Television journalist and pioneer Barbara Walters has passed away at the age of 93
Barbara Walters, who was the first woman to lead an evening news show, has passed away at the age of 93.
Robert Iger, CEO of ABC parent Walt Disney Co., announced Walters’ death in a tweet late Friday. Walters became a cultural icon over her more than 40 years at ABC TV.
In a statement, Iger lauded Barbara as “a true legend” and “a pioneer not just for women in journalism but for journalism itself.” She was a one-of-a-kind journalist who scored interviews with political leaders, Hollywood stars, and sports legends.
“Barbara Walters passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by loved ones. She lived her life with no regrets. She was a trailblazer not only for female journalists, but for all women,” Cindi Berger, her publicist, made the announcement.
ABC, where she worked for over four decades, also confirmed her death late Friday. Her talks with famous people like presidents and Hollywood stars have elevated Walters to the ranks of the famous. She was well-known not just for hosting the Today show on NBC and the 20/20 news programme on ABC, but also for her regular specials, such as her annual 10 Most Fascinating People episode.
In 1961, Walters began working as a researcher and writer for NBC’s Today show, and by 1974, she had become one of the show’s co-hosts. In 1976, she made history by becoming the first female network news anchor when she joined ABC. An extraordinary $1 million was guaranteed throughout the course of her five-year contract.
She became notorious for asking her visitors deeply personal questions that often brought them to tears. Throughout her legendary career, she spoke with luminaries like Lucille Ball, Grace Kelly, and John Wayne, as well as world leaders including Fidel Castro, Anwar Sadat, Margaret Thatcher, and the Shah of Iran. She also conducted John Wayne’s final television interview three months before his death.
Her lisp, a speech impairment that was ridiculed in the 1970s by the late comic Gilda Radner as Baba Wawa on the popular Saturday Night Live sketch, further contributed to her status as a cultural icon.
Walters left her morning chat show, The View, which she had developed in 1997, after 53 years in the industry and 12 Emmy Awards.