Legendary Newscaster Barbara Walters Dead at 93: Meghan McCain, Star Jones and More Celebrities React

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Legendary Newscaster Barbara Walters Dead at 93: Meghan McCain, Star Jones and More Celebrities React

Paying respects to a legend. Celebrities mourned the loss of legendary journalist Barbara Walters after her death at the age of 93. Walters died on Friday, December 30, with the former anchor’s publicist confirming the news to Us Weekly. “Barbara Walters passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by loved ones,” Cindi Berger shared in a statement. “She lived her life with no regrets. She was a trailblazer not only for female journalists, but for all women." The Massachusetts native was best known for her work on the Today show, 20/20 and The View. Walters was one of the creators and founding hosts of the popular daytime talk show. Shortly after the news broke, Star Jones — who was one of the original hosts of the ABC talk show alongside Walters — took to social media to mourn the loss of her former colleague. “I owe Barbara Walters more than I could ever repay. Rest well sister … mother … friend … colleague … mentor,” she tweeted at the time. Meghan McCain later joined The View after Walters left the program. The television personality paid her respects to the news icon. “Barbara Walters will always be known as a trail blazer. Her hard hitting questions & welcoming demeanor made her a household name and leader in American journalism,” she tweeted. “Her creation of The View is something I will always be appreciative of. Rest in peace you will forever be an icon.” [sendtonews type="float" key="xunEMWYzxG-2829193-14453"] Disney CEO, Bob Iger, also shared his sentiments about Walters’ passing via social media. “I have sad news to share today Barbara Walters passed away this evening at her home in New York,” he wrote alongside a photo of the late reporter, which also included a longer tribute on behalf of the Walt Disney Company. “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 of state and leaders of regimes to the biggest celebrities and sports icons,” the message read. “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 spent six decades of her life dedicated to reporting the news and interviewed notable icons and political figures including Audrey Hepburn, Fidel Castro, Christopher Reeve, Michael Jackson and Vladimir Putin. One of her most notable one-on-ones was with Monica Lewinksy following the news of her affair with former president Bill Clinton. The Emmy award-winning talk show host inspired many in the industry, including Alyssa Milano. “Rest In Peace, Barbara Walters,” the actress tweeted on Friday. “Thanks for helping me find my voice.” Scroll down to see more tributes to the notable news icon:  

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Legendary Newscaster Barbara Walters Dead at 93: Meghan McCain, Star Jones and More Celebrities React

Paying respects to a legend. Celebrities mourned the loss of legendary journalist Barbara Walters after her death at the age of 93. Walters died on Friday, December 30, with the former anchor’s publicist confirming the news to Us Weekly. “Barbara Walters passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by loved ones,” Cindi Berger shared in a statement. “She lived her life with no regrets. She was a trailblazer not only for female journalists, but for all women." The Massachusetts native was best known for her work on the Today show, 20/20 and The View. Walters was one of the creators and founding hosts of the popular daytime talk show. Shortly after the news broke, Star Jones — who was one of the original hosts of the ABC talk show alongside Walters — took to social media to mourn the loss of her former colleague. “I owe Barbara Walters more than I could ever repay. Rest well sister … mother … friend … colleague … mentor,” she tweeted at the time. Meghan McCain later joined The View after Walters left the program. The television personality paid her respects to the news icon. “Barbara Walters will always be known as a trail blazer. Her hard hitting questions & welcoming demeanor made her a household name and leader in American journalism,” she tweeted. “Her creation of The View is something I will always be appreciative of. Rest in peace you will forever be an icon.” [sendtonews type="float" key="xunEMWYzxG-2829193-14453"] Disney CEO, Bob Iger, also shared his sentiments about Walters’ passing via social media. “I have sad news to share today Barbara Walters passed away this evening at her home in New York,” he wrote alongside a photo of the late reporter, which also included a longer tribute on behalf of the Walt Disney Company. “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 of state and leaders of regimes to the biggest celebrities and sports icons,” the message read. “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 spent six decades of her life dedicated to reporting the news and interviewed notable icons and political figures including Audrey Hepburn, Fidel Castro, Christopher Reeve, Michael Jackson and Vladimir Putin. One of her most notable one-on-ones was with Monica Lewinksy following the news of her affair with former president Bill Clinton. The Emmy award-winning talk show host inspired many in the industry, including Alyssa Milano. “Rest In Peace, Barbara Walters,” the actress tweeted on Friday. “Thanks for helping me find my voice.” Scroll down to see more tributes to the notable news icon:  

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Diane Sawyer

“Barbara was a trailblazer, a singular force who opened the door for every woman in television news,” the broadcaster captioned a Saturday tribute to Walters. “She was also the history maker right down the hall — my friend and road buddy, eager to talk about the news world, the decades of passionate work — the curiosity and laughter that gets us all through. Sadness. Gratitude. And a salute from all of us who know what we owe her.”

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Katie Couric

The former Today host called the late journalist the “OG of female broadcasters” in a Friday Instagram post. 

