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Barbara Walters, one of the most influential figures in the world of television news, has died at age 93. Throughout her long career, she became a pioneer for women in journalism. She was the first woman to anchor an evening news program in the United States. In addition to her work on ABC, she co-hosted a popular daytime talk show. A star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Walters was also a TV Academy Hall of Fame inductee.

Barbara Walters was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on September 25, 1929. Her father, Lou Walters, ran nightclubs, but the family moved back to New York when she was about ten. At the time of her birth, the Wall Street crash had just sparked the Great Depression. Later, Walters' family moved to Miami, but soon they were back in New York.

After graduating from Sarah Lawrence College, Barbara Walters began her career in television as a writer and producer. By the 1960s, she was married to Broadway producer Lee Guber. Their daughter, Jackie, was born in 1968.

Barbara Walters was an anchor on NBC's "Today" show for twelve years. She earned an Emmy for the show in 1975. She teamed up with Harry Reasoner as the co-host of the "Evening News" in 1976. From there, she had a storied career that spanned more than four decades, earning over $12 million per year for her work. During this period, she interviewed Presidents, heads of state, sports stars, political leaders, and more.

Walters' interviews changed how the media worked, and her influence will continue to be felt for years. As an interviewer, she brought the biggest names in the business to the screen, including Michael Jackson, Barbra Streisand, and Ringo Starr. She even interviewed controversial boxer, Mike Tyson.

A National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences member, Barbara Walters also received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Television Academy in 2000. In 2007, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She was also a recipient of the GLAAD Excellence in Media award.

While a journalist, Walters also hosted the ABC news show "20/20," where she conducted interviews with many high-profile celebrities, such as Michael Jackson and Monica Lewinsky. She also served as an executive producer of the show. Her success in this field led to the creation of "The View" in 1997. Eventually, she retired from the show, though she was still an executive producer.

When her career as an interviewer ended, she continued to do occasional TV appearances. After her official send-off in 2015, she was still making guest appearances. Those included a final on-air interview with Donald Trump for ABC News. And in 2010, she appeared on the SiriusXM channel.

Barbara Walters was a force of nature. She was the most influential and well-known interviewer in the television industry. She influenced generations of women.