Within the hours after iconic newswoman Barbara Walters died on Friday, tributes poured in from well-known pals, colleagues and followers.
Walters’ rep Cindi Berger confirmed the information of Walters’ dying at age 93, telling PEOPLE: “Barbara Walters handed away peacefully in her house surrounded by family members. She lived an enormous life.”
“She lived her life with no regrets,” Berger’s assertion continued. “She was a trailblazer not just for feminine journalists, however for all girls.”
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Fellow TV titan Oprah Winfrey led an extended listing of notable admirers to pay their respects to Walters. The media mogul wrote on Instagram that she was “grateful” Walters had been “such a strong and gracious position mannequin.”
Former Walt Disney Firm CEO Robert Iger was among the many first to replicate on Walters’ “one-of-a-kind” legacy and despatched his condolences to Walters’ daughter Jacqueline.
“Barbara was a true legend, a pioneer not only for girls in journalism however for journalism itself,” Iger stated in an announcement to PEOPLE and through Twitter. “She was a one-of-a-kind reporter who landed a lot of a very powerful interviews of our time, from heads of state and leaders of regimes to the largest celebrities and sports activities icons. I had the pleasure of calling Barbara a colleague for greater than three a long time, however extra importantly, I used to be capable of name her a pricey buddy. She will likely be missed by all of us on the Walt Disney Firm, and we ship our deepest condolences to her daughter Jacqueline.”
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A number of tributes got here in from co-hosts of The View, which Walters created 1997 and moderated for a few years. Rosie O’Donnell merely referred to as her former boss and colleague a “legend” on Instagram.
Star Jones, one in all The View‘s first-ever co-hosts, tweeted: “I owe Barbara Walters greater than I might ever repay. Rest well sister…mother…friend…colleague…mentor.“
Jones’ fellow OG View co-host Debbie Matenopoulos shared on her Instagram Story that she was “so so so unhappy…. No phrases proper now.”
Donna Svennevik/Walt Disney Tv through Getty
“Thanks for all the pieces. You single handedly modified my life and the life of each different feminine journalist by main the best way for us all,” Matenopoulos continued. “Could you relaxation in peace and in energy and wonder you wonderful lady!! I owe you all the pieces as accomplish that many others. You’ll at all times be my hero.”
The Story included an image of Walters and Matenopouloson set in 1997. “My first month on @theviewabc my greatest buddy took this image from the viewers and actually simply confirmed it to me about 4 hours in the past!!!” she reminisced. “We have been laughing so exhausting about how younger and foolish I used to be after which about an hour later I acquired the information. I’m in shock. I like you Barbara at all times and endlessly. You taught me all the pieces !!!”
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Former panelist Meghan McCain wrote, partly, that Walters’ “exhausting hitting questions and welcoming demeanor made her a family identify and chief in American journalism.”
McCain’s conservative predecessor Elisabeth Hasselbeck shared an Instagram Reel with a caption that learn, partly, “I like 
Michelle Collins shared a particular View custom: “One of many first rites of passage of changing into a bunch on @TheView was to have lunch with Barbara Walters. Few times in my life have I been that nervous. She was an absolute trailblazer, class, class, smarts which are more and more exhausting to come back by. I will at all times be grateful. RIP”
Sunny Hostin, in the meantime, posted a tribute from Ghana, Africa that “The world has misplaced a exceptional lady right now. I’m heartbroken to listen to of Barbara’s passing. She was a unprecedented, meticulous and no-nonsense journalist with a depraved humorousness. She shattered numerous glass ceilings and did it with grace and humility. Whereas I am deeply saddened by this loss and can miss her terribly, I am endlessly grateful for the paths she blazed for me and so many others. I am humbled and honored to hold on her legacy. Relaxation in Energy.”
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Members of the published journalism neighborhood additionally provided condolences, reward and reminiscences, with Good Morning America anchor Robin Roberts noting she’d be “forever grateful for [Barbara’s] stellar instance and for her friendship.”
Former longtime CBS Night Information anchor Dan Quite tweeted, “The world of journalism has misplaced a pillar of professionalism, courage, and integrity. Barbara Walters was a trailblazer and a real professional. She outworked, out-thought, and out-hustled her opponents. She left the world the higher for it. She will likely be deeply missed. RIP”
ABC Information and 20/20 correspondent Deborah Roberts mirrored on how she’d “always remember the phone call when she asked me to hitch the groundbreaking program.”
