Ellen DeGeneres Highlights ‘Hero’ Diane Keaton’s 20 Visits to Talk Show: ‘One of My All-Time Favorite Guests’

Ellen DeGeneres is honoring the “one of a kind” Diane Keaton.

After news of Keaton’s death at age 79 on Saturday, Oct. 11, DeGeneres paid tribute to the Oscar winner with a post on Instagram showcasing favorite moments from her 20 appearances on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, which began in December 2003.

Some of the standout moments including DeGeneres, 67, telling Keaton how much she loved the actress’ signature hat after the latter said, “I’m beginning to think I’m odd” for wearing it.

“What is great about you is you’re unique, and that’s what everyone should be — everyone shouldn’t do what other people do, and that’s why you’re so fantastic,” DeGeneres told her guest near the beginning of the 10-minute montage, as the audience cheered for Keaton.

Other appearances included conversations between the two about what Keaton might have done for a career if she didn’t get into acting and directing (“a salesperson at Woolworth’s … in the bra department”), a look back at an over-the-top commercial she did in the ’70s, and her excitement over sharing iced red wine with DeGeneres.

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During the latter appearance in 2013, Keaton dissolved into laughter as she talked about her movie The Big Wedding and some of the more intimate scenes — including a hilarious explanation of tantric sex and “ridiculous” nine-hour orgasms.

“I loved kissing him,” she quipped of costar Robert De Niro. “I enjoy the kissing of the men. … I’m in trouble. I gotta go home now.”

Keaton’s run on DeGeneres’ show began in December 2003 and ran through May 9, 2022, just two weeks before its final episode.

DeGeneres, who also costarred with Keaton in 2016’s Finding Dory (she voiced Jenny, the mother of DeGeneres’ titular forgetful fish), wrote alongside her video montage on Instagram that Keaton “was an icon — a hero of mine growing up.”

“To be able to connect with her on my show over the years was so much fun,” DeGeneres continued. “She was one of my all-time favorite guests. Always a surprise. always fun. She was one of a kind.”

Longtime Ellen DeGeneres Show executive producer Andy Lassner also paid tribute to Keaton in a post, sharing a photo of her and DeGeneres from the wine episode and writing, “R. I. P. Legend
One of our absolute favorites at ‘Ellen.’ ”

Among the comments on DeGeneres’ post was one from Keaton’s onscreen Father of the Bride daughter Kimberly Williams-Paisley, who wrote, “Thank you for this. What a beautiful tribute.”

“forever adored for her extraordinary talent. I love you Diane!” added Reese Witherspoon.

The Annie Hall actress died in California on Saturday, Oct. 11. “There are no further details available at this time, and her family has asked for privacy in this moment of great sadness,” a spokesperson told PEOPLE at the time.

Keaton is survived by her two children: daughter Dexter, 29, and son Duke, 25.