Oprah Winfrey’s tears of grief

Barbara Walters, the iconic newswoman, died on Friday as tributes began to flood from close friends, colleagues, and admirers.

“Barbara Walters died without pain in the comfort of her own home, surrounded by family and friends,” Walters’ publicist, Cindi Berger, told PEOPLE. “She had a fascinating life.”

“She had no regrets in her life,” Berger remarked. “She was a trailblazer in her field, not just for female journalists, but for all women.”

Oprah Winfrey, another television legend, was among the many celebrities that gathered to pay their respects to Walters. The media mogul congratulated Walters for being “such a powerful and giving role model” in an Instagram post, and she referred to Walters as a “hero.”

Former Walt Disney Company CEO Robert Iger was among the first to comment on Barbara Walters’ “unique” legacy and convey his sympathies to Walters’ daughter Jacqueline.

“Barbara was a great legend and a pioneer not only for women but for journalism as a whole,” Iger said in a statement to PEOPLE and on Twitter.

“She was a journalist who was able to secure interviews of today’s most influential people, including heads of state and regime leaders, as well as the most well-known artists.”

“I had the privilege of referring to Barbara as a coworker, but more importantly, as a good friend. At The Walt Disney Company, we will all miss her greatly, and we want Jacqueline, her daughter, to know that we send our condolences.”