Investigative Facts About Barbara Walters, The Boundary-Breaker
When it came to Barbara Walters’ interviews, sometimes it was hard to tell who was more famous: the interviewee or Walters herself. Maybe it was her four marriages. Maybe it was those piercing eyes.
Or maybe just how easily she could bring her subjects to tears. Walters was a chameleon who could somehow manage to be compassionate, predatory, and heartlessly indifferent—all within a single interview. So, who was the real Barbara Walters?
Read these facts and decide for yourself.
1. There Was Tragedy Around Her
Barbara Walters was born in Boston on September 25, 1929, the third child of Lou and Dena Walters. The first child, however, hadn’t made it past 14 months. It was pneumonia that got him.
Walters’ second sibling was Jacqueline, who had mental disabilities that she acquired at birth. Likely, Walters’ parents were nervous to have their third child.
As it turned out, baby Barbara was a happy and healthy child.
2. Her Name Had A Journey
While Walters is a pretty standard name for an American, where it came from is a real story. Walters' grandfather grew up in Poland and had the last name Waremwasser.
Her father, when he arrived in London, turned around and made the name Warmwater—almost a direct translation.
Once he moved to New York City—in 1909—Mr. Warmwater thought that just plain “Walters” would help him avoid annoying jokes. It’s a pretty unconventional way to come about a name, but there wasn’t much conventional about Walters’ father.
3. She Wasn’t Ordinary
While growing up, Walters didn’t have the most traditional childhood. While most of her uncles worked in shoe or dressmaking, Walters’ father was in show business.
Her dad would often take her to the club during the day when the performers were rehearsing. Of course, the actors and dancers were always excited to see the boss’ daughter and made a big deal about her presence.
Sometimes, they would even toss her around and make her dizzy.
Walters soon became relaxed around celebrities: something that would be a great benefit in her future career.
4. She Was On The Move
While Walters’ father was doing well in show business, it was sometimes a little up and down. Some days the family was more than comfortable financially and other days not so much.
What this meant for Walters was a lot of moving around. The family bounced around between New York City, Massachusetts, and Florida.
By the time her education was complete, Walters had been to three schools in New York, two in Florida, and one in Massachusetts.
You can say one thing: Walters was mastering the art of meeting new people.
