Walters, Barbara 1931–

views updated

WALTERS, Barbara 1931–

PERSONAL

Full name, Barbara Ann Walters; born September 25, 1931, in Boston, MA; daughter of Lou (a nightclub operator and theatrical producer) and Dena (maiden name, Selett) Walters; first marriage annulled; married Lee Guber (a theatrical producer), December 8, 1963 (divorced, 1976); married Merv Adelson (a television production executive), May 10, 1986 (divorced); children: (second marriage) Jacqueline Dena. Education: Sarah Lawrence College, B.A., English, 1953.


Addresses: Office— c/o 20/20, 147 Columbus Ave., 10th Floor, New York, NY 10023; Barbara Walters Specials, Barwall Productions, 825 Seventh Ave., 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10019–6014. Publicist— Cindi Berger, PMK/HBH, New York, 650 Fifth Ave., 33rd Floor, New York, NY 10019. Agent— The Harry Walker Agency Inc., 355 Lexington Ave., 21st Floor, New York, NY 10017.


Career: Broadcast journalist and writer. Worked as a writer and producer for WNBC–TV, WPIX, and CBS–TV.


Member: National Association for Help for Mentally Retarded Children (honorary chairperson, 1970).


Awards, Honors: Named among One Hundred Women of Accomplishment, Harper's Bazaar, 1967 and 1971; named one of America's Seventy–Five Most Important Women, Ladies' Home Journal, 1970; Emmy Award nomination, best host or hostess of a talk, service, or variety series, 1974, for Not for Women Only; named Woman of the Year in Communications, 1974; named one of Two Hundred Leaders of the Future, Time, 1974; honorary L.H.D. degrees from Ohio State University and Marymount College, Tarrytown, NY, both 1975; Award of the Year, National Association of Television Program Executives, 1975; Emmy Award, best host or hostess of a talk, service, or variety series, 1975, for The Today Show; Mass Media Award, Institute for Human Relations, American Jewish Committee, 1975; Illinois Broadcasters Association established the Barbara Walters College Scholarship in Broadcast Journalism, 1975; named Woman of the Year, Theta Sigma Phi, and Broadcaster of the Year, International Radio and Television Society, 1975; Gold Medal, National Institute of Social Sciences, 1976; Matrix Award, New York Women in Communications, 1977; Lowell Thomas Award, International Platform Association, 1977; Hubert H. Humphrey Freedom Prize, Anti–Defamation League, B'nai B'rith, 1978; named one of the Ten Women of the Decade, Ladies' Home Journal, 1979; named one of the Most Important Women of 1979, Roper Report, 1979; Emmy Award, best news program segment, and Emmy Award (with others), best news and documentary programs and program segments, both 1980, for ABC News Nightline; Emmy Awards, best interviewer, 1982 and 1983, and Emmy Award nominations, best informational series, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1988, all for The Barbara Walters Special; named one of the Women Most Admired by the American People, Gallup Poll, 1982, 1984; honorary L.H.D. degree, Wheaton College, 1983; named one of America's One Hundred Most Important Women, Ladies' Home Journal, 1983; Emmy Award, best interviewer, 1983, Emmy Award nomination, best interview segment, 1984, Emmy Award nomination, best background/analysis of a single current story, 1987, and Emmy Award, best interview segment, 1988, all for 20/20; President's Award, Overseas Press Club of America, 1988; Lowell Thomas Award, Marist College, 1990; elected to Hall of Fame, Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, 1990; Lifetime Achievement Award, International Women's Media Foundation, 1992; honored by the American Museum of the Moving Image, 1992; honored by Museum of Television and Radio, contributions to broadcast journalism, 1996; Excellence in Media Award, GLAAD Media Awards, 1996; Distinguished Service Award, National Association of Broadcasters, 1997; Lucy Award, Women in Film Lucy Awards, 1998; Daytime Emmy Award nominations (with others), outstanding talk show host and outstanding talk show, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003, Daytime Emmy Award (with others), outstanding talk show, 2003, for The View; Daytime Emmy Award, lifetime achievement, 2000.

CREDITS

Television Appearances; Series:

Regular correspondent, The Today Show (also known as The Rise and Shine Review ), NBC, 1963–1974.

Co–anchor, The Today Show (also known as The Rise and Shine Review ), NBC, 1974–1976.

Moderator, Not for Women Only, syndicated, 1974–1976.

Co–anchor, The ABC News with Harry Reasoner and Barbara Walters (now ABC World News Tonight ), ABC, 1976–1978.

Correspondent, 20/20, ABC, 1981–1984.

Co–anchor, 20/20, ABC, 1984—.

Substitute anchor, ABC News Nightline (also known as Nightline ), ABC, 1991—.

Anchor, Turning Point, ABC, 1994.

Cohost, The View, ABC, 1997—.

ABC News Saturday Night, ABC, 1998.

America.01, ABC, 2001.

Television Appearances; Specials:

Host, The Barbara Walters Special, ABC, 1976, 1985—.

