“I’m an Addict in Recovery”: Diane Keaton’s Unflinching Look at Her Own Demons

Following the death of Diane Keaton at 79, her own powerful words about her life’s struggles resonate with renewed force. The actress was unflinchingly honest about the demons she faced, particularly a severe eating disorder she described as an addiction, as well as a lifelong battle with skin cancer.
Keaton’s most startling confessions revolved around her bulimia. “I am an addict,” she once stated, “I’m an addict in recovery.” This self-awareness was hard-won after years of secretly binging on as many as 20,000 calories a day. She detailed massive meals of fried chicken, cakes, and pies, painting a vivid picture of the compulsive behavior that she fought to overcome.
The trigger for her eating disorder was a common one in her industry: pressure to lose weight for a role. But Keaton’s willingness to discuss the psychological aftermath, and to frame it as an addiction, was uncommon and powerful. It offered a perspective that was both shocking and deeply validating for others suffering in silence.
Alongside this internal war, she fought a recurrent external one against skin cancer. Diagnosed at 21, the disease, which ran in her family, prompted her to adopt her signature hats as a shield against the sun. This battle included treatments for two different types of skin cancer and multiple surgeries, a reality she did not shy away from discussing.
Her journey toward health involved intensive therapy and led to a life she cherished, with two adopted children. By refusing to hide her past, Keaton challenged the stigma surrounding mental health and eating disorders. Her legacy is not just one of cinematic achievement, but of a woman who bravely faced her demons and encouraged others to do the same.