As a lifelong fan and admirer of the legendary Barbara Walters, I wanted to pay tribute to her groundbreaking career and the enormous impact she made on broadcasting.
Barbara Walters – The Basics
| Full Name | Barbara Jill Walters |
| Age | 93 |
| Birthday | September 25, 1929 |
| Death Date | December 30, 2022 |
| Birth Sign | Libra |
| Born | United States |
| Relationship | Single |
| Height | 5' 5" |
| Net Worth | $170M |
About Barbara Walters
Barbara Walters was a renowned American journalist and TV host known for her skillful and compassionate interview style that allowed her to connect with audiences and get public figures to open up in remarkable ways. She conducted some of the biggest interviews in TV history and blazed trails for women in broadcasting by shattering gender barriers at NBC, ABC and beyond.
Early Life and Career
Born in 1929 in Boston, Walters was exposed to show business early thanks to her father Lou Walters‘ work as an entertainment promoter. After studying at Sarah Lawrence College, she began working as a writer and segment producer for NBC‘s The Today Show in the 1950s.
In 1961, Walters moved to CBS as a writer and quickly worked her way up to on-air reporter by 1963 – a groundbreaking achievement for a woman in journalism at the time. She gained fame for her intelligent and compassionate interviewing technique.
Tenure on The Today Show and as ABC Evening News Anchor
Walters cemented her status as a broadcasting legend when she became the first female co-host of The Today Show in 1974, working with Hugh Downs. She conducted many high-profile interviews during this period.
In 1976, she made history again as the first female anchor of a network evening news program when she was hired by ABC for a record $1 million contract. Though her pairing with Harry Reasoner was rocky, Walters was a pioneer for women in journalism.
Her Legendary Interviews
Over the years, Walters sat down with presidents, world leaders, Hollywood icons and more. Some of her most memorable interviews included:
- Fidel Castro – Walters debated freedoms between Cuba and America with the leader.
- Richard Nixon – In his first interview after resigning, Nixon told Walters he‘d "let the American people down."
- Michael Jackson – Walters‘ interview with Jackson drew 90 million viewers.
- Monica Lewinsky – Walters‘ 1999 interview with Lewinsky about her affair with Bill Clinton drew a record 74 million viewers.
- Vladimir Putin – Walters grilled Putin on his oppression of democracy.
- Katharine Hepburn – Walters‘ 1981 interview with the legendary but reclusive actress was landmark TV.
Co-Creating and Co-Hosting The View
In 1997, Walters created and co-hosted the instantly popular daytime talk show The View. The show featured Walters and fellow hosts discussing current events, politics, pop culture and conducting interviews. She retired from regularly appearing on The View in 2014 after 17 years.
Her Lasting Legacy
Barbara Walters left an unparalleled impact on broadcast journalism and paved the way for so many women in media to follow. Some of her accolades and honors over her decades-long career include:
- 12 Daytime Emmy Awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award
- International Emmy Award‘s Directorate Award (1978) and Founders Award (1995)
- 7-time winner of the Most Fascinating Person of the Year special
- Inducted into the Television Hall of Fame (1989) and Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame
- A star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (2007)
- The Disney Legends Award (2008)
Walters officially retired from broadcasting in 2014 after over 50 trailblazing years on television. She passed away in 2022 at age 93, leaving an unmatched legacy as one of the true pioneers in her field. To me, Barbara Walters represents inspirational achievement, journalistic integrity, and charisma that allowed her to connect with viewers worldwide. She remains my idol and an icon of American broadcasting.
