Diane Keaton’s Family Shares Her Cause of Death, Thanks Fans for Their ‘Love and Support’ (Exclusive)

Diane Keaton‘s loved ones are speaking out after her death.

In an exclusive statement to PEOPLE, the Oscar-winning actress’s family confirmed she died of pneumonia on Oct. 11 and expressed their gratitude for the outpouring of support.

“The Keaton family are very grateful for the extraordinary messages of love and support they have received these past few days on behalf of their beloved Diane, who passed away from pneumonia on October 11,” reads the statement.

Keaton’s family went on to share the causes she was passionate about: “She loved her animals and she was steadfast in her support of the unhoused community, so any donations in her memory to a local food bank or an animal shelter would be a wonderful and much appreciated tribute to her.”

PEOPLE first reported on Saturday, Oct. 11, that the Oscar-winning actress had died in California at the age of 79. “There are no further details available at this time, and her family has asked for privacy in this moment of great sadness,” a spokesperson said at the time.

A source told PEOPLE Oct. 11 that Keaton’s health “declined very suddenly, which was heartbreaking for everyone who loved her.” Her death “was so unexpected,” added the source, “especially for someone with such strength and spirit.”

“In her final months, she was surrounded only by her closest family, who chose to keep things very private. Even longtime friends weren’t fully aware of what was happening,” said the source.

Keaton rose to fame in the 1970s thanks to her role in The Godfather films and her collaborations with director Woody Allen. She won an Oscar for Best Actress for 1977’s Annie Hall. Her long career included movies like The First Wives Club, multiple collaborations with director Nancy Meyers and the Book Club franchise.

Later roles for Keaton included The Family Stone, Because I Said So, Finding Dory and Poms. She made a rare TV appearance with a starring role in HBO’s 2016 limited series The Young Pope. Keaton also worked as a director, helming the 1987 documentary Heaven, 2000’s Hanging Up and an episode of Twin Peaks.

The actress, who was born in Los Angeles in 1946 as Diane Hall, had two children, daughter Dexter and son Duke, whom she adopted in 1996 and 2001.

Keaton never married. “Today I was thinking, I’m the only one in my generation of actresses who has been a single woman all her life,” she told PEOPLE in 2019. “I’m really glad I didn’t get married. I’m an oddball. I remember in high school, this guy came up to me and said, ‘One day you’re going to make a good wife.’ And I thought, ‘I don’t want to be a wife. No.’ ”

Diane Keaton‘s loved ones are speaking out after her death.

In an exclusive statement to PEOPLE, the Oscar-winning actress’s family confirmed she died of pneumonia on Oct. 11 and expressed their gratitude for the outpouring of support.

“The Keaton family are very grateful for the extraordinary messages of love and support they have received these past few days on behalf of their beloved Diane, who passed away from pneumonia on October 11,” reads the statement.

Keaton’s family went on to share the causes she was passionate about: “She loved her animals and she was steadfast in her support of the unhoused community, so any donations in her memory to a local food bank or an animal shelter would be a wonderful and much appreciated tribute to her.”

PEOPLE first reported on Saturday, Oct. 11, that the Oscar-winning actress had died in California at the age of 79. “There are no further details available at this time, and her family has asked for privacy in this moment of great sadness,” a spokesperson said at the time.

A source told PEOPLE Oct. 11 that Keaton’s health “declined very suddenly, which was heartbreaking for everyone who loved her.” Her death “was so unexpected,” added the source, “especially for someone with such strength and spirit.”

“In her final months, she was surrounded only by her closest family, who chose to keep things very private. Even longtime friends weren’t fully aware of what was happening,” said the source.

Keaton rose to fame in the 1970s thanks to her role in The Godfather films and her collaborations with director Woody Allen. She won an Oscar for Best Actress for 1977’s Annie Hall. Her long career included movies like The First Wives Club, multiple collaborations with director Nancy Meyers and the Book Club franchise.

Later roles for Keaton included The Family Stone, Because I Said So, Finding Dory and Poms. She made a rare TV appearance with a starring role in HBO’s 2016 limited series The Young Pope. Keaton also worked as a director, helming the 1987 documentary Heaven, 2000’s Hanging Up and an episode of Twin Peaks.

The actress, who was born in Los Angeles in 1946 as Diane Hall, had two children, daughter Dexter and son Duke, whom she adopted in 1996 and 2001.

Keaton never married. “Today I was thinking, I’m the only one in my generation of actresses who has been a single woman all her life,” she told PEOPLE in 2019. “I’m really glad I didn’t get married. I’m an oddball. I remember in high school, this guy came up to me and said, ‘One day you’re going to make a good wife.’ And I thought, ‘I don’t want to be a wife. No.’ ”