The Television Annual: 1978/1979, 1979.

All–Star Celebration Honoring Martin Luther King, Jr., NBC, 1986.

Host, Liberty Weekend Preview, ABC, 1986.

Host, Life: Fifty Years (also known as The 50th Anniversary of Life Magazine ), ABC, 1986.

Commentator, Liberty Weekend, ABC, 1986.

Today at 35, NBC, 1987.

A Star–Spangled Celebration, ABC, 1987.

Sesame Street Special, PBS, 1988.

Host, The 50th Barbara Walters Special, ABC, 1988.

Anchor, America's Kids: Why They Flunk (also known as Burning Questions ), ABC, 1988.

Regis & Kathie Lee: Special Edition, 1988.

Fifty Years of Celebration: A Golden Celebration, CBS, 1989.

Reporter, Presidential Inauguration, ABC, 1989.

Anchor, Survival Stories: Growing Up Down and Out (also known as Kids in Trouble: Fighting Back ), ABC, 1989.

America's Kids: Teaching Them to Think (also known as Burning Questions ), ABC, 1989.

The 6th Annual Television Academy Hall of Fame, Fox, 1990.

Night of 100 Stars III, NBC, 1990.

Fifteen Years of MacNeil/Lehrer, PBS, 1990.

Presenter, The 48th Alfred I. Dupont—Columbia University Awards, PBS, 1990.

Anchor, The Perfect Baby, ABC, 1990.

Edward R. Murrow: This Reporter (documentary), PBS, 1990.

The Best of Disney: 50 Years of Magic, ABC, 1991.

Host, The Best of Barbara Walters: Legend—The New Generation, ABC, 1992.

Donahue: The 25th Anniversary, NBC, 1992.

Host, Twentysomething: What Happened to the American Dream?, ABC, 1992.

Today at 40, NBC, 1992.

Legend to Legend Night, NBC, 1993.

Kathie Lee Gifford's Celebration of Motherhood, ABC, 1993.

The 12 Most Fascinating People of 1993, ABC, 1993.

Narrator, In a New Light '93, ABC, 1993.

Host, What Is This Thing Called Love? The Barbara Walters Special, ABC, 1993.

Host, One on One: Classic Television Interviews, CBS, 1993.

Host, Great Television Moments: What We Watched, ABC, 1993.

Host, 20/20 15th Anniversary Special, ABC, 1993.

Switched at Birth: Kimberly's Story, ABC, 1993.

Segment host, "Watching History Happen," ABC's 40th Anniversary Special, ABC, 1994.

Presenter, The Essence Awards, Fox, 1994.

Host, "25/25," Sesame Street's All–Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever!, ABC, 1994.

Host, In a New Light '94, ABC, 1994.

Host, The Barbara Walters Special: Happy Hour, ABC, 1994.

Barbara Walters Presents the 10 Most Fascinating People of 1994, ABC, 1994.

The 10th Annual Television Academy Hall of Fame, ABC, 1994.

Anchor, Whiz Kids, ABC, 1995.

Host, Princess Diana: The Interview, ABC, 1995.

Into the Jury's Hands, ABC, 1995.

Inside the Hate Conspiracy: America's Terrorists, ABC, 1995.

Introduction, In a New Light: Sex Unplugged, ABC, 1995.

Narrator, Happily Ever After?, The Discovery Channel, 1995.

Host, Barbara Walters Presents the 10 Most Fascinating People of 1995, ABC, 1995.

Sex, Drugs and Consequences, ABC, 1996.

Race for a Miracle: The Brad and Vicki Margus Story, ABC, 1996.

Host, The Kennedy Center 25th Anniversary Celebration, PBS, 1996.

Barbara Walters: 20 Years at ABC, ABC, 1996.

Host, Barbara Walters Presents the 10 Most Fascinating People of 1996, ABC, 1996.

Interviewee, Mike Wallace Remembers, CBS, 1997.

Host, Men Are from Mars, Women are from Venus—But We Have to Live on Earth, ABC, 1997.

Hollywood and the News, ABC, 1997.

Barbara Walters Presents 6 to Watch, ABC, 1997, 1998.

Host, Barbara Walters Presents the 10 Most Fascinating People of 1997, ABC, 1997.

Host, Barbara Walters Presents the 10 Most Fascinating People of 1998, ABC, 1998.

Academy of Television Arts & Sciences 13th Annual Hall of Fame, Showtime, 1998.

Presenter, The 25th Daytime Emmy Awards, NBC, 1998.

Interviewee, Monica: The Untold Story, E! Entertainment Television, 1999.

Interviewee, Intimate Portrait: Star Jones, Lifetime, 1999.

Host, A Celebration: 100 Years of Great Women with Barbara Walters, ABC, 1999.

Host, Barbara Walters Presents the 10 Most Fascinating People of 1999, ABC, 1999.

Interviewee, Ann Landers: America's Confidante, Arts and Entertainment, 1999.

ABC 2000, ABC, 1999.

