Barbara Walters, the legendary newswoman, died on Friday, and tributes from important friends, colleagues, and fans began to pour in.
“Barbara Walters died without suffering in the comfort of her own home, surrounded by family and friends,” Cindi Berger, Walters’ spokeswoman, told PEOPLE. ” She had a very interesting life.”
“She lived her life without regrets,” Berger said. “She was a trailblazer in her area not only for female journalists, but for all women in general.”
Another television titan, Oprah Winfrey, was among the many celebrities who gathered to pay their respects to Walters. In an Instagram post, the media mogul thanked Walters for being “such a powerful and giving role model,” and she referred to Walters as a “hero.”
Former Walt Disney Company CEO Robert Iger was among the first to express his thoughts on Barbara Walters’ “unique” legacy and to express his condolences to Walters’ daughter Jacqueline.
“Barbara was a great legend and a pioneer not only for women in journalism but for journalism itself,” Iger said in a statement to PEOPLE and on Twitter.
“She was a one-of-a-kind journalist who was able to secure interviews with many of our time’s most powerful persons, including heads of state and regime leaders, as well as the most recognized artists and sports personalities.”
“Over the course of more than three decades, I had the honor of referring to Barbara as a coworker, but more significantly, as a good friend. We will all miss her terribly at The Walt Disney Company, and we want Jacqueline, her daughter, to know that we send our heartfelt condolences.”
