Diane Keaton death: ‘Annie Hall’ actress, Diane Keaton, passed away on October 11 in California at the age of 79. While the reason behind her death has not been revealed, her health struggles were far from unknown. After being diagnosed with cancer at the age of 21, the Oscar-winning actress also battled bulimia nervosa in her younger years.
The actress, however, had been quite vocal with her struggles and was part of several initiatives to raise awareness. In a 2015 interview, the actress revealed that she had been diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma at the age of 21. With a family history, she told LA Times that her Auntie Martha had skin cancer and her father had basal skin cancer.
Diane Keaton’s battle with cancer
She was among the very few who beat cancer twice in her life. Recalling the history of the medical ailment in her family, she revealed that she didn’t pay much attention to her skin. “I didn’t research and didn’t really care, and that was stupid because it’s dogged me my entire adult life, even recently. I didn’t start sun care until my 40s,” she had said.
Years later, Keaton was diagnosed with squamous cell cancer and had to undergo two surgeries. The second skin cancer diagnosis came amid other personal struggles, too. But this time, it was related to her eating habits and self-image. She often described it as her “lowest point” in life.
‘All I did was feed my hunger’
Keaton appeared on ‘The Dr OZ Show’ in 2019 and opened up about her eating disorder. She acknowledged her bulimia and said, “All I did was feed my hunger. So I was an addict,” as per the NY Daily News. She shared that she would consume nearly 20,000 calories a day, which would include fried chicken, fries, carbonated drinks, and then throwing it all up.
A common symptom of bulimia nervosa is a binge episode. Instead of dealing with uncomfortable emotions and thoughts, the person spirals and turns to food for comfort. One tends to overeat and binge on food as a form of emotional purging.
Typical dinner was a bucket of chicken, several orders of fries with blue cheese and ketchup, a couple TV dinners, a quart of soda, pounds of candy, a whole cake and three banana cream pies,” Keaton explained of her diet at the time she had bulimia.
Addressing this tumultuous time in her life, Keaton revealed that she developed the eating disorder after being asked to lose 10 pounds for a role in 2017. “I lost a lot of weight, and continued to keep my weight off for more than a year,” she explained. “I became a master at hiding. Hiding any evidence — how do you make sure no one knows? You live a lifestyle that is very strange. You’re living a lie.”
Keaton’s shocking appearance before death
According to her close friend, Carole Bayer Sager, she reflected on their last meeting after the star had passed. She revealed that she was taken aback at how thin Keaton appeared. “She had lost so much weight,” she recalled.
Several reports also claimed that the ‘Godfather’ actress also had an undisclosed medical condition, which deteriorated her health rapidly, months before her death. Another report alleged that due to a sudden downturn in her well-being, she was also forced to sell her Palm Springs home, worth nearly $29 million.
Sager told People that her rapid decline in health was “so unexpected, especially for someone with such strength and spirit.” She added that her health decline was “heartbreaking for everyone who loved her,” report NYP.