Elizabeth Berkley is remembering Diane Keaton days after she died of bacterial pneumonia at age 79.
The 53-year-old Saved by the Bell alum shared the screen with the late actress in 1996 comedy/drama The First Wives Club.
Berkley portrayed the eager, opportunist Phoebe LaVelle alongside Keaton, Goldie Hawn, and Bette Midler.
At the All’s Fair premiere last week, she shared that Keaton demonstrated ‘what true leadership looks like.’
‘It was a profound time,’ Berkley told People. ‘To be embraced by these three most extraordinary women at the top of their game, women I had looked up to.’
The Showgirls star added, ‘I’m very, very deeply sad about her passing. But what a legacy, not only as an artist but as a woman, a creative.’
Elizabeth Berkley is remembering Diane Keaton days after she died of bacterial pneumonia at age 79; pictured October 16
The 53-year-old Saved by the Bell alum shared the screen with the late actress in 1996 comedy/drama The First Wives Club
She also said about the pioneering star, ‘Anyone who knew her knew what a huge heart she had. And just anyone was lucky to be in her orbit. Just a loving, loving, special woman.’
The silver screen siren said about the trio of showbiz vets, ‘These women are extraordinary. They’re all in their own right, a force of nature.
‘And so, to get to collaborate with that kind of power, the generosity on set was really beautiful.’
Berkley worked on The First Wives Club shortly after her now-iconic Las Vegas-based drama Showgirls was harshly ridiculed.
Recalling her time shooting the late 90s film, she said, ‘They say never get too close to your heroes. Well, each of those women in their own right not only lived up to what I hoped they would be, they went beyond with their warmth, their generosity, their embrace of me and encouragement at a time where I really needed it in the industry.’
She went on to say, ‘And on that film — those women did. So for me as a 20-something to see that, I realized what it could be and that I never wanted anything less than that.’
This year marks the 30th anniversary of Berkley’s box office bomb Showgirls, which in recent years has come to be adored by younger generations.
To celebrate the milestone, the actress participated in a special screening hosted at Paramount Theatre in Austin, Texas earlier this month.
At the All’s Fair premiere last week, Berkley shared that Keaton demonstrated ‘what true leadership looks like’
Berkley portrayed the eager, opportunist Phoebe LaVelle alongside Keaton, Goldie Hawn, and Bette Midler
Berkley pictured with Mario Lopez on the 90s sitcom Saved by the Bell
She recently shared a throwback movie still on Instagram, featuring her in character as Nomi.
Berkley wrote in a caption to her 505,000 followers, ‘If this young girl knew that after a role she poured her heart and soul into would once be met with ridicule and now met with #LOVE, she wouldn’t have believed it… actually she was always a dreamer and still is — no matter what!!!’
She reflected, ‘Life will surprise you and move you in ways beyond your vision if you let it. TONIGHT we get to share meaningful moments and gratitude for the ones who knew all along.’
Finally, the entertainer added, ‘Tonight is for her and all Nomis out there — NOMI=Know Me❤️.’
A family spokesperson confirmed to People that Keaton, an Academy Award-winning actress, passed away in California on October 11.
Her loved ones requested privacy as they mourn her loss.
She never married but adopted two children, 29-year-old daughter Dexter and 25-year-old son Duke.
