Disney Legend and Famed Journalist Barbara Walters Has Passed Away

Disney Legend Barbara Walters has passed away at age 93.

The television journalist was a pioneer in her field, spending 38 years with ABC News. She also broke barriers as the first woman co-host of the Today show, along with the first female network news co-anchor.

Walters’ impressive history also included time as the host and chief correspondent of 20/20, and the creator and co-host of The View.

In a statement, Disney CEO Bob Iger spoke on her passing. “Barbara was a true legend, a pioneer not just for women in journalism but for journalism itself,” Iger wrote. “She was a one-of-a-kind reporter who landed many of the most important interviews of our time, from heads of state to the biggest celebrities and sports icons. 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 our deepest condolences to her daughter, Jacqueline.”

Walters began her time with Today as a writer in 1961, moving on to become a reporter-at-large, and eventually a co-host of the program in 1963. She went on to join ABC in 1976 as the first woman to co-host the network evening news broadcast.

In her time as a journalist, Walters interviewed numerous notable world figures and was even the first American journalist to interview Vladamir Putin. She also interviewed every American President and First Lady from Richard Nixon to Barack Obama.

In 2004, after 25 years as host and chief correspondent at 20/20, she left the show, though she remained active with ABC News until retiring in 2013. In 2008, Disney named her a Disney Legend.

Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with Barbara Walters’ family at this time.