After rising to fame in a series of hit Woody Allen comedies, Diane Keaton went on to enjoy a successful film career both as an actress and as a director. Born Diane Hall on January 5, 1946 in Los Angeles, she studied acting at Manhattan's Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theater, and in 1968 understudied in Hair; on Broadway she met actor/director Allen, and appeared in his 1969 stage hit Play It Again, Sam. In 1970 Keaton made her film debut in the comedy #Lovers and Other Strangers, and rose to fame as the paramour of Al Pacino's Michael Corleone in the 1972 blockbuster #The Godfather. That same year, she and Allen -- with whom Keaton had become romantically involved off-screen -- reprised #Play It Again, Sam for the cameras, and in 1973 he directed her in #Sleeper; #The Godfather Part II followed, as did Allen's #Love and Death. All of these films enjoyed great success, and Keaton stood on the verge of becoming a major star; however, when her next two pictures -- 1976's #I Will, I Will for Now and #Harry and Walter Go to New York -- both flopped, she returned to the stage to star in The Primary English Class.

In 1977 Allen released his fourth film with Keaton, #Annie Hall; a clearly autobiographical portrait of the couple's real-life romance, it was a landmark, a bittersweet, soul-searching tale that brought a new level of sophistication to the film comedy form. Not only did the film itself win an Academy Award for Best Picture, but Keaton garnered Best Actress honors; that same year she also headlined the controversial drama #Looking for Mr. Goodbar. Two more films with Allen, 1978's Bergman-esque #Interiors and the 1979 masterpiece #Manhattan, followed; however, when the couple separated, Keaton began a romance with Warren Beatty, with whom she co-starred in the 1981 epic #Reds, earning a Best Actress nomination. Continuing to pursue more dramatic projects, she next co-starred in 1982's #Shoot the Moon, followed by a pair of box-office disappointments, #The Little Drummer Girl and #Mrs. Soffel. #Crimes of the Heart was a minor success in 1986, and a year later she made her directorial debut with the documentary #Heaven.

Keaton's next starring role, in the domestic comedy #Baby Boom, was a smash, and after close to a decade apart she and Allen reunited for #Radio Days, in which she briefly appeared as a singer. Upon starring in 1988's disappointing #The Good Mother, she began splitting her time between acting and directing; in between appearing in films including 1990's #The Godfather Part III, 1991's hit #Father of the Bride, and 1992's telefilm #Running Mates, she helmed music videos, after-school specials (1990's #The Girl with the Crazy Brother), and TV features (1991's #Wildflower) -- she even directed an episode of the David Lynch cult favorite #Twin Peaks. After stepping in for Mia Farrow in Allen's 1993 picture #Manhattan Murder Mystery, Keaton essayed the title role in the 1994 TV biopic #Amelia Earhart: the Final Flight, and in 1995 made her feature-length directorial debut with the quirky drama #Unstrung Heroes. After co-starring with Bette Midler and Goldie Hawn in the 1996 comedy smash #The First Wives Club, she earned another Oscar nomination for her work in #Marvin's Room; in 1997 she starred in #The Only Thrill. ~ Jason Ankeny, Rovi