characters.”
Keaton also directed two music videos for Belinda Carlisle’s popular songs, “Heaven Is A Place on Earth” and “I Got Weak.” (The latter was Carlisle’s second release following the success of the former, and reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1988.)
“I cant 💔💔💔 she was such a talent and a big part of my career,” Carlisle, 44, wrote via Instagram on Saturday in tribute to Keaton. “She directed two videos of mine – Heaven Is A Place on Earth and the video for I Get Weak. She was kind and eccentric and I was blessed to know her. This is such a big loss… 💔💔💔 RIP Diane you will be missed….”
Keaton also directed a young Reese Witherspoon in the 1991 made for TV film Wildflower. Witherspoon, 49, starred as Ellie, the sister of William McNamara’s Sammy Perkins and daughter of Patricia Arquette’s Alice.
Witherspoon recalled auditioning for the role with Keaton while speaking to a crowd on Saturday shortly after news of Keaton’s death broke.
“I’m tearing up, but I don’t know if you guys heard that Diane Keaton passed today,” Witherspoon began in a video shared via Instagram. “Diane was really important. She was one of my first mentors in this business. I was 15 years old and I was from Nashville, Tennessee, and I didn’t know anybody and I came in. It was my second, maybe my third movie audition ever.”
Witherspoon continued, “And I came in with this big country accent and I was playing this little southern girl and she goes, ‘Who are you?’ I said, ‘I’m Reese Witherspoon, I’m from Nashville, Tennessee. ‘ And she said, ‘Are you making that up? That accent you’re doing?’ And I said, ‘No ma’am, I’m from Nashville, Tennessee. And I’m here and I’d love to be in your movie’. And she was like, ‘Well, you’re hired today, tomorrow and the next day. I don’t know who you are, but I am so excited to have you.’”
Witherspoon went on to describe the late actress as “just incredible and indelible,” adding that she as “truly” an “original person.”
“So for Diane, watch one of her movies and wear a really cool, interesting outfit, black and white, take a cool picture and just live your dream, just be your unique, interesting self,” she added. “I think Diane would be really happy.”
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