Barbara Walters, a trailblazing broadcast journalist, led a life as captivating off-screen as it was on. While she became synonymous with groundbreaking interviews and journalistic prowess, her romantic life unfolded across decades, marked by three marriages and several high-profile relationships. Walters often kept her personal life private, but details of her romantic journey have emerged over time, revealing a woman who balanced an demanding career with the complexities of love.
Walters' first foray into marriage was with Robert Henry Katz, a business executive. They tied the knot in 1955, but their union was short-lived, reportedly ending in annulment by 1957. Walters later described their engagement as "rather dreary" and for many years, she chose not to acknowledge this initial marriage publicly, reflecting a desire to keep her personal life separate from her burgeoning career.
Her second marriage was to Lee Guber, a prominent theater producer, whom she met on a blind date in 1962. They married in 1963, and this became her longest marriage, lasting until their divorce in 1976. During their marriage, in 1968, the couple adopted their daughter, Jacqueline Guber, who became a central figure in Walters' personal life. Reports suggest that tensions arose in their relationship due to Walters' escalating fame and demanding career, ultimately leading to their separation.
In the 1970s, while her career soared, Walters had a confidential affair with Edward Brooke, a then-married United States Senator from Massachusetts. This relationship, which lasted for about two years, was kept secret due to the potential professional repercussions for both parties, as public knowledge could have jeopardized their respective careers. Walters later revealed this affair in her autobiography, highlighting the difficult choices she made to protect her professional standing.
During the same decade, Walters also dated Alan Greenspan, who would later become the Chairman of the Federal Reserve. Their relationship was part of a period where Walters was linked to several influential figures in Washington D.C., showcasing her connections beyond the entertainment world. These relationships often remained private, reflecting Walters' preference for discretion in her personal affairs.
Walters' third and final marriage was to Merv Adelson, a television producer and CEO of Lorimar Television. Their relationship was unique, as they married and divorced twice. They first wed in 1981 after meeting on a blind date, but their initial marriage concluded in 1984. Despite the divorce, they rekindled their romance and remarried in 1986, only to divorce again in 1992. Walters described Adelson as a "kind and gentle man," and they reportedly remained friends after their final separation.
Following her second divorce from Adelson, Walters continued to navigate her romantic life with a mix of discretion and occasional public appearances. In the 1990s, she briefly dated the controversial lawyer Roy Cohn, who had famously represented her father years prior. Cohn reportedly proposed to Walters multiple times over the years, though she never seriously considered marriage with him, viewing their connection more as a friendship and a means for Cohn to assert heterosexuality.
Also in the late 1990s, Walters was romantically linked to John Warner, a former U.S. Senator from Virginia, who had previously been married to actress Elizabeth Taylor. Their relationship was briefly teased on The View, the talk show Walters co-created, offering a rare glimpse into her dating life at the time. This period demonstrated Walters' continued connection to influential figures in politics and public life.
In 2007, Walters was reported to be dating Robert Neil Butler, a Pulitzer Prize-winning gerontologist known for coining the term "ageism." This relationship occurred later in her life, reflecting her continued openness to companionship and connection. Throughout her life, Walters' relationships often involved men of significant public standing, mirroring her own prominent career.
Barbara Walters never remarried after her second divorce from Merv Adelson. Her romantic history, while often kept from the public eye, illustrated a pattern of relationships with accomplished individuals, often balancing the demands of her pioneering career with her personal desire for connection. Her approach to love was as complex and multifaceted as her legendary career, marked by both public unions and private affections, all while maintaining her iconic status as a television luminary.