“She was just as comfortable interviewing world leaders as she was Oscar winners and her body of work is unparalleled,” Couric wrote. “I was a lucky recipient of her kindness and encouragement. When I landed a big (impromptu) interview with President Bush, she wrote me a note that I still have framed in my office. … As I wrote in my book, she liked to say we were similar— that neither of us was particularly glamorous. I never quite knew how to take that! But the fact that Barbara saw some of her in me was nothing but a compliment. Thank you for everything, Barbara.”

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Dan Rather

“The world of journalism has lost a pillar of professionalism, courage and integrity,” the Steady scribe tweeted. “Barbara Walters was a trailblazer and a true pro. She outworked, out-thought, and out-hustled her competitors. She left the world the better for it. She will be deeply missed.”

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David Muir

“So often we toss around the words icon, legend, trailblazer — but Barbara Walters was all of these. And perhaps, above all else, Barbara Walters was brave,” the ABC World News Tonight anchor wrote via Twitter. “She paved the way for so many — we learned from her — and remain in awe of her to this day.”

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Maria Shriver

Shriver also called Walters a “trailblazer," writing in a Twitter message: “She was a mentor to me as well as a friend. So many women broke into the news business because she did her job well. She worked so hard & helped a lot of younger women such as myself. Thank you, Barbara, for everything. You paved the way for all of us. You truly did.”

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Andy Cohen

“#RIPBarbara,” Cohen wrote via Instagram Story on Friday, sharing a throwback image of Walters.

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Reese Witherspoon

The Big Little Lies alum remembered Walters' “intelligence and grace” in a Saturday, December 31, Instagram Story tribute. She added: “I loved her genuine curiosity and kindness in every interview I had with her. Sending love to her family and all her many fans.”

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Rosie O’Donnell

“Legend,” O’Donnell captioned an Instagram photo with her former View panelist.

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Christiane Amanpour

“Barbara Walters’ massive body of work will not be replicated and her legend will remain firmly etched on the Mount Rushmore of our profession,” the CNN personality tweeted on Saturday. “She was my earliest inspiration, and I was lucky enough to end up calling her a friend.”

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Robin Roberts

“Barbara Walters was a true trailblazer,” Roberts wrote via Twitter. “Forever grateful for her stellar example and for her friendship. Sending condolences to her daughter and family.”

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Billie Jean King

“A true trailblazer, she was the 1st woman anchor on the evening news. And I was privileged to know her,” the tennis champ tweeted. “When she interviewed me, it was clear she did her homework. She was always prepared. May she rest in power.”

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Alyssa Milano

“Rest In Peace, Barbara Walters,” the Charmed actress tweeted. “Thanks for helping me find my voice.”

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Meghan McCain

“Barbara Walters will always be known as a trail blazer. Her hard hitting questions & welcoming demeanor made her a household name and leader in American journalism,” the Arizona native shared. “Her creation of The View is something I will always be appreciative of. Rest in peace you will forever be an icon.”

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Star Jones

“I owe Barbara Walters more than I could ever repay,” the lawyer wrote via Twitter. “Rest well sister … mother … friend … colleague … mentor.”

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Kareem Abdul Jabbar

“Barbara Walters never flinched when questioning the world’s most powerful people,” the former basketball player shared. “She held them accountable. She cared about the truth and she made us care too. Fortunately, she inspired many other journalists to be just as unrelenting. We are all better off because of her.”

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Tamron Hall

“The Legend. The Blueprint. The Greatest. Rest in Peace Barbara Walters,” the talk show host tweeted alongside a black and white photo of the late journalist.

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Deborah Roberts

The 20/20 alum wrote a touching tribute in honor of her late coworker. “So sad to hear of the passing of Barbara Walters. What an honor to share the set ⁦@ABC ⁩ with the inimitable trailblazer when I joined @abc2020,” she wrote. “Will never forget the phone call when she asked me to join the groundbreaking program.”

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Tavis Smiley

The talk show host paid homage to Walters and shared how she inspired him in his career. “Barbara Walters was always kind and generous with me,” he reflected. “She was an amazing conversationalist and gave me great advice which I incorporated into my interview technique. A legend has passed. #BarbaraWalters.”

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Jake Tapper

“Sending love and prayers to my friends at ABC and to Barbara’s family and friends,” the CNN reporter tweeted after learning the news.

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Bob Iger

“I have sad news to share today. Barbara Walters passed away this evening at her home in New York,” the Disney CEO shared alongside a photo of the late reporter and a full statement from the media company.

The statement read: “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 of state and leaders of regimes 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.”

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Lynda Carter

The Wonder Woman star paid tribute to Walters’ inspiring career with a touching post. “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,” she wrote via Twitter. “Her impact cannot be overstated. I’ll miss you, Barbara. Thank you for everything.”

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Keith Olbermann

“Amid some controversy long forgotten, I briefly defended Barbara Walters and her journalism,” the journalist tweeted. “Four days [later] a hand-written note arrived. It was heartfelt, modest and touching. I ran into her years later and she reminded me of it. RIP to a great soul.”