Diane Keaton, Who Battled Cancer Twice, ‘Lost So Much Weight’

Before sadly passing away on October 11, Diane Keaton had previously battled a series of health challenges, many of which she spoke about openly.

Although the cause of the “Annie Hall” star’s death has not yet been revealed, her health had reportedly been far from stable in the past years.

From overcoming cancer earlier in her life to struggling with eating disorders, Keaton faced numerous personal battles. In the weeks leading up to her demise, friends noted that she appeared frail and unlike her usual self.

Here’s a look back at some of her health challenges over the years.

The “Baby Boom” star was an open book about her well-being, sharing her experiences to raise awareness. In a 2015 interview, she opened up about how she was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma at age 21, revealing that the condition ran long in her family. 

“It’s a family history,” she told the Los Angeles Times in 2015. “I remember my Auntie Martha had skin cancer so bad they removed her nose. My father had basal skin cancer, and my brother had it. It’s tricky with this skin cancer. That’s why you’ve got to put the sunblock on.” 

Keaton confessed that in her younger years, she neglected to take care of her skin and didn’t understand the importance of sun protection, but she began taking sun care seriously in her 40s. 

Decades later, she faced another setback as she was diagnosed with squamous cell cancer, which was removed through two surgeries.

After surviving a life-threatening illness in her 20s, Keaton faced another tough fight, this time with her eating habits and self-image, which she described as the “lowest point” of her life.

During an appearance on “The Dr. Oz Show” in 2019, she got candid about dealing with bulimia, admitting, “All I did was feed my hunger. So I was an addict,” per NY Daily News.

Keaton would consume large amounts of food in a single day, around 20,000 calories, including fried chicken, fries, sweets, and pies, before throwing it all up.

When asked how she overcame the challenge, the “Godfather” actress explained that her recovery began when someone suggested she might be struggling mentally, prompting her to see a therapist five days a week.

Though those health issues were behind her, it appears that in the weeks leading up to Keaton’s passing, she was still struggling with her well-being. 

Her longtime friend Carole Bayer Sager recently reflected on their last meeting and said she was taken aback by Keaton’s appearance. “I saw her two or three weeks ago, and she was very thin,” Sager told People Magazine. “She had lost so much weight.” 

The songwriter explained that she was distant from her pal because the “Murder Mystery” actress had been staying in Palm Springs for some time after the January wildfires incident. Sager added that she was “stunned” by how much weight Keaton had lost.

Seemingly confirming that the “Reds” actress was dealing with an undisclosed medical condition, an insider said her well-being took a sudden and unexpected downturn, forcing her to sell her beloved dream home.

As The Blast reported, the informant described the change in Keaton’s condition as both heartbreaking and shocking. In her final months, she was cared for only by her closest family members, who chose to keep her struggle private.