Rachel Mcadams pays tribute to late Diane Keaton at the Oscars: ‘A legend with no end’
rachel mcadams took the stage during the In Memoriam segment at the 98th Academy Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday night (ET) to honor Diane Keaton. Keaton, who died in October 2025 at age 79, was remembered for a five-decade screen career and a singular personal style. McAdams framed the moment as both personal memory and public farewell.
Rachel Mcadams remembers Diane Keaton
Rachel Mcadams, who played Keaton’s daughter in the 2005 film The Family Stone, told the audience that Keaton “wore so many hats, literally and figuratively” and called her “a legend with no end. ” McAdams highlighted Keaton’s long influence: “For over 50 years, luminous on screen and indelible in life, believe me when I say there isn’t an actress of my generation who is not inspired by and enthralled with her absolute singularity. “
McAdams also recalled Keaton’s private devotion as a mother: “She wore so many hats, literally and figuratively, actress, artist, author, activist, but no hat more important to her than being a mother to her two children. She meant so much to so many of us. ” She closed with a childhood song Keaton used to sing on set: “Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver, and the other is gold. A circle is round, it has no end. That’s how long I’ll be your friend. “
Reactions and the In Memoriam segment
The In Memoriam segment also included broader industry remembrances and drew attention to the production choices behind the tribute. Oscars producers Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan described the segment as painstakingly assembled: “It’s everything from graphic design to titles to placement, because it all matters, ” Kapoor said, noting the team works on revisions “almost all the way up to the show” to allow people a chance to say goodbye.
Colleagues and co-stars added public tributes. Bette Midler, a co-star from The First Wives Club, wrote that Keaton’s death left her “unbearably sad, ” and Goldie Hawn reflected on their time making that film together, noting shared days that began with coffee in the makeup trailer and ended with long laughter on set.
The ceremony acknowledged Keaton’s awards and career milestones. Keaton won a leading actress Academy Award for Woody Allen’s Annie Hall and appeared in landmark films including the Godfather trilogy, Manhattan, The First Wives Club, Father of the Bride, Baby Boom and Something’s Gotta Give. One account noted Keaton’s death followed a period out of the public eye and that she is survived by her two adopted children, Duke and Dexter.
What’s next
Oscars producers signaled the In Memoriam assembly will remain a dynamic process as the industry continues to mark recent losses. Rachel mcadams’ onstage tribute is likely to prompt renewed attention to Keaton’s work and to conversations about how the Academy shapes remembrance on its broadcast. In the immediate term, the remarks offered to the room a personal ledger of affection and a reminder of the roles Keaton created, a legacy viewers and colleagues will revisit in the days ahead.
