Saturday Night Live alum Molly Shannon posted a touching screenshot on Instagram this weekend displaying a direct message she once sent Diane Keaton, who sadly passed away over the weekend at the age of 79.
“You don’t have to respond,” Shannon’s message to Keaton read. “But I just zoom interviewed Steve Martin for his new graphic novel for independent bookstores with a big virtual audience. Asked him what it was like to work with you and he said you made his heart pound and basically how everyone felt that way about you hanging on every word of yours and how you do take after take all brilliant.”
She added: “Just wanted to tell you. He just was singing your praises to all!”
As seen in Shannon’s message, Keaton replied, “That is SO SWEET!!!! More like how amazing YOU ARE! Beyond hilarious and talented. Thank you so much for this message. You are a STAR.”
Below the screenshot, Shannon spoke highly of Keaton in the post’s caption.
“@diane_keaton what a one of a kind, legend, inspiration,” she wrote. “So generous to ALL women. This is what she was like — so kind to other female performers. I soaked up every interview she gave and DEVOURED all her books. So INTELLIGENT and funny and soulful. Deep. I love how she LOVED TURTLENECKS!!❤️”
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Shannon’s post arrived just days after Keaton died on October 11. The cause of death has not been publicly disclosed, though colleagues say her health declined very suddenly in recent months.
Fans were quick to share their own heartfelt notes beneath Shannon’s post.
“We lost a genuinely kind and loving human who was beyond talented,” one comment read. “I’m happy you were able to have these interactions with her. 💕”
“I love her response to you. Truly one of a kind,” a fan added, with another writing: “Diane is also right about YOU. Love you both.”
“Diane Keaton was a fabulous woman, and you are too Molly,” one fan noted. “Queen was recognizing Queen. She will be sorely missed.”
“So amazing how she turns around this compliment and genuinely puts the focus on you,” another observed. “She was so extraordinary.”
“I loved reading this, Molly,” one comment read. “She inspired you, and you in turn inspire so many other women. That’s how we all can lift each other up!”
Another fan summed up their admiration for both Keaton and Shannon, calling them both “authentic geniuses.”
