It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Barbara Walters, a pioneering television journalist whose interviewing skills made her one of the most prominent figures in the industry. She died at the age of 93, surrounded by loved ones in her home. In a statement, Walters' spokesperson Cindi Berger said, "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."
Walters' career in national broadcasting began in 1961 as a reporter, writer, and panel member for NBC's "Today" show. She was eventually promoted to co-host in 1974. In 1976, she made history as the first female anchor on an evening news program when she joined ABC News. It was at ABC where she launched "The Barbara Walters Specials" and "10 Most Fascinating People," eventually becoming a co-host and correspondent for "20/20" in 1984. Throughout her career, she interviewed every US president and first lady since Richard and Pat Nixon.
For over five decades, Walters' name was synonymous with excellence in journalism, whether she was speaking with world leaders on news programs, conducting interviews in celebrities' homes for her specials, or discussing the latest headlines on "The View," a daytime talk show featuring a diverse panel of women. Many of the shows she produced or participated in became some of the highest-rated in their genre, leading to numerous imitators. "The View," which debuted in 1997, paved the way for American talk shows such as "The Talk" and "The Chew," as well as international counterparts like Britain's "Loose Women" and Norway's "Studio5."
Despite retiring from "The View" in 2014, Walters remained a part-time contributor to ABC News for two more years. In an interview with CNN's Chris Cuomo at the time, she said, "I knew it was time. I like all the celebration, that’s great, but in my heart, I thought, ‘I want to walk away while I’m still doing good work.' So I will." She went on to reflect on the numerous women who looked up to her throughout her career, saying, "How do you say goodbye to something like 50 years in television? How proud when I see all the young women who are making and reporting the news. If I did anything to help make that happen, that is my legacy."
Walters was born on September 25, 1929, in Boston. Her father, Lou, was a nightclub owner and theatrical impresario, and Walters grew up around celebrities, which likely contributed to her ease in interviewing them. She received her college degree from Sarah Lawrence College in 1953.
Known for her competitiveness, Walters was relentless in her pursuit of high-profile interviews, leading to rumors of rivalry with other ABC news stars like Diane Sawyer, who joined the network in 1989. This included a highly publicized competition to land the first interview with Caitlyn Jenner, which Sawyer ultimately conducted in 2015. However, Walters also secured numerous major interviews throughout her career, including with presidents, world leaders, and nearly every imaginable celebrity. She had a reputation for being able to bring her subjects to tears and had several standout interviews, such as her 1999 conversation with Monica Lewinsky, which was watched by an average of 48.5 million viewers, and a historic 1977 joint interview with Egypt's Anwar Sadat and Israel's Menachem Begin.
Walters was married four times, to business executive Robert Katz, producer Lee Guber, and twice to entertainment mogul Merv Adelson. Her second marriage to Adelson ended in 1992.
