Barbara Walters arrives for the premiere of the film “Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps” in New York Sept. 20, 2010. Image: Reuters/Lucas Jackson/File Photo
Oprah Winfrey, Lynda Carter and Disney CEO Bob Iger were among the Hollywood and news figures who paid tribute to pioneering US journalist Barbara Walters, who passed away at the age of 93.
Walters, who co-created the ABC talk show “The View” in 1997 and was the first female anchor on American evening news broadcast, died today, Dec. 31 (Dec. 30 in the United States), ABC News revealed. The circumstances of her death were not disclosed.
Talk show host and producer Winfrey recalled Walters’ impact on her career while showing a throwback photo of them together via her Instagram page today.
“Without Barbara Walters there wouldn’t have been me—nor any other woman you see on evening, morning and daily news. She was indeed a trailblazer. I did my very first television audition with her in mind the whole time,” she said. “Grateful that she was such a powerful and gracious role model. Grateful to have known her. Grateful to have followed in her Light.”
Carter described Walters as an “American institution” while showing part of an interview she had on “The View,” in her Twitter post, also today.
“Barbara Walters was an American institution. As the first female national news anchor, she opened the door to endless possibilities for so many girls who wanted to work in TV, myself included. Her impact cannot be overstated. I’ll miss you, Barbara. Thank you for everything,” Carter addressed the departed journalist.
Barbara Walters was an American institution. As the first female national news anchor, she opened the door to endless possibilities for so many girls who wanted to work in TV, myself included. Her impact cannot be overstated. I’ll miss you, Barbara. Thank you for everything. pic.twitter.com/HokDilM6Rj
— Lynda Carter (@RealLyndaCarter) December 31, 2022
Iger, for his part, called Walters a “true legend” and a “dear friend” while looking back at the latter’s career in journalism, on his Twitter post today.
“Barbara was a true legend, a pioneer not just for women in journalism but for journalism itself. She was a one-of-a-kind reporter who landed many of the most important interviews of our time, from heads to state and leaders of regimes to the biggest celebrities and sports icons,” he stated.
“I had the pleasure of calling Barbara a colleague for more than three decades, but more importantly, I was able to call her a dear friend. She will be missed by all of us at The Walt Disney Company, and we send out deepest condolences to her daughter, Jacqueline,” Iger added.
I have sad news to share today. Barbara Walters passed away this evening at her home in New York. pic.twitter.com/fxSyU6BQk4
— Robert Iger (@RobertIger) December 31, 2022
Fellow ABC journalists who also expressed grief over Walters’ passing were former “The View” host Meghan McCain, ABC “20/20” correspondent Deborah Roberts and WABC’s Sade Baderinwa.
Walters had a broadcast career spanning five decades, during which she got to interview world leaders including Britain’s Margaret Thatcher, Iraqi ruler Saddam Hussein, Russian presidents Boris Yeltsin and Vladimir Putin, and every president and first lady of the US since Richard and Pat Nixon. She earned 12 Emmy awards, 11 of which were during her time with ABC News, the network said. /ra
RELATED STORIES:
Pioneering US television journalist Barbara Walters dead at 93
Musician ‘Jo Mersa’ Marley, grandson of Bob Marley, dies at 31