It seems almost inconceivable to imagine Barbara Walters not being on television. This is a woman, after all, who entered the business (as a segment producer on NBC’s Today Show) in 1962 — and has been on the air longer than many of her fans have been alive.
But, as she announced this afternoon, she plans on leaving the small screen sometime next summer. (It will be a long goodbye, during which time she’ll mix regular appearances on The View along with hosting duties of such signature shows as her “Most Fascinating People” and Oscar specials.)
To celebrate her 50 years in television, we’ve assembled this gallery of images from her long and storied career.