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Iconic News Anchor Barbara Walters Dead at 93.

Iconic News Anchor Barbara Walters Dead at 93.

Barbara Walters, an iconic news anchor, has died at the age of 93. According to CNN (December 2022), “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’ spokesperson Cindi Berger told CNN in a statement.

Walters began her national broadcast career in 1961 as a reporter, writer, and panel member for NBC’s “Today” show. This was before being promoted to co-host in 1974. In 1976, Walters joined ABC News as the first female anchor on an evening news program. Two years later, she became, for a time, the best-known person in television when she left “Today” to join ABC. She was the first woman to co-anchor a network evening newscast, signing for a then-starting $1 million a year.

Her Accolades

Though her term in that position was short-lived – co-anchor Harry Reasoner never warmed to her – she had the last laugh. She stayed at the network for almost four decades and co-hosting the magazine show “20/20” (with her old “Today” colleague, Hugh Downs), “The View” and countless specials. Walter’s career spanned five decade.  During that time she won 12 Emmy awards, and whose television interviews with celebrities and world figures weaved show business and journalism.  Growing up surrounded by celebrities taught her a valuable lesson that she remembered throughout her rise in a growing and challenging media industry.

“I would see them onstage looking one way and offstage often looking very different. My parents would talk about them and know that even though those performers were very special people. They were also human beings with real-life problems,” Walters shared in the interview. “I can have respect and admiration for famous people, but I have never had a sense of fear or awe.” Rolling Stone (December 2022) tells us.

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Walters continued to break barriers for women, and became known for her intimate “scoop” interviews with celebrities, often bringing them to tears. She sat down with the “terribly shy” and “modest” Fred Astaire, the controversial boxer Mike Tyson, Lucille Ball, Truman Capote, Diana Ross, Audrey Hepburn, Tom Cruise, Eddie Murphy, George Clooney, and many others.

Barbara Walters is survived by her daughter Jacqueline, named after her older sister.

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