Elliott Gould recalls Diane Keaton – ‘We snuck into the bush and she said, ‘This is called bluffing.'” | Diane Keaton

I was shocked to hear of Diane’s death. I loved it. There was no one like her. Intelligent, talented, generous, extremely intelligent and witty. She had more than just a sense of humor. She was hysterical. Whatever it was, I just got it.

The first time I saw her was in a deodorant commercial where she bit off someone’s ear. Everything about it was original. I would be interested in anything she was involved in because she was so keen, so smart, so smart. And anyone who worked with her had fun – as I later discovered.

We first met when she came to the audition for a picture I was preparing called “Glimpse of a Tiger.” She didn’t get the part, and I ended up not taking the photo, but I remember even at the time how unique she seemed, as well as so down to earth and so natural.

Then I took three pictures with her – I will, I will… for now; Harry and Walter went to New York and The Lemon Sisters – and we became friends. She sang and danced on that last song and was amazing at both. She was perfect to work with: always prepared, always present.

She was beautiful, she was sexy, and she was cute! What more could you ask for? She became a legitimate, all-star American artist, but she remained exactly the same person regardless of her fame.

She was completely professional. Even when the pictures weren’t all hits, they always worked. I always remember when we took our first photo together, in a small town called Ojai, California. After dinner, we snuck into the bush together, and she said to me, “This is called flirting.” She was talented and brilliantly funny, but she was also really honest and kind.

It’s a beautiful thing, in a way, that we all come and we all have to go. But I didn’t expect Diane to go, even though I knew she wasn’t feeling well. I am very happy to know her.