Diane Keaton posed with her beloved dog in her final Instagram before shock death at 79

Diane Keaton showed her affection for her beloved pets in the final social media post that she shared before her shock death. The iconic actress died on Saturday with a representative sharing the news in a short statement.

As fans around the world mourn the Oscar winning star - who was 79 at the time of her death - they have been taking to social media to share their shock and devastation. Many have flocked to Instagram to leave messages of condolence on Diane's final post - where she posed with a smile alongside her pet Labrador.

In a post shared with the retail company Hudson Grace, the post stated: "Proof our pets have great taste too! Happy National Pet Day from HG & @diane_keaton. #nationalpetday."

READ MORE: Diane Keaton dead: Godfather and First Wives Club actress dies at the age of 79

READ MORE: Diane Keaton's tragic health battle in her own words as Oscar-winning icon dies at 79

The message was shared on April 11 - exactly six months before her sudden passing. Diane's death was announced by People magazine.

A spokesperson revealed she had died in California on Saturday, October 11, and added: "There are no further details available at this time, and her family has asked for privacy in this moment of great sadness."

Fans have flooded her Instagram post with heartbroken messages. One fan wrote: "A true legend. Thank you for your talent, your animal advocacy, your immeasurable charm. You will be missed."

And another typed: "Dearest Diane, I will miss your style, humor and grace. You are a true queen who paved the road for so many. We love you."

The actress shot to fame in the 1970s with her role as Kay Adams in The Godfather trilogy, as well as her collaborations with Woody Allen. She won an Oscar for Allen’s influential film Annie Hall and became associated with the title character’s menswear-centric wardrobe.

Her many beloved films included The First Wives Club, Father Of The Bride, The Family Stone and the Book Club movies. She was nominated for Oscars for her roles in Something’s Gotta Give, Marvin’s Room and Reds, in which she starred opposite Warren Beatty.

Her film debut was in 1970’s Lovers and Other Strangers but her big break came in Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather, as the girlfriend of Al Pacino’s Michael Corleone, in 1972. She reprised her role in 1974’s The Godfather Part II and also for 1990’s The Godfather Part III.

Much of her career was defined by her many collaborations with Allen, her one-time boyfriend, and Annie Hall was the signature character of her career to many of her fans.

People speculated that the movie was based on Keaton and Allen’s relationship and Keaton told told The New York Times in 1977: “It’s not true, but there are elements of truth in it.”

Other collaborations with Allen included Manhattan, Sleeper, Manhattan Murder Mystery, and Play It Again, Sam. She remained supporter of Allen after the accusation by Mia Farrow that he had abused their adopted daughter, Dylan.

Keaton also frequently worked with Nancy Meyers, starting with 1987’s Baby Boom. Their other films together included 1991’s Father of the Bride and its 1995 sequel, as well as 2003’s Something’s Gotta Give.

In 1996 she starred opposite Goldie Hawn and Bette Midler in The First Wives Club, about three women whose husbands had left them for younger women.

More recently she collaborated with Jane Fonda, Mary Steenburgen and Candice Bergen on the Book Club films. Keaton never married. She adopted a daughter, Dexter, in 1996 and a son, Duke, four years later.

Follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Threads.