Career Timeline of Barbara Walters: Major Achievements and Milestones
How Barbara Walters built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Barbara Walters (1929-2022) was a highly influential American broadcast journalist and television personality renowned for her interviewing skills and popularity. Her career spanned from 1951 to 2016, during which she hosted prominent programs such as Today, ABC Evening News, 20/20, and The View. She broke barriers for women in journalism and received numerous accolades, including induction into the Television Hall of Fame in 1989, a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2000, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2007. Walters left a lasting mark on the television industry.
1951: Start of Walters' journalism career
In 1951, Barbara Walters began her career as a working journalist and continued until her retirement in 2016.
1953: Writer-Producer at WNBT-TV
In 1953, Barbara Walters began her career at WNBT-TV in New York as a writer-producer for the juvenile news program, Ask the Camera.
1953: Production of Ask the Camera
In 1953, Barbara Walters produced a 15-minute children's program called Ask the Camera at WNBT-TV.
1954: Cancellation of Eloise McElhone Show
In 1954, Barbara Walters produced the Eloise McElhone Show at WPIX, but it was canceled.
1955: Writer at CBS's The Morning Show
In 1955, Barbara Walters became a writer on The Morning Show at CBS.
1961: Joins The Today Show
In 1961, Barbara Walters joined NBC's The Today Show as a writer and researcher.
1970: Barbara Walters Publishes Book
In 1970, Barbara Walters published "How to Talk with Practically Anybody About Practically Anything", which became a surprising success.
1971: Hosts Not for Women Only
In 1971, Barbara Walters began hosting her own local NBC affiliate show, Not for Women Only, which aired in the mornings after The Today Show.
1974: Co-host of Today Show
In 1974, Barbara Walters became the co-host of NBC's Today show, making her the first woman to hold such a position on an American news program.
1976: First Barbara Walters Special
In 1976, Barbara Walters aired her highly rated, occasional, primetime Barbara Walters Specials interview program, with President-elect Jimmy Carter, Rosalynn Carter, and singer-actress Barbra Streisand as guests.
1976: First American Female Co-Anchor
In 1976, Barbara Walters became the first American female co-anchor of a network evening news program, co-anchoring the ABC Evening News with Harry Reasoner.
1976: Joins ABC Evening News
In 1976, Barbara Walters signed a five-year contract with ABC, becoming the highest-paid news anchor. She began co-anchoring the ABC Evening News with Harry Reasoner.
1976: Presidential Debate Moderator
In 1976, Barbara Walters was the moderator for the third and final debate between presidential candidates Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford.
June 9, 1977: Barbara Walters Special: Interview with Fidel Castro
On June 9, 1977, Barbara Walters' television special about Cuban leader Fidel Castro aired on ABC-TV. The interview highlighted their differing views on freedom of the press.
November 1977: Joint Interview with Sadat and Begin
In November 1977, Barbara Walters conducted the first joint interview with Egyptian President Anwar Al Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin.
1978: Leaves ABC Evening News
In 1978, Barbara Walters ended her co-anchor role at the ABC Evening News after starting in 1976.
1979: Correspondent on 20/20
In 1979, Barbara Walters began working as a correspondent, producer and co-host on the ABC newsmagazine 20/20, a role she held until 2004.
1979: Reunion with Hugh Downs on 20/20
In 1979, Barbara Walters rejoined former The Today Show host Hugh Downs as a correspondent on the ABC newsmagazine 20/20.
1980: Interview with Laurence Olivier
In 1980, Barbara Walters interviewed influential people including Laurence Olivier.
1981: 20/20 Interview with Harry Reasoner
In 1981, Barbara Walters interviewed her former ABC Evening News co-anchor, Harry Reasoner, on 20/20 about his new book.
1984: Becomes Co-Host of 20/20
In 1984, Barbara Walters became the co-host of 20/20, alongside Hugh Downs, marking another significant milestone in her career.
1989: Inducted into Television Hall of Fame
In 1989, Barbara Walters was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame, recognizing her significant contributions to the field.
1993: Barbara Walters' 10 Most Fascinating People Aired
In 1993, Barbara Walters' 10 Most Fascinating People special began airing annually.
August 11, 1997: Premiere of The View
On August 11, 1997, The View, a daytime talk show created by Barbara Walters, premiered on ABC.
1997: Creation of The View
In 1997, Barbara Walters created, produced, and co-hosted the ABC daytime talk show The View, which she appeared on until 2014.
March 3, 1999: Monica Lewinsky Interview
On March 3, 1999, Barbara Walters' interview with Monica Lewinsky was seen by a record 74 million viewers.
2000: Interview with Ricky Martin
In 2000, Barbara Walters interviewed Ricky Martin on Barbara Walters' 10 Most Fascinating People and asked him about his sexuality, which he later felt was a violation.
2000: Lifetime Achievement Award
In 2000, Barbara Walters received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS).
2004: Leaves 20/20 but remains with ABC News
After leaving her role as a 20/20 co-host in 2004, Barbara Walters remained a part-time contributor of special programming and interviews for ABC News.
2004: Departure from 20/20
In 2004, Barbara Walters ended her run as a correspondent, producer, and co-host on the ABC newsmagazine 20/20, after starting in 1979.
2004: Retires as Co-Host of 20/20
In 2004, Barbara Walters retired as co-host of the ABC newsmagazine 20/20 after working at the show since 1979.
2007: Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
In 2007, Barbara Walters received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, honoring her contributions to the television industry.
2008: Barbara Walter's Book Still Successful
As of 2008, Barbara Walter's 1970 book "How to Talk with Practically Anybody About Practically Anything" had been through eight printings, sold hundreds of thousands of copies worldwide, and had been translated into at least six languages.
2008: Walters Publishes Autobiography
In 2008, Barbara Walters published her autobiography, "Audition: A Memoir".
March 7, 2010: End of Oscar Interviews
On March 7, 2010, Barbara Walters announced that she would no longer hold Oscar interviews but would continue to work for ABC and on The View.
September 2010: Barbara Walters Returns to The View and Sirius XM Show
In September 2010, Barbara Walters returned to "The View" and her Sirius XM satellite show, "Here's Barbara", following a successful open-heart surgery in May.
2010: Regret over Ricky Martin Interview
In 2010, Barbara Walters expressed regret over having pushed Ricky Martin about his sexuality during a 2000 interview.
March 28, 2013: Barbara Walters Retirement Reports
On March 28, 2013, media outlets reported Barbara Walters would retire in May 2014, announcing it on The View in four days. However, she neither confirmed nor denied the rumors on April 1, stating she would announce it on the program when ready.
May 15, 2014: Retirement from The View
On May 15, 2014, Barbara Walters retired from her role as a co-host on The View.
June 10, 2014: Barbara Walters Comes Out of Retirement
On June 10, 2014, it was announced that Barbara Walters would come out of retirement for a special 20/20 interview with Peter Rodger, the father of Elliot Rodger, the perpetrator of the 2014 Isla Vista killings.
2014: Departure from The View
In 2014, Barbara Walters left The View, the daytime talk show she created, produced, and co-hosted since 1997.
2015: Final On-Air Appearance
In 2015, Barbara Walters made her final on-air appearance for ABC News.
2015: Guest Co-Host on The View
In 2015, Barbara Walters returned as a guest co-host on The View, even in retirement.
2016: End of contribution with ABC News
In 2016, Barbara Walters ended her role as a contributor with special programming and interviews for ABC News.
2016: Walters retires
In 2016, Barbara Walters retired as a working journalist after a career that began in 1951.
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