Keanu Reeves is paying heartfelt tribute to his former co-star Diane Keaton, remembering the late actress as a profoundly gifted artist and one-of-a-kind human being.
“She was very nice to me. Generous, generous artist and a very special, unique person,” Reeves said, reflecting on his memories of Keaton, who died on October 11 at the age of 79.
During an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Monday, October 13, the 61-year-old John Wick actor spoke warmly about working alongside Keaton in the 2003 romantic comedy Something’s Gotta Give, directed by Nancy Meyers. The film, which also starred Jack Nicholson, remains one of Keaton’s most beloved performances—and a defining moment in her later career.
Asked to share his favorite memory of the Oscar-winning actress, Reeves described her as “an extraordinary, unique, special person and artist,” recalling one particular scene that left a lasting impression on him.
“It was Diane and Jack Nicholson at a table in a restaurant in Paris,” Reeves recounted. “And just watching those two legends not only act, but insult each other.”
He laughed as he remembered the playful exchange. “She would turn to Jack and say, ‘You’re just a… blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.’ And he’d fire back, ‘Yeah, you dirty…’ They were just grinning, insulting each other with love. The intelligence, the humor—but just watching them be themselves, with all the history and artistry they’d built—it was extraordinary.”
Speaking later to E! News at a screening of his new film Good Fortune in New York City the same day, Reeves again reflected on Keaton’s spirit and professionalism. “She was very nice to me,” he said. “Generous, generous artist and a very special, unique person. A total pro.”
Keaton, for her part, had also cherished her experience making Something’s Gotta Give. In her 2011 memoir Then Again, she called it her “favorite film,” according to The Guardian. Initially unsure the movie—a love-triangle comedy between her, Nicholson, and Reeves—would succeed, she ultimately earned her fourth Academy Award nomination for her performance.
Keaton also revealed that Nicholson had shared part of his own back-end profits from the film with her. “I got a check with a lot of zeros,” she wrote, explaining that she hadn’t negotiated for profit participation but later learned that Nicholson had gifted her a share of his earnings.
On his show, Colbert, who described himself as a “lifelong fan” of Keaton, also paid tribute to the actress. He revisited a 2012 interview he conducted with her while promoting her memoir, calling it “one of my favorite interviews I ever had the privilege of doing.”
“I’ve loved Diane Keaton ever since my mother made me walk out of Annie Hall when I was 11,” Colbert joked, before sharing a clip of their conversation. “It was so charmingly chaotic. She was one of our most talented, original, and effortlessly funny actors.”
News of Keaton’s passing was confirmed on October 11. A spokesperson for the actress said, “There are no further details available at this time, and her family has asked for privacy in this moment of great sadness.”
“She declined very suddenly, which was heartbreaking for everyone who loved her,” a close friend told reporters. “It was so unexpected, especially for someone with such strength and spirit.”
A film executive who had known Keaton for years remembered her as someone deeply comfortable in her own skin. “She always had a very strong sense of who she was and how she wanted to live,” they said. “In these last few years, she kept a close circle and she liked it that way. She was funny right up until the end and had this way of making even ordinary moments feel special. That was just who she was.”