Barbara Walters
Born 1929 · Age 96
Pioneering American broadcast journalist and television personality; first woman co-host of Today and first female co-anchor of a U.S. network evening news program. Longtime host/correspondent for Today, ABC Evening News, 20/20 and creator/co-host of The View.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Boston, Massachusetts
Barbara Jill Walters born to Dena (Seletsky) and Lou Walters; family of Russian-Jewish immigrant background.
Family moves to Miami Beach
Left Lawrence School halfway through fifth grade when father moved family to Miami Beach; attended public school there.
Graduated Miami Beach High School
Completed secondary education (sources indicate attendance at Miami Beach High School prior to college).
Earned BA from Sarah Lawrence College
Graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English from Sarah Lawrence College.
First jobs: advertising agency and NBC publicity assistant
Worked about a year at a small advertising agency in NYC, then began working at NBC's WNBT doing publicity and press releases.
WNBT-TV writer-producer of Ask the Camera
Produced a 15-minute children's program Ask the Camera; directed by Roone Arledge; was youngest producer at the station.
Produced Eloise McElhone Show at WPIX
Moved to WPIX to produce the Eloise McElhone Show; the program was canceled in 1954.
Writer on The Morning Show at CBS
Worked as a writer on CBS's The Morning Show (credited in 1955).
Married Robert Henry Katz
Married business executive Robert Henry Katz at the Plaza Hotel, NYC; marriage later annulled.
Annulment of first marriage
Marriage to Robert Katz reportedly annulled after about eleven months (formal annulment or divorce reported in 1957).
Early career anecdote: left NBC after conflict with Igor Cassini
Left NBC after an incident in which columnist Igor Cassini pressured her to marry him and got into a fight with another man; she then moved to WPIX (early career formative event).
Joined NBC's Today as writer/researcher
Hired at Today as writer and researcher; initially handled women's-interest stories and light assignments.
Traveled with First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy
Lobbied successfully to travel with First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy on a trip to India and Pakistan, boosting her profile (early 1960s).
Became reporter-at-large on Today
Within about a year of joining Today, became reporter-at-large developing, writing and editing her own reports and interviews.
Adopted daughter Jacqueline Dena Guber
After suffering three miscarriages, Barbara and Lee Guber adopted a baby girl named Jacqueline Dena Guber in 1968.
Published How to Talk with Practically Anybody (book)
Published How to Talk with Practically Anybody About Practically Anything (1970), based on a late-1960s magazine article; popular success.
Hosted Not for Women Only
Began hosting local syndicated series Not for Women Only in mornings after Today, beginning 1971.
Part of NBC press corps on Nixon's China trip
Was a member of the NBC News team that covered President Richard Nixon's 1972 visit to the People's Republic of China.
Named co-host of Today (first female co-host)
After Frank McGee's death NBC officially designated Walters as the program's first female co-host in 1974—the first woman to co-host a major American news program.
Won Daytime Emmy for Today
Won a Daytime Emmy Award (1975) for Outstanding Talk Show Host for her work on Today.
First woman to co-anchor an evening network newscast
Historic milestone: first American woman to co-anchor a network evening news program (ABC Evening News, 1976).
Signed five-year ABC contract (highest-paid news anchor)
Signed a five-year contract with ABC reported at $5 million total (commonly reported as $1 million/year), making her the highest-paid news anchor at the time.
Became co-anchor of ABC Evening News
Became the first American female co-anchor of a network evening news program, co-anchoring with Harry Reasoner (1976–1978).
Moderated third 1976 presidential debate
Served as moderator for the third and final debate between Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford in the 1976 presidential election.
Launched Barbara Walters Specials
Premiered highly rated primetime 'Barbara Walters Specials' interview program (first aired 1976).
Public profile and cultural parody
By mid-1970s Walters' profile was so large she became a figure for parody (e.g., Gilda Radner's 'Baba Wawa' on SNL), reflecting cultural impact.
Notable international interview work
Interviewed world leaders during pivotal geopolitical moments (e.g., Sadat/Begin, Castro), boosting international profile.
Interview with Fidel Castro airs
Aired two days of interviews with Fidel Castro; special broadcast on ABC-TV on June 9, 1977.
First joint interview with Sadat and Begin
Secured the first joint TV interview with Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin while they negotiated peace (Nov 1977).
Left ABC Evening News co-anchor role
Left the ABC Evening News anchor desk in 1978 after a short-lived co-anchor tenure with Harry Reasoner.
Divorced Lee Guber
Divorced second husband Lee Guber in 1976 (text references divorce finalized by 1976); marital issues and subsequent events shaped personal life and career focus.
Joined ABC's 20/20 as correspondent
Joined the ABC newsmagazine 20/20 as a correspondent and producer (began in 1979).
Interviewed world leaders and major celebrities
Conducted high-profile interviews across career including Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, Margaret Thatcher, Fidel Castro, Saddam Hussein, Vladimir Putin, Katharine Hepburn, Michael Jackson and many others (ongoing milestone).
