48 Years Ago Today, Beloved '70s Icon Won Her Only Best Actress Award at the Oscars
48 Years Ago Today, Beloved '70s Icon Won Her Only Best Actress Award at the Oscars
Geca FloresSat, April 4, 2026 at 2:41 AM UTC
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Diane Keaton reached a career-defining milestone 48 years ago today, when she took home a major award for her iconic title role in Annie Hall.
Before her illustrious career on the big screen starring in The Godfather trilogy, The First Wives Club, Something's Gotta Give and Father of the Bride, the Los Angeles native captured the public's heart with her unforgettable performance in the Woody Allen-directed classic.
Not only did the movie mark a radical shift in how women were portrayed in films, but it also sparked the buzz around the "Annie Hall Look," igniting a trend of menswear-inspired fashion for women.
The viewers’ strong reaction and positive reviews from critics led to Annie Hall winning back-to-back awards. This includes Keaton’s first Oscar Award.
Diane Keaton and Woody Allen in the film "Annie Hall."Getty Images (Getty Images)
On April 3, 1978, the then 32-year-old star solidified her presence as one of Hollywood's most iconic talents after winning Best Actress at the 50th Academy Awards.
Presented by Janet Gaynor and Walter Matthau, the actress took the stage to express how “honored” and thankful she was for the opportunity and recognition.
“This is terrific,” she said in her acceptance speech as cited by the Oscars. “It's simply terrific. Naturally, I'm very honored to have been nominated with actresses like Jane Fonda, Shirley MacLaine, Anne Bancroft and Marsha Mason; this is something. Anyway, ‘Annie Hall’ was a wonderful experience for me, and I just would like to say thanks to Woody, and thank you. Thank you very much.”
Richard Dreyfuss and Diane Keaton at the 50th Annual Academy AwardsABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images (ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images)
Apart from Keaton’s first and only Best Actress Award at the Oscars, she also took home another major win in the same year.
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The Smother star won Best Actress for Motion Picture Musical or Comedy at the 35th Golden Globe Awards for her role in Annie Hall, marking a back-to-back best-actress win.
Unfortunately, 48 years later, following her monumental win at the Oscars, Keaton was given a special tribute at the 98th Academy Awards.
Following her death on October 11, 2025, at the age of 79, the Memoriam segment was led by The Family Stone co-star Rachel McAdams, who described her as “a legend with no end.”
“She wore so many hats, literally and figuratively – actress, artist, author, activist – but no hat was more important to her than being a mother to her two children,” McAdams said. “She meant so much to so many of us.”
The actress concluded her speech by recalling a memorable moment with Keaton as she continued to express her admiration and the influence she had on the industry.
“I remember she used to sing this old Girl Scout song on set, which is just so her: ‘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.’ And so to our friend Diane Keaton, celebrating a life in silver and gold, a legend with no end.”
Keaton passed away in California due to pneumonia, as cited by The Guardian.
Related: 45 Years Ago Today, Beloved '70s Icon Won His First Best Actor Award at the Oscars
This story was originally published by Parade on Apr 4, 2026, where it first appeared in the Celebs section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
