Richard Gere is paying tribute to legendary actress Diane Keaton.
Gere stopped by the Today show on Thursday morning, where he was asked about Keaton, who died on Saturday at the age of 79 from pneumonia. Their first film together was in 1977’s Looking for Mr. Goodbar, and that movie was also Gere’s second film of his career. More than four decades later, Gere and the Oscar winner reunited for 2023’s Maybe I Do.
“Obviously, I think about her now. We made a film a few years ago, too. I hadn’t seen her in a long time,” Gere said.
He continued to describe their experience working on Looking for Mr. Goodbar. “That was a difficult film, this very kind of raw, sexual film. And she’s pretty shy and skittish. And I was, too. That was my second film. And we kind of took care of each other, getting through these kind of challenging physical scenes with each other,” Gere said. “But I remember just how sweet and gentle she was and how real. And I think anyone who’s ever worked with her is just like, ‘This is a real person.’” He added that Keaton is “completely original.”
Following the news that Keaton died, many of her former co-stars and celebrities posted tributes on social media.
Keanu Reeves, who starred alongside Keaton in another beloved Keaton movie, Something’s Gotta Give, spoke to The Hollywood Reporter earlier this week about his memories working with her. “I had the wonderful opportunity to work with her and she was a very special artist and person,” Reeves said. “Very unique and just what a wonderful artist.”
