Diane Keaton memorabilia fetches millions at Bonhams auctions
Memorabilia belonging to legendary actress Diane Keaton far exceeded expectations at a series of Bonhams auctions, with several items selling for many times their estimated value. Among the standout lots was the original script of Annie Hall, the 1977 classic that earned Keaton an Academy Award, which sold for more than 100 times its pre-sale estimate.
A style icon renowned for her androgynous fashion sense and natural elegance, Keaton was the focus of four in-person and online sales held between New York and Los Angeles. All 550 lots found buyers, generating a total of $4.2 million. The auctions featured personal belongings, Hollywood memorabilia, artworks from her collection, and pieces she created herself, CE Report quotes ANSA.
The star attraction was a flame-red leather-bound copy of the Annie Hall screenplay. The 133-page script, titled “Untitled Film Script” and dated April 15, 1976, sold for $394,200 after a 22-minute bidding battle. Pre-sale estimates had placed its value at only $2,000 to $3,000.
Several items from Keaton’s wardrobe also attracted intense interest. A black-and-white checked Ralph Lauren Purple Label coat paired with tailored trousers sold for more than $40,000, far above its $3,000 estimate. One of the actress’s signature wide-brimmed hats fetched $20,480, more than 50 times its initial valuation.
Known for rejecting cosmetic surgery and Botox while maintaining her distinctive style and charisma, Keaton built a celebrated career starring in films such as The Godfather, Reds, and Something's Gotta Give, as well as the television series The Young Pope. She passed away from pneumonia in Santa Monica at the age of 79.
“Talking about her means talking about instinct and a creative intuition that rarely failed and guided decades of artistic exploration,” her sister, Dorrie Hall, said while introducing the sale.
Artworks from Keaton’s personal collection also performed strongly. Desert Wanderer, Navajo (1912) by William Frederick Ritschel, once displayed in her Beverly Hills home, sold for $48,640. A 2011 photograph by Annie Leibovitz depicting Abraham Lincoln’s famous top hat fetched $32,000, ten times its estimate.
The auction also included original works created by Keaton herself. Among the most surprising results were black-and-white photo booth strips she produced in the 1970s and later incorporated into collages. One series showing a young Keaton holding a pair of Converse high-top sneakers sold for $14,080, while another featuring her playfully posing with a scarf reached $11,520.
Photo: Instagram
