It's hard not to know who Barbara Walters is, especially if you're a fan of daytime talk shows. She is the creator of The View and longtime co-host. And she's arguably one of the most powerful broadcast journalists of her time.

Walters was born on September 25, 1929, in Boston. Her father was an immigrant from London, England, and worked in the theater as a booking agent and Broadway producer. Those times were tough for Walters.

 Her father fell on hard luck time an again, amassing fortunes and then losing it all because of his feast or famine profession. The family lost much during that time, but Walters’ says her mother's strong will kept the family together.

When she was growing up, Walters was always surrounded by celebrities, due to her father’s show business career. This closeness is why she lost her ability to be “star struck” early on, which Walters attributes to her ability to interview A-list celebrities and powerful political figures in a calm, collected and controlled manner.

She attended Fieldston and Birch Wathen private schools in New York before graduating from Miami Beach High School. She attended Sarah Lawrence College in New York and graduated with a degree in English.

Broadcast pioneer

Walters was a publicist before her news career took off. When it did, it took off like a rocket.

Her first broadcast job was with CBS News as a writer, which led to success with The Today Show. Because of her news background, Walters is sometimes attributed with changing the morning program from one that churned out fluff pieces delivered by celebrities and ex-sports stars, to one of solid journalism and gripping news coverage.

Walters was the first female co-host of The Today Show, in no small part because of her excellent journalism skills. This led to her well-known stint on ABC’s 20/20, which she co-hosted with Hugh Downs for many years.

She quickly became famous for her celebrity interviews, often sitting down with some of the biggest names in show business and pop culture. Her most-watched interview to date is with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky after her affair with then-President William Clinton. She has also interviewed Boris Yeltsin, former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Fidel Castro, and many more.

Creating The View

In 1997, Barbara co-created The View with Bill Geddie and Jessica Guff, as a program for women from different backgrounds and perspectives. The concept of the show was captured in a voice over provided by Walters that introduced the program:

"I've always wanted to do a show with women of different generations, backgrounds and views: a working mother; a professional in her 30s ; a young woman just starting out; and then somebody who's done almost everything and will say almost anything. And in a perfect world, I'd get to join the group whenever I wanted."

And Walters did just that. Before her retirement in 2014, she often co-hosted the program. When she retired many of the program's 11 previous hosts joined Walters on the set to send her off with accolades and cheers.

Fast Facts:

• Was the first female co-host of The Today Show.
• Overcame a slight speech impediment, which is often mimicked for comedic effect, perhaps most famously by Gilda Radner’s “Babwa Wawa”.
• Infamously known for this question, posed to Katherine Hepburn: “If you were a tree, what kind would you be?” But the question was never posed – exactly. Hepburn said during an interview that she wanted to be a tree, to which Barbara asked, “What kind?”
• Barbara has been married three times.
• In 1977, conducted the first joint interview of Egypt’s President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Bagin.
• She was the first female news anchor on national U.S. television, and possibly the first news anchor to make more than $1 million a year.
• Was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1989.
• Will come out of retirement in 2014 for a special episode of 20/20.