Diane Keaton is one of the most acclaimed and versatile actresses in Hollywood, with a career spanning over five decades. She has starred in iconic films such as The Godfather, Annie Hall, Manhattan, Baby Boom, The First Wives Club, and Something’s Gotta Give, among many others. She has also won an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, and two Golden Globe Awards for her performances.
But is she related to another famous Keaton in the film industry? Buster Keaton, the legendary silent film star and comedian, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. His films, such as The General, Sherlock Jr., Steamboat Bill Jr., and The Cameraman, are still admired for their innovative and hilarious stunts, visual gags, and storytelling.
The answer is no. Diane Keaton and Buster Keaton are not related by blood or marriage. They just happen to share the same surname, which is actually not their original one.
How Diane Keaton Got Her Name
Diane Keaton was born Diane Hall on January 5, 1946, in Los Angeles, California. Her mother, Dorothy Deanne (née Keaton), was a homemaker and amateur photographer; her father, John Newton Ignatius “Jack” Hall, was a real estate broker and civil engineer.
Diane decided to pursue an acting career after graduating from high school in 1964. She moved to New York City and enrolled in the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre. She also changed her name to Diane Keaton, using her mother’s maiden name, because there was already a registered actress named Diane Hall in the Actors Guild.
She made her Broadway debut in 1968 in the original production of the musical Hair. She then met Woody Allen, who cast her in his play Play It Again, Sam in 1969. She received a Tony Award nomination for her role and also starred in the film adaptation in 1972.
She rose to fame with her role as Kay Adams-Corleone in The Godfather (1972) and its sequels. She also collaborated with Woody Allen in several films, most notably Annie Hall (1977), which won her the Oscar for Best Actress.
How Buster Keaton Got His Name
Buster Keaton was born Joseph Frank Keaton VI on October 4, 1895, in Piqua, Kansas. His parents, Joseph Hallie “Joe” Keaton and Myra Edith Cutler, were vaudeville performers who traveled across the country with their act The Three Keatons.
Buster joined them on stage when he was only a few months old. He was given the nickname “Buster” by Harry Houdini, who witnessed him falling down a flight of stairs without getting hurt when he was a toddler. Houdini reportedly said, “That was a real buster!” meaning a fall or a spill.
Buster learned how to perform physical comedy and stunts from his father, who often threw him around as part of their routine. He also developed his trademark deadpan expression, which he said was due to his father’s advice: “The audience doesn’t want to see you work; they want to see you play.”
He made his film debut in 1917 in a short comedy called The Butcher Boy, directed by Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle. He soon became Arbuckle’s co-star and protégé. He then started making his own films, first as a director and then as a producer and writer. He created some of the most inventive and influential comedies of the silent era, combining slapstick humor with elaborate visual effects and stunts.
He married Natalie Talmadge in 1921 and had two sons with her: Joseph Talmadge “Buster” Keaton Jr. and Robert Talmadge Keaton. They divorced in 1932 and Buster married Eleanor Norris in 1940. They remained together until his death in 1966.
Conclusion
Diane Keaton and Buster Keaton are both icons of cinema who have left their mark on generations of audiences and filmmakers. However, they are not related to each other in any way. They just happen to have the same last name because they both adopted their mother’s maiden name as their stage name.
According to Wikipedia, Diane Keaton was born Diane Hall and Buster Keaton was born Joseph Frank Keaton VI. They never met or worked together during their careers.
So next time you hear someone ask if they are related, you can confidently say no and share this article with them!.
