Al Pacino is said to regret never marrying Diane Keaton after her death on Saturday at the age of 79 in California.
The two Hollywood legends shared an on-and-off relationship that lasted nearly two decades, starting after they met on the set of The godfather trilogy, in which Keaton played Pacino’s on-screen love interest.
Their real-life romance began in 1974 and ended in 1990 when Keaton reportedly gave Pacino an ultimatum about marriage, an ultimatum he ultimately turned down.
This is according to a source who spoke to the newspaper Daily mailthe 85-year-old actor has thought deeply about the past.
“I know he will forever regret not taking this step when he had the chance,” the insider said. Page six reports.
“For years after he and Diane separated, Al always said, ‘If it’s meant to be, it’s never too late for a new life.’ But unfortunately the time has now come.”
The source added that Pacino has always called Keaton “an amazing woman” and still considers her the love of his life.
Despite both living in Beverly Hills for years, the two never had contact again.
“I once asked him why,” the source said, “and he told me, ‘There’s no need to talk. We said everything that needed to be said.'”
Keaton himself reflected on their relationship in a 2017 interview with The Sunday timesand admitted that in retrospect it was better that they had never married.
“I didn’t even want him to propose. I just thought maybe he would marry me eventually,” she recalled.
“I was like, ‘Don’t even propose, let’s just do it.’ But that never happened, and that’s a blessing for both of us. It would have been a nightmare for him.”
She went on to explain that they were simply too different to make it work in the long run.
“We are very eccentric, he needed a woman to take care of him, I needed a man to take care of me,” she said. “It was just very important that we left each other alone, said goodbye. But it was not my choice.”
In another interview that same year, Keaton said PEOPLE that she was “crazy” about Pacino from the moment they met during filming The godfather.
“Charming, hilarious, a non-stop talker,” she said, describing him as “a lost orphan, such a crazy idiot savant. And oh, beautiful!”
Keaton never married, but adopted two children in his 50s: daughter Dexter, now 29, and son Duke, 25. Pacino also never tied the knot, although he is the father of four children: Julie Marie, 35, twins Anton and Olivia, 24, and son Roman, 2.
The two stars shared a rare public reunion in 2017 when Pacino honored Keaton at the 45th AFI Life Achievement Award Tribute.
Standing on stage, he praised his longtime friend and former love, saying, “You’re an artist, Di. You’re an amazing artist. … I love you forever.”
