Diane Keaton's Kids: Meet Daughter Dexter and Son Duke

Diane Keaton knew she made the best decision of her life when she pursued adoption more than two decades ago. Since then, the Something’s Gotta Give star has embraced her role as the mom of her two kids, daughter Dexter White (née Keaton) and son Duke Keaton.

“Motherhood has completely changed me,” Diane once gushed to Film Monthly. “It’s just about the most completely humbling experience that I’ve ever had. I think that it puts you in your place because it really forces you to address the issues that you claim to believe in, and if you can’t stand up to those principles when you’re raising a child, forget it.”

Diane experienced parenthood for the first time when she was 50 years old, adopting her daughter, Dexter, in 1996. The Godfather alum later welcomed her son, Duke, in 2001, and raised her beloved children as a single mom. Though she was in relationships with showbiz stars like Warren Beatty, Woody Allen, Al Pacino and others throughout the years, she never saw an opportunity to start a family with someone.

While speaking with Katie Couric in 2010, Diane explained why she never exchanged vows. “I think the reason I didn’t get married was because I would have to compromise too much,” she said, per Esme. “I wanted to try more adventurous things for myself.”

The Oscar winner yearned to find a “strong and substantive” relationship, but because that never happened, she decided to pursue parenthood on her own. Even though becoming a mom “was not an urge [she] couldn’t resist,” she knew deep down she wanted to have children.

“It was more like a thought I’d been thinking for a very long time,” the First Wives Club alum told Access Online in 2008. “So I plunged in.”

Though being a single parent had its ups and downs at times, Diane did an incredible job raising her kids. Not only have Dexter and Duke accomplished a lot so far in life, but the star’s daughter tied the knot with her husband, Jordan White, in June 2021.

“Diane has always been very private about her kids, even now that they’re older, but she’s so proud of them,” an insider exclusively shared with Closer Weekly following Dexter’s “perfect” nuptials. The source pointed out walking Dexter down the aisle was one of the film star’s “lifetime highs.”

To learn more about Diane’s children, keep scrolling!

Dexter White (née Keaton)

Diane adopted her first child in 1996, less than a year after Dexter was born in 1995. Though Dexter hasn’t pursued a Hollywood career like her legendary mom, she has supported Diane on a handful of red carpets over the years.

Dexter attended the University of Arizona, according to reports, and since then, she’s been living a private life out of the spotlight. However, she will post photos on her Instagram with friends and family every now and then. In January 2021, the brunette beauty uploaded a cute snap with Diane and Duke, writing, “I don’t have any current photos of my mom and I, so here’s a throwback with my brother and our wonderful nanny at the time Sandra! Also, peep my mom not wearing shoes, which is not out of the ordinary for her.”

Most excitedly, Dexter wed her husband, Jordan White, in June 2021. “The wedding was perfect. Diane has never tried to overshadow her kids, even at the wedding,” an insider told Closer following the nuptials. “She’s just the mother of the bride. It was Dexie’s day and she was a beautiful bride. Diane cried, of course … she just can’t believe how time flies by.”

Now that Dexter is a married woman, Diane “wants them to give her grandchildren,” the source added.

Duke Keaton

The Book Club actress welcomed her son, Duke, through adoption months after his birth in 2001. Duke has also embraced his mom’s showbiz status, though he has yet to pave a Hollywood career of his own. He has stepped out with his mom for fun shopping trips and the pair have been photographed hitting the beach together in Maui many times.
For now, it seems Diane’s young man enjoys photography, modeling and spending time with friends. The Poms actress also has a shared passion for photography like her son, and has published her work in books over the course of her Hollywood career. While Duke has remained out of the spotlight for most of his childhood, he did share a snap hanging out with Cara Delevingne and Rita Ora in August 2019.