ABC posted that Barbara Walters would retire from television journalism next summer, but “Until then, she will continue to anchor and report for ABC News, appear on ‘The View,’ and anchor specials throughout the year.”
Barbara, now 83, would remain as an executive producer of “The View.”
Barbara is happy with her decision and told the media, “I am very happy with my decision and look forward to a wonderful and special year ahead both on ‘The View’ and with ABC News.” She said, “I created ‘The View’ and am delighted it will last beyond my leaving it.”
Walters’ health had been failing in recent years, both due to natural causes as also due to accidents. She had an open heart surgery in 2010, then suffered a concussion after a fall in January, and later was diagnosed with chicken pox.
Barbara Walters began her career in television journalism in 1961 as a writer on the “Today” show of NBC, which she co-hosted later on.
In 1976, she became the co-anchor on “ABC Evening News,” and earned the laurel of being the first woman to co anchor evening news broadcasts in U.S. She also worked as a correspondent for ABC News and worked as a host and producer of the ABC news magazine “20/20.”
Known as one of the top interviewers in U.S. television, she has interviewed a range of luminaries and celebrities including people like Fidel Castro, Margaret Thatcher, Saddam Hussein, Richard Nixon and others.