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It very nearly didn’t get off the ground, but the unconventional decision to base a romantic comedy around two late middle-aged leads would ultimately earn critical acclaim, and a $186 million profit.
Little wonder then, that leading man Jack Nicholson would thank co-star Diane Keaton for her remarkable performance in Something’s Gotta Give by writing her an enormous check.
Nicholson and Keaton were 65 and 56 respectively when they were cast in writer-director Nancy Meyers’ 2003 film about two older professionals who fall for each other – despite having little in common.
The film would go on to earn $266 million worldwide from a comparatively meagre $80 million budget and would earn Keaton – who passed away on Saturday aged 79 – her fourth Academy Award nomination.
But writing in her 2011 memoir, the actress admitted she hadn’t negotiated a back end to her contract – meaning co-star Nicholson earned significantly more money from the film.
Two years after it’s release, Keaton admitted she was stunned “when a check with a lot of zeros arrived in the mail for my back-end percentage.”
Diane Keaton and Jack Nicholson played unlikely lovers in 2003 romantic comedy Something’s Gotta Give (pictured)
Keaton passed away at her home in California on Saturday, aged 79 (pictured in 2022)
The actress later discovered the money had voluntarily come from Nicholson’s hefty percentage of the film’s gross earnings.
Recalling her working relationship with Nicholson during an interview with Vulture magazine, she said: ‘I mean, I hadn’t seen Jack, besides passing him, like, twice in 25 years.
‘So I didn’t know what he would be like. Because in that span of time, you know, Jack became larger than legendary.
‘He became a national treasure, which has not exactly happened to me.’
A family spokesperson confirmed on Saturday that the Oscar-winning actress had passed away in California.
Her loved ones have requested privacy as they mourn her loss, and no further details have been released.
‘She declined very suddenly, which was heartbreaking for everyone who loved her,’ a friend told People. ‘It was so unexpected, especially for someone with such strength and spirit.’
The source added: ‘In her final months, she was surrounded only by her closest family, who chose to keep things very private.
Nicholson and Keaton were 65 and 56 respectively when they were cast in writer-director Nancy Meyers’ 2003 film about two older professionals who fall for each other (pictured)
The film would go on to earn $266 million worldwide from a comparatively meagre $80 million budget and would earn Keaton her fourth Academy Award nomination
‘Even longtime friends weren’t fully aware of what was happening.’
Away from the screen, Keaton led a fiercely independent life.
She adopted two children – daughter Dexter and son Duke – in her 50s and remained unmarried, despite past relationships with major Hollywood names including Woody Allen, Warren Beatty, Al Pacino, and Jack Nicholson.
‘I think I’m the only one in my generation and maybe before who has been a single woman all her life,’ she once said.
‘I don’t think it would have been a good idea for me to have married, and I’m really glad I didn’t.’
Two years after it’s release, Keaton admitted she was stunned “when a check with a lot of zeros arrived in the mail” – a financial gift from Nicholson (pictured in 2004)
