Inside Sarah Paulson and Late Diane Keaton’s Friendship From Post-Covid Dinner to the Premiere of ‘Wicked’

Sarah Paulson and Diane Keaton had a special friendship that lasted for decades.

Paulson was spotted crying outside Keaton’s home after news of the Annie Hall star’s death at age 79 broke in October 2025. Page Six reported the pair had been friends “for years.”

Keaton and Paulson costarred in 1999’s The Other Sister. Keaton starred as Elizabeth Tate, mother to Paulson’s Heather Tate and sister to Juliette Lewis’ Carla Tate, and it’s believed the pair’s friendship began around the same time.

While speaking to Variety on the red carpet ahead of the premiere of Wicked in November 2024, Paulson described Keaton as “the most generous, just playful, fun, alive performer.” Keep scrolling to read more about the friendship between Paulson and Keaton.

Sarah Paulson Described Diane Keaton as a Dear Friend

Paulson reflected on her friendship with Keaton in an interview with InStyle in September 2025 at the Through Her Lens Luncheon. “She played my mother in a movie in my first sort of studio movie. It was a really thrilling experience and she was the most generous, just playful, fun, alive performer and really taught me the power of beats in a scene,” she explained in a video shared via TikTok.

She continued: “And I was so scared, and she really took me under her wing and we’ve been really good friends ever since. She’s a filmmaker as well. She’s a fashion icon. She’s an absolute iconoclast. And I feel very lucky to call her a dear friend.”

Paulson also praised Keaton for guiding her as a younger performer. As a result, she said, “I think it’s really important to show up for events like this and try to offer whatever I can offer to a young up-and-coming filmmaker, which would just be my eyes and ears and things I’ve noticed and taken in and want to pass along.”

Sarah Paulson’s First Dinner Post-Covid Was With Diane Keaton

In a June 2021 appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Paulson revealed that her first dinner following the height of the Covid-19 pandemic was with Keaton.

Paulson explained her longtime friend told her she had been going to eat at restaurants after spending an extended period of time at home. “She was like, ‘I’ve been going, I’ve been sitting outside, I’m vaccinated, we can do it.’ So I do decide to go, it’s my first dinner in 17 months outside of my home.”

Paulson also revealed Keaton liked to “eat” Lillet wine with ice. “She likes to have that more than the other thing [at dinner],” Paulson joked. “Let’s put it that way. No, she likes a lot of pasta. She doesn’t need any meat or fish.”

They Sent Each Other Online Videos

Just like a lot of friends, Paulson and Keaton shared videos from social media with one another, something the Something’s Gotta Give actress revealed via Facebook in May 2020. “SARAH PAULSON SENT THIS TO ME THIS MORNING! THIS LITTLE BOY MADE ME LAUGH OUT LOUD FOR THE FIRST TIME IN TWO MONTHS!!!” Keaton captioned a video of a young boy appearing to argue about possible Covid-19 treatments.

Sarah Paulson and Diane Keaton Cried During ‘Wicked’

While attending the red carpet for the film adaptation of Wicked in November 2024, Paulson revealed she and Keaton saw the stage production of the beloved play together. “She and I went as friends to see it, and we just wept like little babies,” Paulson told Variety.

Diane Keaton Said Sarah Paulson Made Her Heart Sing

Keaton participated in a Q&A session for Interview Magazine in 2021 and was asked questions by 25 of her friends and colleagues. Paulson first asked, “If your house was on fire and you could only save one thing, what would it be?” to which Keaton answered her dog.

Paulson then asked, “What person, place, or thing makes your heart sing? (You can say me.)”

Keaton agreed. “Of course, Sarah, you make my heart sing,” she replied. “My friends make my heart sing. My kids make my heart sing. But also, Lillet Blanc makes my heart sing. With lots of ice.”

Sarah Paulson Attended Dexter Keaton’s Wedding

Paulson ventured out a second time during the same time span to attend the wedding of Diane’s daughter, Dexter Keaton, in June 2021, which she said was “bigger than I would have liked” (a reference to the ongoing pandemic at the time).