Former GMA host Joan Lunden wrote, “We’ve misplaced a real legend with the passing of Barbara Walters. Such a path blazer. Such a beneficiant lady – I learned so much from working with her.”
Tamron Corridor referred to as her fellow former At the moment present anchor “The Legend. The Blueprint. The Greatest.”
Maria Shriver acquired private: “[Barbara] was a mentor to me as well as a friend. So many ladies broke into the information enterprise as a result of she did her job properly.”
World Information Tonight anchor David Muir wrote, “So usually we toss across the phrases icon, legend, trailblazer – however Barbara Walters was all of those. And maybe, above all else, Barbara Walters was brave. She paved the best way for therefore many – we realized from her – and stay in awe of her to at the present time. RIP, Barbara.”
Former At the moment present host Katie Couric added that Walters “was the OG of feminine broadcasters. She was simply as comfy interviewing world leaders as she was Oscar winners and her physique of labor is unparalleled.”
“She favored to say we have been related — that neither of us was significantly glamorous,” added Couric. “I by no means fairly knew learn how to take that! However the truth that Barbara noticed a few of her on me was nothing however a praise. Thanks for all the pieces, Barbara.
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Among the many followers and former scorching seat occupants who chimed in, Monica Lewinsky — who sat down with Walters for a strong interview throughout the media storm that surrounded her White Home affair with then-President Invoice Clinton — shared a Twitter thread about her 25-year connection to Waltrs.
“i knew barbara for over half of my life,” she started. “we stayed in contact over the previous 25 years. the final time we noticed one another was for lunch a number of years in the past. after all, she was charming, witty and a few of her questions have been nonetheless her signature interview fashion.”
Basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar praised the very fact Walters “by no means flinched when questioning the world’s strongest individuals. She held them accountable. She cared in regards to the reality and he or she made us care too.”
Abbott Elementary star Sheryl Lee Ralph tweeted: “Rest in Peace precious Peace Barbara Walters!!”
Who’s the Boss? star Alyssa Milano credited Walters for “for helping me find my voice.”
Surprise Girl herself Lynda Carter shared a classic video clip of herself being interviewed by Walters and the ladies of The View with the caption: “Barbara Walters was an American establishment. As the primary feminine nationwide information anchor, she opened the door to limitless potentialities for therefore many women who needed to work in TV, myself included. Her impact cannot be overstated. I will miss you, Barbara. Thanks for all the pieces.”
Discuss present host Drew Barrymore, who has adopted in Walters’ footsteps with The Drew Barrymore Present, referred to as her “A real pioneer who was by no means one to shrink back from questions and go after the reality she was in search of. I revered her as a result of she did all of it, and spoke to everybody and broke boundaries. What an incredible life she lived.”
In an announcement shared by ABC Information’ Twitter account, Diane Sawyer described Walters as “a trailblazer, a singular drive who opened the door for each lady in tv information.”
“She was additionally the historical past maker proper down the corridor – my buddy and highway buddy, keen to speak in regards to the information world, the last decade of ardour work – the curiosity and laughter that will get us all by,” she added. “Disappointment. Gratitude. And a salute from all of us who knew what we owe her.”
Speaker of the Home Nancy Pelosi additionally paid tribute with an announcement on Twitter as properly. “Barbara Walters was a trailblazer and an icon: reworking tv journalism along with her mind and integrity, braveness and poise,” she wrote. “For many years, she by no means shied away from asking the powerful inquiries to individuals in energy, and he or she by no means drained in her relentless pursuit of reality.”
Added Pelosi: “Personally, it was my privilege to sit down down with Barbara a number of instances — from information programming to The View — and see her masterful work firsthand. Her passing is a superb loss — however her legendary legacy will encourage generations of newswomen. Could she relaxation in peace.”
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This previous September, Meredith Vieira opened as much as PEOPLE in regards to the “great” privilege of being chosen by Walters to reasonable The View in its early days.
“To have the chance to work along with her was considerably of a dream come true. I believe that she hesitated with me by way of hiring me as a result of she did not know I used to be humorous. However Barbara took an opportunity on me. It wasn’t a job that I used to be in search of and significantly focused on till I auditioned,” she stated. “After which I noticed, ‘I do not know why I would actually get pleasure from this, however I do.'”
“As soon as you’re employed with Barbara, she’s a really sophisticated individual,” Vieira added of her former boss. “On one hand, she’s very type and beneficiant, and on the opposite, an actual taskmaster and difficult as nails, which is why she succeeded on this enterprise at a time when there have been so few girls. She had not solely brains, however actual tenacity.”
