Al Pacino is said to be filled with regret over never marrying Diane Keaton, following her death at age 79 in California on Saturday.
The two Hollywood legends shared an on-and-off relationship that lasted nearly two decades, beginning after they met on the set of The Godfather trilogy, where 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, one he ultimately turned down.
According to a source who spoke to the Daily Mail, the 85-year-old actor has been reflecting deeply on the past.
“I know he will forever regret he didn’t make his move when he had the chance,” the insider said, Page Six reports.
“For years after he and Diane split, Al used to say, ‘If it’s meant to be, it’s never too late for a do-over.’ But sadly, now it is.”
The source added that Pacino has always referred to Keaton as “an amazing woman” and still considers her the love of his life.
Despite both living in Beverly Hills for years, the two never reconnected.
“I once asked him why,” the source shared, “and he told me, ‘There’s no need to talk with each other. We said everything that needed to be said at the time.’”
Keaton herself reflected on their relationship in a 2017 interview with The Sunday Times, admitting that, in hindsight, it was better they never married.
“I didn’t even want him to propose. I just thought maybe he would marry me, eventually,” she recalled.
“I thought, ‘Don’t even propose — let’s just do it.’ But that never happened, and that is 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 long-term.
“We’re very eccentric, he needed a woman that was going to take care of him, I needed a man who would take care of me,” she said. “It was just very important that we left each other alone, said goodbye. But it wasn’t my choice.”
In another interview that same year, Keaton told PEOPLE that she was “mad” for Pacino from the moment they met while filming The Godfather.
“Charming, hilarious, a nonstop talker,” she said, describing him as “like a lost orphan, this kind of crazy idiot savant. And oh, gorgeous!”
Keaton never married but adopted two children in her 50s, daughter Dexter, now 29, and son Duke, 25. Pacino has also never tied the knot, though he is a father to 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 onstage, he praised his longtime friend and former love, saying, “You’re an artist, Di. You’re a great artist. … I love you, forever.”
