Fans everywhere were in mourning when they learned that actress Diane Keaton, 79, died on October 11. Most are aware of her work as an actress; she starred in everything from The Godfather to Something’s Gotta Give, but most folks don’t know that she had a true passion for her hometown of Los Angeles and preserving its history.
She loved it so much, in fact, that she spent two decades on the board of the L.A. Conservancy, according to Variety, and used her platform to help save some of Tinseltown’s most historic and culturally significant sites.
“Diane celebrated preservation victories, participated in our events, and brought her trademark grace and visibility to the Conservancy’s work—never hesitating to open doors with her name when she believed it could make a difference,” said Adrian Scott Fine, President and CEO, in a statement.
How did Diane Keaton get into conservancy?
Keaton’s passion for conservancy began with her personal connection to L.A. and her interest in historic homes. She tried valiantly to save the Ambassador Hotel, which opened in 1921 and, after decades of hosting the rich and famous, was shut down in 1989. When the LA Unified School District bought the site in 2001, Keaton fought to help make sure the original structure was adapted for the school, but they were allowed to tear it down in 2005…