Diane Keaton's cause of death at 79 revealed as pneumonia as family share emotional statement

The family of Diane Keaton have revealed the movie star's cause of death in a statement as they spoke out emotionally on their gratitude for the outpouring of love following her passing.

The 79-year-old died in California just a few days ago on 11 October, and her family initially said there were no further details to provide at the time, asking for privacy in the moment of their grief.

Tributes to Keaton's memory poured in from across the world of show business, as many offered her relatives their best wishes and words of comfort.

A friend of Keaton's later told PEOPLE that 'she declined very suddenly, which was heartbreaking for everyone who loved her' and that her death was 'so unexpected'. They also praised the actor's 'strength and spirit'.

They explained that in her final months of life, she was surrounded by her family and that 'long-time friends weren’t fully aware of what was happening'.

The star's family explained her cause of death (Jerod Harris/Getty Images)

Keaton's family have since provided further details on the Godfather star's passing, revealing her cause of death and thanking people for the support they have provided.

Speaking to PEOPLE, they said she died from pneumonia in a statement.

"The Keaton family are 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 on October 11", the statement read.

"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."

During her career, Keaton picked up major acting credits in The First Wives Club, The Godfather, Something's Gotta Give, and Annie Hall, for which she won an Oscar.

Keaton's family said she had died of pneumonia, and thanked people for their kind messages about her (Christopher Polk/Getty Images for Turner)

Keaton also picked up Oscar nominations for Something's Gotta Give, Marvin's Room, and Reds, though her favourite movie to work on reportedly was the 1991 flick Father of the Bride, where she acted alongside Steve Martin.

Working throughout the decades, she even appeared in a music video for Justin Bieber in 2021.

During her life, she never married, but she adopted daughter Dexter and son Duke, and said she was glad she'd never been hitched.

"Today I was thinking, I'm the only one in my generation of actresses who has been a single woman all her life," she had said in 2019.

"I'm really glad I didn't get married. I'm an oddball. I remember in high school, this guy came up to me and said, ‘One day you're going to make a good wife.’ And I thought, ‘I don't want to be a wife. No.’"