Al Pacino and Diane Keaton dated on and off for several years.

Now, Al honors his ex with a heartfelt three-word message.

Dated from 1974 to 1990

The news of Diane Keaton’s passing has shaken many of us. And for those who were close to the beloved actress, the news hit even harder.

The Oscar-winning actress died at 79 on Saturday, October 11, with her family confirming that pneumonia was the cause of death.

Now, after taking a few days to process the devastating news, Al Pacino has shared a deeply emotional tribute to his longtime friend and former on-and-off partner.

The Scarface star, 85, who dated Keaton from 1974 to 1990, told Deadline,

“When I first heard the news, I was shaken. Diane was my partner, my friend, someone who brought me happiness and on more than one occasion influenced the direction of my life. Though over thirty years have passed since we were together, the memories remain vivid, and with her passing, they have returned with a force that is both painful and moving.”

Pacino went on to celebrate Keaton’s unstoppable energy and creative brilliance:

“She lived without limits, and everything she touched carried her unmistakable energy. She opened doors for others, inspired generations and embodied a once-in-a-lifetime gift that radiated through her work and her life.”

The legendary actor also praised her iconic screen presence, writing,

“On screen, she was magnetic—lightning and charm, hurricanes and tenderness. She was a wonder. Acting was her art, but it was only one of the many ways she expressed her imagination and creativity. People will miss her, but more than that, they will remember her. She left a mark that cannot fade. She was unstoppable, resilient and above all, deeply human. I will always remember her. She could fly—and in my heart, she always will.”

Why they broke up

According to several media outlets, Pacino and Keaton first met on the set of The Godfather in the early 1970s, but didn’t start dating until after the release of the second film in 1974.

”We were struggling actors when we first met but I had to wait years and years before we finally got together,” Al Pacino shared with the Irish Independent in 1993.

Throughout their years together, Al and Diane never started a family. At the time, Pacino wouldn’t say whether that was his decision or hers. According to him, their relationship ended during the filming of The Godfather Part III, when he revealed to Keaton that he would a daughter, Julie Marie, with acting coach Jan Tarrant.

“It was bittersweet,” Pacino reflected on the moment.

According to other sources, their on-and-off romance lasted until 1990, when Keaton ended things over Pacino’s reluctance to marry. Al Pacino was eventually handed an ultimatum by Keaton after years of back and forth: ask for her hand in marriage, or walk away.

Pacino chose the latter. As per a friend of the Scarface star, he regretted that decision.

“Looking back, Al admits the love of his life was Diane who he’s always called, ‘an amazing woman’!” a friend of the actor told the Mail.

“I know he will forever regret he didn’t make his move when he had the chance.

“For years after he and Diane split, Al used to say, ‘if it’s meant to be, it’s never too late for a do-over’. But sadly, now it is.”

”The most beautiful face”

Keaton once said of Pacino, ”Al was simply the most entertaining man … To me, that’s, that is the most beautiful face. I think Warren [Beatty] was gorgeous, very pretty, but Al’s face is like whoa. Killer, killer face.”

Diane Keaton would forward with her life, adopting her daughter Dexter, 29, and son Duke, 25, in her 50s, raising both as a devoted single mother.

It was clear that Diane Keaton and Al Pacino shared deep feelings for each other, and the impact they had on each other’s lives is undeniable.

From her unforgettable performances on-screen to her magnetic personality off it, Diane Keaton left a mark that will never fade — and Al Pacino’s heartfelt words show just how deeply she touched the lives of those who knew her best.