Diane Keaton Spoke About Motherhood, Adopting Children Dexter & Duke

Diane Keaton was famously single, right until her death on October 11 at the age of 79.

She spoke about not getting married in several interviews, saying that she valued her independence. Here's what Keaton said about getting married to Interview Magazine:

• "I didn’t want to give up my independence," Keaton said.
• "By the way, no one has ever asked me to marry them, either, so that might be a good answer. I should’ve started with that and called it a day."
• She also said watching her mother give up her dreams encouraged her to not wed.

However, despite her rejection of a traditional marriage, Keaton did embrace motherhood, and she famously did it later in life, in her 50s.

Diane Keaton Adopted 2 Children Named Dexter & Duke

Keaton adopted two children in her 50s and raised them on her own. Their names are Dexter and Duke, and, according to Realtor.com, they lived with the iconic actress in a California home that she just put on the market for $29 million.

The family lived with a dog that was featured in Keaton's last ever Instagram post last April.

Keaton told Peoplethat her children had no interest in the spotlight. "They have no interest in what I do, which I think is very healthy. We live a relatively normal — well, sort of normal — life," she told the magazine in 2017.

The children did accompany Keaton to a public appearance in 2022, at which point she emphasized how much she loved them and told the media that it meant "everything" to her to have Dexter and Duke at her side, People reported.

Dexter Keaton wrote about the event on Instagram, sharing a photo: "What an amazing day honoring my momma! I am so proud of you and this is an incredible honor. I love you ❤️"

Diane Keaton Described Motherhood as 'an Urge'

Keaton described her feelings about motherhood in an interview with Ladies Home Journal that is reprinted in People.

"Motherhood was not an urge I couldn't resist, it was more like a thought I'd been thinking for a very long time. So I plunged in," she told the magazine of adopting Dexter and Duke.

Keaton added, "I didn't think that I was ever going to be prepared to be a mother."

Dexter Keaton Shared Photos Showing Her With Her Mom, Diane Keaton, on Instagram

Dexter Keaton was married in 2021, and she posted pictures from her wedding to her Instagram page.She also posted a photo showing her with Diane Keaton on a snowy day in Pennsylvania.

Another photo showed Keaton with Dexter at her wedding.

"Showered with love by my family and friends! I’m so thankful for everyone who made yesterday so special! ???????????? HUGE thanks to Marla and Stephanie for throwing an amazing shower!" Dexter wrote with another photo that included Diane Keaton.

In 2021, Dexter shared a throwback picture showing her with her mom and wrote, "I don’t have any current photos of my mom and I, so here’s a throwback with my brother and our wonderful nanny at the time Sandra! Also, peep my mom not wearing shoes, which is not out of the ordinary for her."