In the hours after iconic newswoman Barbara Walters died on Friday, tributespoured in from famous friends, colleagues and fans.
Walters’ rep Cindi Berger confirmed the news of Walters’ death at age 93,PEOPLE count: “Barbara Walters passed away peacefully in her home surroundedby loved ones. She lived a big life.”
“She lived her life with no regrets,” Berger’s statement continued. “She was atrailblazer not only for female journalists, but for all women.”
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Fellow TV titan Oprah Winfrey led a long list of notable admirers to pay theirrespects to Walters. The media mogul wrote on Instagram that she was”grateful” Walters had been “such a powerful and gracious role model.”
Former Walt Disney Company CEO Robert Iger was among the first to reflect onWalters’ “one-of-a-kind” legacy and sent his condolences to Walters’ daughterJacqueline.
“Barbara was a true legend, apioneer not justfor women in journalism but for journalism itself,” Iger said in a statementto PEOPLE and via Twitter. “She was a one-of-a-kind reporter who landed manyof the most important interviews of our time, from heads of state and leadersof regimes to the biggest celebrities and sports icons. I had the pleasure ofcalling 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 theWalt Disney Company, and we send our deepest condolences to her daughterJacqueline.”
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Several tributes came in from co-hosts of The View , which Walters created1997 and moderated for many years. Rosie O’Donnell simply called her formerboss and colleague a “legend” on Instagram.
Star Jones, one of The View ‘s first-ever co-hosts, tweeted: “I owe BarbaraWalters more than I could ever repay. Rest wellsister…mother…friend…colleague…mentor.“
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Jones’ fellow OG View co-host Debbie Matenopoulos shared on her InstagramStory that she was “so so so sad…. No words right now.”
Star Jones, Meredith Viera, Carol Channing, Debbie Matenopoulos, BarbaraWalters appearing on the ‘The View’ in 1998.
Donna Svennevik/Walt Disney Television via Getty
“Thank you for everything. You single handedly changed my life and the life ofevery other female journalist by leading the way for us all,” Matenopouloscontinued. “May you rest in peace and in power and beauty you amazing woman!!I owe you everything as do so many others. You will always be my hero.”
The Story included a picture of Walters and Matenopouloson set in 1997. “Myfirst month on @theviewabc my best friend took this picture from the audienceand literally just showed it to me about 4 hours ago!!!” she remembered. “Wewere laughing so hard about how young and silly I was and then about an hourlater I got the news. I am in shock. I love you Barbara always and forever.You taught me everything !!!”
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Former panelist Meghan McCain wrote, in part, that Walters’ “hard hittingquestions and welcoming demeanor made her a household name and leader inAmerican journalism.”
McCain’s conservative predecessor Elisabeth Hasselbeck shared an InstagramReel with a caption that read, in part, “I love ❤️ you Barbara. GOD is in thisstory. I have few words tonight.” Plugging her next Fox News appearance, sheadded, “It will be an honor to be broadcasting about your love and legacy. 🙏#thebeststoriesareinheaven”
Michelle Collins shared a special View tradition: “One of the first rites ofpassage of becoming a host on @TheView was tohave lunch with Barbara Walters. Few times in my life have I been thatnervous. She was anabsolute trailblazer, class, elegance, smarts that are increasingly hard tocome by. I’ll always be grateful. RIP”
Sunny Hostin, meanwhile, posted a tribute from Ghana, Africa that “The worldhas lost a remarkable woman today. I am heartbroken to hear of Barbara’spassing. She was an extraordinary, meticulous and no-nonsense journalist witha wicked sense of humor. She shattered countless glass ceilings and did itwith grace and humility.While I’m deeply saddened by this loss and will missher terribly,I’m forever grateful for the trails she blazed for me and so manyothers.I’m humbled and honored to carry on her legacy. Rest in Power.”
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Members of the broadcast journalism community also offered condolences, praiseand memories, with Good Morning America anchor Robin Roberts noting she’d be”forevergrateful for[Barbara’s] stellar example and for her friendship.”
Former long time CBS Evening News anchor Dan Rather tweeted, “The world ofjournalism has lost a pillar of professionalism, courage, andintegrity. BarbaraWalters 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 bedeeply missed. RIP”
ABC News and 20/20 correspondent Deborah Roberts reflected on how she’d”never forget the phone call when she askedme to join thegroundbreaking program.”
former GMA host Joan Lunden wrote, “We have lost a true legend with thepassing of Barbara Walters. Such a trail blazer. Such a generous woman – Ilearned so much from working withher.”
