Not all is lost forever. Although it took 50 years, Diane Keaton is about to be reunited with her long-lost wallet.
Treasure hunger Anton Lulgjuraj bought a box of contents from an abandoned storage locker at an auction in Putnam County, New York, and received a pleasant surprise stashed among the various bric-a-brac.
According to the Daily News, he found a brown leather pocketbook and opened it to disover a 1966 driver’s license belonging to a “Diane Hall” tucked in among 32 personal photogaphs.
Diane Keaton's Lost Wallet Found After 50 Years! 'This Is the Craziest' https://t.co/ys09FF2j2V
— People (@people) December 7, 2018
Being a huge fan of 1973’s The Godfather film, Lulgjuraj noticed the uncanny resemblance of the woman in the photograph to that of a young Keaton.
“I opened it up and thought, is this Diane Keaton the actress? It couldn’t be. Or maybe it could,” said the 45-year-old father who resides in Duchess County.
The photographs from the wallet looked at least 50 years old and were “like a time capsule.”
He dug further and unearthed an expired Actor’s Equity Association union card with the actress’s stage name: Diane Keaton, confirming his suspcions about the rightful owner’s identiy.
A wallet that belonged to actress @Diane_Keaton has turned up in Putnam County after being lost for half a century. https://t.co/f8icqkROCX
— CBS New York (@CBSNewYork) December 7, 2018
As to how Keaton’s wallet made its way into the locker is anybody’s guess.
Lulgjuraj said that the items from the locker belonged to an Air Force pilot named David Parent who attended Fordham University. After Parent’s death, someone kept his belongings in the unit until a decade before payments on the rental stopped.
The treasure hunter is not looking for a reward; He just wants the wallet returned to its rightful owner.
This is kinda neat. Restores faith in humanity a little, too. Dude's returning it – not flogging it to collectors.https://t.co/InWQOvO452
— Threpney (@threpney_witt) December 8, 2018
But after numerous attempts in contacting Keaton and her reps, his efforts proved futile. He was hoping the Hollywood luminary would hear about his story on social media.
“Maybe she remembers that lost wallet and has always wondered. I’m hoping she didn’t lose faith.”
“If she wants it, I’m happy to send it. I figured I would want it. These are her memories.”
On December 4, Keaton caught wind of Lulgjuraj’s remarkable story after the New York Daily News published the article.
The Annie Hall actress expressed her delight and gratitude in a tweet and also admitted her tendency to misplacing wallets.
This is the craziest story! I don't remeber losing this but I'm not surprised because I've lost my wallet many times! Thank you, Mr. Lulgjuraj! https://t.co/bfLaG9oD1P
— Diane Keaton (@Diane_Keaton) December 4, 2018
Keaton also shared a screenshot of one of her photos left in the wallet on Instagram.
She captioned in all caps – “SOMEONE FOUND A WALLET I LOST 50 YEARS AGO! THANK YOU, MR. LULGJURAJ! PLEASE DM ME! THIS PHOTO WAS IN IT, I’M ON THE FAR RIGHT, CAN YOU BELIEVE THOSE BANGS?”
It may have taken five decades but the wallet is finally making its way back to Keaton.
By the way I spoke with John Tishbi and I put it in the mail today United States Postal Service you should probably have it by Friday. Hopefully the mail won’t lose it for another 50 years 😁 pic.twitter.com/DEcDF8Mkrj
— Tony Lulgjuraj (@buybuystorage1) December 4, 2018
Don’t give up if you’ve ever misplaced something valuable- Diane Keaton’s wallet has been found 50 years after she lost it. pic.twitter.com/wrRTJDEMBQ
— laney (@misslaneym) December 7, 2018
We may be in the digital age, but nothing beats the value of old family photographs.
And Tony Lulgjuraj – you’re doing the admirable thing in not playing finders keepers and returning someone else’s forgotten treasures.
H/T – People, Twitter, NYdailynews