Diane Keaton denies dismissing Hollywood’s older women

To the editor: While many tributes to Diane Keaton in the wake of her death have focused on her iconic roles and her Oscar-winning performance in “Anne Hall,” we also mourn a woman who refused to fade away — a star who insisted that women’s stories don’t end after a certain age (“Diane Keaton, movie legend, fashion trendsetter and hero of LA’s past, dies at 79.” October 11).

Keaton didn’t just treat older women to Hollywood’s dismissive attitude; She destroyed it. From “The Godfather” to “Book Club,” her career charted the evolution of women both on and off screen. When Keaton appeared as Kai Adams in 1972’s “The Godfather,” she showed us what happens when a woman disappears into a man’s world.

As a teenager, I recognized the warning. My traditional Chinese American immigrant mother wanted me to marry well and be a homemaker who could provide for myself. Kay represents the woman I fear – losing my voice and identity.

Five years later, “Annie Hall” was a revelation. Keaton’s Annie wears a man’s suit, sings key songs and shows that honesty is her beauty. At 57, she starred in “Something’s Gotta Give,” showing that hope and reinvention don’t end at menopause. The film made a profit $265 million worldwideSteady viewers will turn to stories about old women. In 2018, at age 72, Keaton starred in “Book Club,” reminding us that women don’t stop fighting age or wanting to be in a relationship.

Yet, even as Keaton celebrated women’s full arcs, Hollywood still considered the post-40s expendable. Keaton refused to cover his ears. This refusal was authority itself.

For five decades, Keaton has shown us that our stories never end; They are growing. She taught us that self-creation is a living act of fun.

Yvonne Liu, Rancho Palos Verdes