- - Diane Keaton's Charming Response When She Was Named Harvard's Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year in 1991 (Exclusive)

Angela AndaloroJanuary 30, 2026 at 5:00 AM

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Diane Keaton honored by Hasting Pudding Club as she's named Hasty Pudding Theatricals' Woman of the Year 1991

Janet Knott/The Boston Globe via Getty

Each year, Harvard's Hasty Pudding Theatricals honors a Man and Woman of the Year for impressive contributions to the world of entertainment

The 1991 honoree was Diane Keaton, on the tail of her appearance in all three Godfather films and her foray into directing

Members of the 1991 HPT tell PEOPLE about what it was like honoring the actress, who died in Oct. 2025 at 79

As Harvard's Hasty Pudding Theatricals prepare to celebrate the 2026 Man and Woman of the Year, they're also remembering one of their past honorees.

In 1991, Hasty Pudding Theatricals awarded the annual honor to Diane Keaton for her contributions to film. Following Keaton's death at 79 in Oct. 2025, PEOPLE spoke with members of the organization about their memories from that special day.

Mo Rocca, who was president of the Hasty Pudding Theatricals that year, recalled getting to spend the day of the celebration with the Annie Hall star.

"She was our Woman of the Year, and I was a totally enchanted 22-year-old college senior," he recalled, sharing three moments from the day that stand out to him looking back.

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Diane Keaton in 1990

Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty

"Early that morning a few of us in jacket and tie waited nervously at the gate for her to come off her flight to Boston from LA. She hurried off the plane, a big smile on her face, with maybe a single assistant keeping up with her. She didn't carry herself like a celebrity at all," he shared.

"There was no 'bubble' around her. Instead, she was looking over here, over there, commenting on this and that. All of us were instantly riding the Diane Keaton stream of consciousness."

Rocca recalls Keaton making jokes at her own expense, surprised she was chosen for the honor.

"When we got into the limo, she turned to me and cast vice president Jason Tomarken and asked in the most charming and ingenuous way, 'Now wait a minute, why didn't you guys ask Madonna?' " he laughed.

"She really didn't understand why we'd asked her to be our Woman of the Year. She seemed almost perplexed. Of course, this made me love her even more."

Diane Keaton in 1992

Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

Keaton continued to charm the students of HPT at the after-party, which many students were surprised to see her attend.

"One of the student business managers for the show had had a few drinks. Over the music, she half drunkenly asked Diane Keaton, 'You're Diane Keaton. I mean, what's that like? Being Diane Keaton?' Diane responded, 'Honey, I only have a career because of Woody Allen, ' " Rocca recalls.

Jason Tomarken, who served as the vice president of HPT, says he and Rocca have shared memories of that special day over the years.

"Diane Keaton was so down to earth, warm, fun, singularly cool and joyful. She made my day, and the entire occasion, even more special," he said.

Diane Keaton in 2022

Amy Sussman/Getty Images

"I also remember our laughing with her downstairs after the roast ceremony, and as much as Mo and I were so honored to meet her and spend time with her, she greeted us like a fellow castmate, giggling about how fun and nutty it was. It was such a thrill. She was such a special person, and I am so sad she has left this world."

Suk Han, who served as producer of the event, remembers Keaton as "an incredibly talented artist."

"She was a class act - from her visual style (the beret, the turtleneck - it was COLD during that parade) to her personal warmth - and it was our sincere honor to have her be our Woman of the Year in 1991."

on People

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