Diane Keaton Became a Mom for the First Time at 50 — A Look Back at Her Life and Her Two Children
Diane Keaton was aware of her goals and preferences for her future from an early age. She had no intention of getting married. Until something changed in her life, neither was parenting children.
Diane Keaton knew what she wanted to do from an early age. Before departing to learn at the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York, she attended Santa Ana College to study drama.
She was performing on Broadway by the late 1960s, and she soon made the transition to film, landing early parts in “The Godfather” and “Play It Again, Sam.”
She never intended to become a mother, though. A personal loss and a change in her outlook on the future influenced her later decision.
Without getting married or making her intentions known in public, she became a mother. Her two children, who were adopted five years apart, have spent the most of their lives out of the spotlight.
Diane was already one of the most well-known characters in American cinema by the middle of the 1990s. After starring in films such as “Annie Hall,” “Reds,” and “The Family Stone,” she had gained both critical and financial recognition.
However, the death of her father from a brain tumor made her consider what she might do with the rest of her life. Shortly thereafter, she went back to California.
In a previous interview, Diane described how the death of her father served as the impetus for her decision to become a mother.
She didn’t intend to have children until then. She clarified, “I liked being a daughter,” Being a daughter is something I truly love.
Before I had to come to terms with the fact that I needed to move on, I don’t think I wanted to be someone who could take on [parenthood].” When Diane adopted her first kid, she was fifty years old.
She said that the choice might have been made on the spur of the moment in a different interview. When she was thirty, she had detested the notion of someone adopting at that age.
“I remember thinking at the time, ‘Well, that’s not a good idea at all,'” she said. Years later, however, her opinions changed.
Her words, “As life goes on, things change,” “You just don’t really know for sure where your journey is taking you.” For Diane, being a mother is more than just a statement.
“It’s by far the best choice I ever made,” she stated. She hesitated when asked what it brought to her life, describing it as “too profound.”
Dexter Keaton, the actress’s first child, was adopted in 1996. On December 15, 1995, Dexter was born. She did not pursue a career in entertainment as her mother did. Throughout her adolescence and early adulthood, she worked a number of part-time jobs.
From November 2012 to September 2015, Dexter worked at Westside Riding School, where she assisted kids in need and groomed and tacked horses, according to her LinkedIn profile.
She worked at Petco for nine months in 2016, handling animals, cleaning cages, replenishing shelves, and operating the cash register.
She worked as a senior lifeguard at the Maggie Gilbert Aquatic Center from April 2017 to December 2021. Dexter and Jordan White announced their engagement in November 2020.
“This morning started with hail and ended with a diamond!” she wrote as the caption for a picture she posted of the proposal on Instagram. It’s unbelievable that I’m engaged! Jordan, you are loved! 💍❤️.
The date of their marriage was June 12, 2021. She shared pictures from her honeymoon more than a week later, writing, “Thank you Jordan, my husband 🥰, for a great and memorable weekend and honeymoon. I cherish you! ☀️🌺🕊🤍 #shefoundthewhiteone #wedding #honeymoon #hawaii.”
On social media, Dexter has revealed tidbits of her connection with her mother. She shared a picture of herself and Diane grinning on Mother’s Day, writing, “Happy Mother’s Day to my incredible mama!
Being adopted by such a strong, attractive, and gifted woman makes me incredibly grateful. I am so grateful for all that you have done for me. ❤️ I cherish you.
She had maintained a low profile and hardly ever made an appearance in the media outside of these public updates.
On February 8, 2000, her brother Duke Keaton was born, and the following year, Diane adopted him. He is her second kid and has spent the majority of his life out of the spotlight.
Nonetheless, some information about his relationships and interests can be found on his internet profile. His involvement in music production is confirmed by the tracks he posts on SoundCloud.
Despite keeping a modest public profile, Duke appears to be friendly with several celebs based on his social media activities. He was pictured alongside Rita Ora and Cara Delevingne in one Instagram image. Although there was no description for the post, the picture suggested that the two were somewhat familiar.
Beyond that, hardly much about Duke’s education or career is known to the general public. He hasn’t done any interviews and hardly ever shows up with his well-known mother at press appearances or red carpet events. Diane reared two kids by herself.
She has stated time and time again that she never actively sought marriage. She stated in a 2019 interview, “I think that I’m strange.”
Diane had dated a number of famous actors, such as Woody Allen, Warren Beatty, and Al Pacino, but she never thought marriage was the proper path for her.
“I don’t think it would have been a good idea for me to have married, and I’m really glad I didn’t,” she stated. “And I’m sure they’re happy about it, too.” She felt that when it comes to being a mate, she lacked the caring trait.
Diane had provided further justifications for not getting married. Actress Lisa Kudrow considered this with her typical sense of humor, saying,
“That would be a good answer because no one has ever asked me to marry them either. I ought to have finished with that and gone to bed.”
She thought back to a boy who told her she would be a good wife when she was in high school. “I thought, ‘I don’t want to be a wife,'” Diane said at the time. “No.” Growing up, she saw things that influenced her views on marriage.
She characterized her mother as a devoted mother who, after getting married and having four kids, put her own goals on hold.
Diane remarked, “She was just the best mother,” However, I believe she is the reason I never married. I was unwilling to cede my independence.
When promoting her movie “Maybe I Do,” in 2023, Diane was asked how long it had been since she had gone on a date. “Let’s give 15 years,” she said. ‘Enough’s enough… she’s too odd,’ they presumably simply thought.
She had previously stated in an interview that she hadn’t gone on a date in perhaps 35 years. No dates.
She said, “I’m doing fine,” and quipped, “Someday, someone will marry me,” despite the extended time apart. Perhaps one of these pleasant folks who must deal with me today.”
Diane kept up a steady career in film until her last years, making appearances in films such as Mack & Rita and Book Club. She was respected for her genuineness, sense of humor, and classic style in addition to her acting.
The late Diane had not included her children in her profession and seldom ever spoke about them in public. When they do show up, it’s usually through their social media posts.
