Emmy-award-winning ABC News broadcaster Barbara Walters has passed away at 93. The circumstances surrounding her death are currently unknown.
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Barbara Walters died in her New York City home on Friday, and the prolific news broadcaster hasn’t been in the spotlight since 2016, according to TMZ. She rose to prominence after broadcasting President John F. Kennedy’s assassination in 1963, and she went on to become NBC’s first female cohost on “Today” after writing for the show throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s.
BREAKING: Barbara Walters, who shattered the glass ceiling and became a dominant force in an industry once dominated by men, has died. She was 93. https://t.co/tydwREgTb2 pic.twitter.com/b4jOEHVYFE
— ABC News (@ABC) December 31, 2022
Walters joined ABC in 1976 after landing a job on their “Evening News” broadcast, and she became the network’s first news anchorwoman. Despite her cohost’s opposition, she continued to contribute and eventually landed her own job as the host of the network’s “20/20” show. Her most famous interviews included Fidel Castro, Monica Lewinsky, Michael Jackson, Oprah, Patrick Swayze, Muhammed Ali, Vladimir Putin, Anna Wintour, Whitney Houston, Britney Spears, and countless others which included every American president.
“The fact that I ended up on television — never ever thought that would happen.”
How Barbara Walters broke through the glass ceiling — and became the most important woman pioneer in the history of TV news. https://t.co/G4PmqDe611 pic.twitter.com/luYSDDsrZE
— ABC News (@ABC) December 31, 2022
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Walters also co-created and co-hosted “The View” after she temporarily retired from 20/20 in 2004 and exited from the talk show in 2014. However, she continued to make guest appearances on different occasions. Throughout her career, Walters won multiple Daytime and Primetime Emmy Awards and she made an appearance on ‘SNL’ as herself after she was parodied by different cast members.
She was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1989 and earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2007.
“Barbara was brave. She was a trailblazer, a barrier breaker,” @DavidMuir says of Barbara Walters, who died peacefully in her home on Friday at the age of 93. https://t.co/paCPqrvFLm pic.twitter.com/9Gp3zn5eqw
— World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) December 31, 2022
Fans and colleagues of the broadcaster said they were always tuned in for Barbara Walters’ interviews
Many remembered Walters as a journalist who didn’t hold back with her interview questions and made history in an industry that was dominated by men.
The Legend. The Blueprint. The Greatest. Rest in Peace Barbara Walters pic.twitter.com/RODzfKMAxw
— Tamron Hall (@tamronhall) December 31, 2022
For so many reasons Barbara Walters was one of the greatest to ever do this. She was incredible company, a great laugh, and a brilliant mind.
RIP pic.twitter.com/35QZdONewY— George FKN StroumbouloPHÒulos 🐺 (@strombo) December 31, 2022
"I'm quick to check a bitch if she's outta line" – Barbara Walters quoting Nicki Minaj
An iconic moment in pop culture history… RIP to the legend, Barbara Walters 🕊️ pic.twitter.com/TMuR6duHP4
— Rap Alert (@rapalert1OO) December 31, 2022
This Barbara Walters interview with Denzel in the 90s was a great one. pic.twitter.com/NIjpaddiJ4
— Steven J. Gaither (@stevenjgaither) December 31, 2022
That time when Whitney had to put Barbara Walters in her place! pic.twitter.com/lwbKDvSKsy
— ❄️🗝️ (@DiaryOfKeysus) December 31, 2022