Walters was a pioneer in television news and a longtime ABC News anchor and correspondent, according to ABC News. She joined ABC News in 1976 and became the first female anchor on an evening news program. A few years later she became a co-host on “20/20″ and she helped create the show, “The View.”
Walters’ death was announced by ABC on air Friday evening, according to The Associated Press.
Walters reportedly made headlines when she became the first female networks news anchor with an annual salary of $1 million, according to the AP.
Walters interviews with prominent figures in entertainment and politics ranging from Katharine Hepburn to Monica Lewinsky to Jimmy Carter and Anwar Sadat, according to Variety. Her interview with Lewinsky on Mar. 3, 1999, was reportedly seen by 74 million viewers. That was the largest audience ever for a journalist’s interview.
According to Variety, Walters was one of the highest-paid television journalists at a point and had earned as much as $12 million a year at ABC. She worked at ABC News from 1976 until she retired in 2014. Before that, she was on NBC’s “Today” show for 12 years.
Walters’ final appearance on “The View” was taped in May 2014 which marked the end of her career on television, said the AP.
“A pioneer not just for women in journalism but for journalism itself. Shew as a one-of-a-kind reporter who landed many of the most important interviews of our time, from heads of state and leaders of regimes to the biggest celebrities and sports icons,” said Iger. “She will be missed by most of us at The Walt Disney Company, we send our deepest condolences to her daughter, Jacqueline.”
Walters’ cause of death is unknown, according to the AP.
Barbara Walters through the years NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 03: Barbara Walters attends "After Midnight" Broadway opening night at Brooks Atkinson Theatre on November 3, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images) (Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images)
Barbara Walters through the years NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 20: TV personality Barbara Walters attends the 2012 New York City Ballet Fall Gala at the David H. Koch Theater, Lincoln Center on September 20, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images) (Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Barbara Walters through the years NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 23: Barbara Walters attends the 2012 Matrix Awards Luncheon at Waldorf Astoria Hotel on April 23, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images) (Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images)
Barbara Walters through the years NEW YORK, NY - MAY 14: Barbara Walters attends A Celebration of Barbara Walters Cocktail Reception Red Carpet at the Four Seasons Restaurant on May 14, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by D Dipasupil/Getty Images) (D Dipasupil/Getty Images)
Barbara Walters through the years NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 28: TV Personality Barbara Walters arrives as Ralph Lauren Presents Exclusive Screening Of Hitchcock's To Catch A Thief Celebrating The Princess Grace Foundation at MoMA on October 28, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for Ralph Lauren) (Larry Busacca/Getty Images for Ralph Lauren)
Barbara Walters through the years NEW YORK, NY - JULY 31: Host Barbara Walters attends the O, The Oprah Magazine's special advance screening of "Lee Daniels' The Butler" at The Hearst Tower on July 31, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Rob Kim/Getty Images for Hearst) (Rob Kim)
Barbara Walters through the years NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 09: Barbara Walters attends the "Jersey Boys" Special Screening at Paris Theater on June 9, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Ben Gabbe/Getty Images) (Ben Gabbe/Getty Images)
Barbara Walters through the years NEW YORK, NY - MAY 28: Barbara Walters attends the 12th annual Sesame Workshop Benefit Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street on May 28, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Robin Marchant/Getty Images) (Robin Marchant/Getty Images)
Barbara Walters through the years NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 24: Barbara Walters attends the "One for the Money" premiere at the AMC Loews Lincoln Square on January 24, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Donna Ward/Getty Images) (Donna Ward/Getty Images)
Barbara Walters through the years NEW YORK, NY - MAY 12: Barbara Walters attends the dedication ceremony as ABC News headquarters in New York is proclaimed "The Barbara Walters Building" ABC News Headquarters Dedication Ceremony on May 12, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images) (Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images)
Barbara Walters through the years NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 29: Journalist Barbara Walters attends the TIME 100 Gala, TIME's 100 most influential people in the world, at Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 29, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Ben Gabbe/Getty Images for TIME) (Ben Gabbe)
Barbara Walters through the years BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JUNE 23: Journalist Barbara Walters appears onstage at the 39th Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on June 23, 2012 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Barbara Walters through the years NEW YORK, NY - MAY 02: Barbara Walters attends the "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 2, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images) (Larry Busacca/Getty Images)
Barbara Walters through the years NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 14: TV Personality Barbara Walters attends Barneys New York And Disney Electric Holiday Window Unveiling Hosted By Sarah Jessica Parker, Bob Iger, And Mark Lee on November 14, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Barneys New York) (Theo Wargo)
Barbara Walters through the years WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 03: Journalist Barbara Walters attends the 100th Annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton on May 3, 2014 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images) (Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)