Exclusive interview with Richard Nixon
Conducted an exclusive television interview with former President Richard Nixon—his first TV interview since 1974.
Married Merv Adelson (first marriage to him)
Married television executive and Lorimar CEO Merv Adelson (first marriage date often cited 1981); divorced in 1984.
Memorable 20/20 interview with Harry Reasoner
Reunited with former co-anchor Harry Reasoner for a cordial 20/20 interview marking his new book (1981).
Named co-host of 20/20
Elevated to co-host of ABC's 20/20 (became co-host with Hugh Downs in 1984).
Divorced Merv Adelson (first divorce)
Divorced Merv Adelson in 1984; later remarried him in 1986 and divorced again in 1992.
Received Paul White Award
Honored with the Paul White Award by the Radio Television Digital News Association (1985).
Remarried Merv Adelson
Remarried Merv Adelson in 1986; couple divorced again in 1992.
Overseas Press Club President's Award
Received the Overseas Press Club's highest honor, the President's Award (1988).
Inducted into Television Hall of Fame
Inducted into the Television Hall of Fame (often cited as 1989–1990 depending on source).
Golden Plate Award and IWMF Lifetime Achievement
Received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement and Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Women's Media Foundation (1991).
Final divorce from Merv Adelson
Divorced Merv Adelson for the second and final time in 1992.
Launched 'Barbara Walters' 10 Most Fascinating People' annual special
Began the annual ABC special 'Barbara Walters' 10 Most Fascinating People' (1993), an annual year-end special.
Premiere of The View
Created, produced and premiered the daytime talk show The View; co-executive producer with Bill Geddie via BarWall Productions.
Lucy Award from Women in Film
Received the Women in Film Lucy Award for excellence and innovation enhancing perception of women on TV (1998).
Barbara Walters Specials — ongoing annual series
Her specials and annual programs (including 10 Most Fascinating People) became long-running staples on ABC through 2015.
Monica Lewinsky interview cultural impact
Lewinsky interview not only set ratings records but cemented Walters' role as a 'must-get' interviewer whose programs could shape public conversation.
Monica Lewinsky interview sets ratings record
Two-hour exclusive interview with Monica Lewinsky drew a record audience (reported ~74 million viewers), highest rating for a news program on a single network.
Reported highest-paid news host
Around 2000 Walters was widely reported as the highest-paid news host in history due to her multi-million-dollar ABC contract(s).
Renewed ABC contract (reported $12M/yr) and NATAS Lifetime Achievement
Reported renewal with ABC (sources cite $12 million per year in 2000) and received Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
Daytime Emmy for The View (Outstanding Talk Show)
The View won the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Talk Show (2003); Walters as co-executive producer/host.
Stepped down as 20/20 co-host
Retired as co-host of ABC's 20/20 in September 2004 but remained a part-time ABC contributor for specials and interviews.
Rang NYSE closing bell for The View's 2000th show
As part of The View milestones, Walters rang the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange in honor of the show's 2,000th episode (reported by ABC News).
Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (June 15, 2007).
Disney Legends award and New York Women's Agenda Lifetime Achievement
Honored with Disney Legends award and Lifetime Achievement Award from New York Women's Agenda (2008).
Published autobiography 'Audition: A Memoir'
Released her autobiography Audition: A Memoir (2008), detailing career and personal life; garnered attention for candid revelations.
Lifetime Achievement at News & Documentary Emmys
Received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 30th Annual News and Documentary Emmy Awards (Sept 21, 2009).
Announced she would no longer do Oscar interviews
Announced she would no longer hold Oscar interviews but would remain with ABC and The View.
Open-heart surgery to replace aortic valve
Underwent open-heart operation (aortic valve replacement) in May 2010; procedure reported successful and she returned to work later that year.
Returned to The View and Sirius XM
Returned to The View and her Sirius XM show Here's Barbara in September 2010 after recovery from surgery.
Announced retirement from television hosting
Announced on The View (May 13, 2013) that she would retire from television hosting in May 2014 but would remain executive producer.
Retired as co-host of The View
Stepped down as regular co-host of The View on May 15, 2014; continued occasional guest appearances and remained executive producer.
Came out of retirement for Peter Rodger 20/20 interview
Returned temporarily from retirement to conduct a 20/20 interview with Peter Rodger about the Isla Vista killings (June 10, 2014 special).
Hosted Investigation Discovery series 'American Scandals'
Hosted documentary series American Scandals on Investigation Discovery in 2015, continuing to produce and host special reporting beyond ABC.
Hosted 20/20 specials and Investigation Discovery series
Hosted 20/20 specials featuring Mary Kay Letourneau and the Trumps; hosted documentary series American Scandals on Investigation Discovery (2015).
Final on-air interview (Donald Trump)
Made her last on-air interview for ABC News with Donald Trump (December 2015).
Last public appearance
Made her final public appearance in 2016; office at ABC maintained until after her death.
Died in Manhattan
Died at her home in New York City on December 30, 2022, after years of declining health and dementia; buried at Lakeside Memorial Park in Doral, Florida.
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