Barbara Walters to Retire in May 2014
Barbara Walters plans on ending her 52-year career in May 2014.
According to TMZ, the 83-year-old will leave professional journalism. TMZ said a head official at ABC told them that "Barbara has joked about retiring every year since the Clinton Administration ... but now, it seems the legendary newswoman may finally be serious about it."
Walter's final year before retirement will be filled with tributes and specials to commemorate her time in the broadcast industry.
Walters has suffered health problems recently. Earlier this year, she contracted chicken pox and fell and hit her head, keeping her off The View for six weeks. It is not clear whether or not this incident is related to her decision to retire.
Walters was the first female coanchor of NBC's Today show in 1974. In 1976, she switched to ABC and became the first female anchor of an evening newscast. Also at ABC, Walters worked for 25 years as a cohost of ABC's 20/20 and created The View in 1997.