Presenter, The 26th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards, CBS, 1999.

Super Bowl XXXIV, ABC, 2000.

Interviewee, Barbara Walters: A Driving Force, Arts and Entertainment, 2000.

The 27th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards, ABC, 2000.

Interviewee, The Nightclub Years, Arts and Entertainment, 2001.

Interviewee, Intimate Portrait: Liz Smith, Lifetime, 2001.

I Love Lucy—50th Anniversary Spcial, CBS, 2001.

Breaking the News, CBS, 2001.

Interviewee, Born in My Heart: A Love Story, ABC, 2001.

Presenter, The 28th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards, NBC, 2001.

NBC 75th Anniversary Special (also known as NBC 75th Anniversary Celebration ), NBC, 2002.

Gilda Radner's Greatest Moments, ABC, 2002.

Barbara Walters Presents: The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2002, ABC, 2002.

After Party at "The View, " ABC, 2002.

The View: His & Her Body Test, ABC, 2003.

Interviewee, Intimate Portrait: Christiane Amanpour, Lifetime, 2003.

Host, Hillary Clinton's Journey: Public, Private, Personal with Barbara Walters, ABC, 2003.

Presenter, ABC 50th Anniversary Celebration, ABC, 2003.

Presenter, The 57th Annual Tony Awards, CBS, 2003.

Presenter, The 30th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards, ABC, 2003.

Host, 20/20: Living with Michael Jackson, ABC, 2003.

Interviewee, 100 Years of Hope and Humor, NBC, 2003.

Television Appearances; Episodic:

Sesame Street, PBS, 1969.

Mrs. Frazier, "For the Love of Bert," Maude, 1975.

"Edward R. Murrow: This Reporter," American Masters, PBS, 1990.

Host, "Switched at Birth: Kimberly's Story," Turning Point, ABC, 1993.

Late Show with David Letterman, CBS, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003.

Guest host, The Rosie O'Donnell Show, 2001.

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, NBC, 2003.

Also appeared in episodes of Issues and Answers, ABC.

Television Work; Series:

Co–executive producer, The View, ABC, 1997—.

Executive producer, Iyanla, NBC, 2001.

Television Executive Producer; Specials:

The Barbara Walters Special, ABC, 1992–1993, 2001.

Born In My Heart: A Love Story (documentary), ABC, 2001.

Barbara Walters Presents: The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2002, ABC, 2002.

The View: His & Her Body Test, 2003.

Radio Appearances:

Moderator of the radio programs Emphasis and Monitor; and hosted popular series Not for Women Only, NBC radio.

Stage Appearances:

Night of 100 Stars III, Radio City Music Hall, New York City, 1990.

Film Appearances:

Bank teller, Crazy Mama, 1975.

Spinster I, Goin' South, 1978.

(As Barbara Ann Walters) Cafeteria lady, Rock 'n' Roll High School, 1979.

In God We Tru$t (also known as Gimme That Prime Time Religion ), 1980.

The Line King: Al Hirschfeld (also known as The Line King ), 1996.

WRITINGS

Television Specials:

The Perfect Baby, ABC, 1990.

The Barbara Walters Special, ABC, 1990—.

The Best of Barbara Walters: Legend—The New Generation, ABC, 1992.

What Is This Thing Called Love? The Barbara Walters Special, ABC, 1993.

20/20 15th Anniversary Special, ABC, 1993.

The Barbara Walters Special: Happy Hour, ABC, 1994.

Barbara Walters: 20 Years at ABC, ABC, 1996.

Barbara Walters Presents: 6 to Watch, ABC, 1997.

Hillary Clinton's Journey: Public, Private, Personal with Barbara Walters, 2003.

Writer for Issues and Answers, ABC.

Television Series:

The Today Show (also known as The Rise and Shine Review ), NBC, 1961–1963.

Books:

How to Talk with Practically Anybody about Practically Anything, Doubleday, 1970.

Interview Given by Commander–in–Chief Fidel Castro to the American Journalist Barbara Walters, Oficina de Publicaciones del Consejo de Estado, 1978.

Barbara Walters Best Interviews, Meredith Corp., 1994.


Contributor to periodicals, including Family Weekly, Good Housekeeping, and Reader's Digest.

OTHER SOURCES

Periodicals:

Entertainment Weekly, March 19, 1999, pp. 81–82.

George, November, 1997, pp. 108–113, 142, 144.

Ladies' Home Journal, April, 1996, p. 128.

Life, February 18, 1966, pp. 49–50, 52; November 18, 1997, p. 36.

Nation, December 15, 1997, p. 36.

Newsweek, May 6, 1974; May 3, 1976; October 11, 1976.

New York Times, May 2, 1976; August 23, 1992.

People Weekly, June 21, 1982; May 26, 1986.

Time, May 3, 1976; October 18, 1976.

TV Guide, January 2, 1999, pp. 12–19.

Washington Star, April 23, 1976.

More From encyclopedia.com