Tamron Hall calls her fellow former Today showanchor “The Legend. TheBlueprint. TheGreatest.”
Maria Shriver got personal: “[Barbara] used to be a mentor to me as well as afriend. So manywomen broke into the news business because she did her job well.”
World News Tonight anchor David Muir wrote, “So often we toss around thewords icon, legend, trailblazer – but Barbara Walters was all of these. Andperhaps, above all else, Barbara Walters wasbrave. She pavedthe way for so many – we learned from her – and remain in awe of her to thisday. RIP Barbara.”
former Today show host Katie Couric added that Walters “was the OG of femalebroadcasters. She was just as comfortable interviewing world leaders as shewas Oscar winners and her body of work is unparalleled.”
“She liked to say we were similar — that neither of us was particularlyglamorous,” added Couric. “I never quite knew how to take that! But the factthat Barbara saw some of her on me was nothing but a compliment. Thank you foreverything, Barbara. ❤️ #RIP”
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Among the fans and former hot seat occupants who chimed in, Monica Lewinsky —who sat down with Walters for a powerful interview during the media storm thatsurrounded her White House affair with then-President Bill Clinton — shared aTwitterthreadabout her 25-year connection to Waltrs.
“i knew barbara for over half of my life,” she began. “we stayed in touch overthe past 25 years. the last time we saw each other was for lunch a few yearsago. of course, she was charming, witty and some of her questions were stillher signature interview style.”
Basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar praised the fact Walters “never flinchedwhen questioning the world’s most powerful people. She held themaccountable. She caredabout the truth and she made us care too.”
Abbott Elementary star Sheryl Lee Ralph tweeted: “Rest in Peace preciousPeace BarbaraWalters!!”
Who ‘s the Boss? star Alyssa Milano credited Walters for “for helping mefind my voice.”
Wonder Woman herself Lynda Carter shared a vintage video clip of herself beinginterviewed by Walters and the women of The View with the caption: “BarbaraWalters was an American institution. As the first female national news anchor,she opened the door to endless possibilities for so many girls who wanted towork in TV, myself included. Her impact cannot beoverstated.I’ll miss you, Barbara. Thank you for everything.”
Talk show host Drew Barrymore, who has followed in Walters’ footsteps with_The Drew Barrymore Show_ called her “A true pioneer who was never one to shyaway from questions and go after the truth she was seeking. I respected herbecause she did it all, and spoke to everyone and broke barriers. What anamazing life she lived.”
In a statement shared through ABC News’ Twitter account, Diane Sawyerdescribed Walters as “a trailblazer, a singular force who opened the door forevery woman in television news.”
“She was also the history maker right down the hall – my friend and roadbuddy, eager to talk about the news world, the decade of passion work – thecuriosity and laughter that gets us all through,” she added. “Sadness.Gratitude. And a salute from all of us who knew what we owe her.”
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi also paid tribute with a statement onTwitter as well. “Barbara Walters was a trailblazer and an icon: transformingtelevision journalism with her intellect and integrity, courage and poise,”she wrote. “For decades, she never shied away from asking the tough questionsto people in power, and she never tired in her relentless pursuit of truth.”
Added Pelosi: “Personally, it was my privilege to sit down with Barbaraseveral times — from news programming to The View — and see her masterful workfirsthand. Her passing is a great loss — but her legendary legacy will inspiregenerations of newswomen. May she rest in peace.”
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This past September, Meredith Vieira opened up to PEOPLE about the”tremendous” privilege of being chosen by Walters to moderate The View inits early days.
“To have the opportunity to work with her was somewhat of a dream come true. Ithink that she hesitated with me in terms of hiring me because she didn’t knowI was funny. But Barbara took a chance on me. It wasn’ t a job that I waslooking for and particularly interested in until I auditioned,” she said. “Andthen I realized, ‘I don’t know why I’d really enjoy this, but I do.'”
“Once you work with Barbara, she’s a very complicated person,” Vieira added ofher former boss. “On one hand, she’s very kind and generous, and on the other,a real taskmaster and tough as nails, which is why she succeeded in thisbusiness at a time when there were so few women. She had not only brains, butreal tenacity.”