In Pacino, he remembers Diane Keaton, one of his great loves: "She made me happy and influenced the direction of my life."

The death of Diane Keaton She has been mourned by the film industry, by viewers, and also by the men with whom she shared her life. One of them, Al Pacino, has recalled the years of love he lived by her side with a statement he made public through the media. Deadline"Diane was my partner, my friend, someone who brought me happiness and who on more than one occasion influenced the direction of my life. Although more than thirty years have passed since we were together, the memories remain vivid, and with her death, they have returned with a force that is both painful and moving," says Paci.The Godfather, starring Michael Corleone and his second wife, Kay Adams-Corleone. The actor admits that the news of his ex-partner's death from pneumonia has unhinged him.

Pacino and Keaton's relationship was full of ups and downs and lasted almost 20 years. They began dating in 1974 and finally broke up in 1990, after the protagonist ofAnnie Hall gave the actor an ultimatum and he refused to marry her. Although their relationship ended, their friendship remained. "[Diane] lived without limits, and everything she touched carried her unmistakable energy. She opened doors for others, inspired generations, and embodied a unique gift of life that radiated through her work and her life," recalled the star of HeatThe singer closes the statement by assuring that his ex-partner will always hold a special place in his heart. "I will always remember her. She could fly, and in my heart, she will always fly," he says.

Diane Keaton had spoken on more than one occasion about her love affair with Pacino, who she said dazzled her from the moment she met him. "I was crazy about him. He was charming, funny, and a tireless conversationalist. There was a side to him that was like a lost orphan, like some kind of crazy idiot savant. And oh, he was beautiful!" she recalled in an interview with the magazine. PeopleIn that same conversation, she admitted that Pacino's decision not to get married precipitated the breakup. "I worked hard on that relationship, but I didn't do it in the best way," she said. The actress also explained that over the years she realized that not getting married had been the best option for both of them. "I didn't even want him to propose to me. I just thought that maybe, eventually, he would marry me. I thought: 'You don't even have to propose to me, let's do it.' But that never happened, and it's a blessing for both of us. It would have been a nightmare for him. It was very important that we leave each other alone, that we say goodbye. But it wasn't my choice," she explained to The Sunday Times. Keaton never married, and neither has Pacino.

This week the Daily Mail, citing a source close to the actor, said that Pacino regretted not marrying Keaton. "Looking back, Al admits that the love of his life was Diane, whom he has always referred to as a 'wonderful woman,'" a friend of Pacino's told the paper. "I know he will always regret not taking the plunge when he had the chance. For years, after he and Diane separated, Al would often say: «If it's meant to be, it's never too late to try again," the same source added.