Why Diane Keaton Chose Never to Marry: Inside the Icon’s Honest Reflections on Love and Life

Diane Keaton’s Take on Marriage: “It Just Wasn’t for Me”

Oscar-winning actress Diane Keaton may have played plenty of romantic roles on screen, but off-screen, she never felt the need to say “I do.” Before her passing at age 79, the Annie Hall star was refreshingly candid about her decision to remain single — despite her high-profile romances with Hollywood legends Warren Beatty, Al Pacino, and Woody Allen.

“I think that I’m strange,” Keaton told People in a 2019 interview. “I think I’m the only one in my generation and maybe before who has been a single woman all her life.”

The actress, who adopted two children — Dexter, now 29, and Duke, 25 — often explained that marriage never felt like the right fit for her. “I think I needed more of a maternal aspect,” she said. “I don’t think it would have been a good idea for me to have married, and I’m really glad I didn’t — and I’m sure they’re happy about it too.”

Calling herself an “oddball,” Keaton proudly embraced her independence and life outside the traditional mold.

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From Hollywood Romances to Self-Discovery

Though she was never short on suitors, Diane admitted that her younger self was often drawn to “extraordinary” men — especially those she worked with.

“When I was young, I was looking to be loved by these extraordinary people,” she reflected. “I think I should not have been so seduced by talent. When you’re both doing the same job, it’s not so great. I should have found just a nice human being — kind of a family guy.”

Still, her decision to remain unmarried wasn’t rooted in heartbreak, but self-awareness. In fact, she once recalled rejecting the idea of marriage from a young age. “I remember one day in high school, this guy came up to me and said, ‘One day you’re going to make a good wife,’” she said. “And I thought, ‘I don’t want to be a wife. No.’”

Diane’s view on love evolved over the decades — but her independence remained her trademark.

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A Life Filled With Love — Just Not the Traditional Kind

In her later years, Diane Keaton found unwavering love and companionship — not in a partner, but in her golden retriever, Reggie. “I just love her,” she told AARP in 2023. “Dogs are irresistible. They’re just idiots. Reggie is a big jerk, and she’s a great jerk, and she’s hilarious.”

The Book Club actress also confessed that dating wasn’t on her radar anymore. “I don’t date,” she shared. “Highly unlikely. I don’t remember anyone calling me, going, ‘This is so-and-so. I’d like to take you out.’ That doesn’t happen. Of course not.”

Even without a husband, Diane Keaton lived a life filled with love — through her children, her friends, her work, and her four-legged companion. She redefined what fulfillment looks like, proving that happiness doesn’t have to follow the script.