4 hours

Producers: Maiken Baird, Suzanne Mitchell

Co-Producer: Michael Winship

Associate Producers: Shelley Griffin, Elizabeth Horn,
Courtney White

Editors: Margaret Noble, Lisa Palattella

Executive Producer: Tom Simon

Who are the most influential people of the last 1000 years? This four-hour countdown special profiles the 100 figures who have most shaped our world. We polled over 100 historians, academics, journalists, politicians and other opinion leaders to select them.

Hosted by Harry Smith, the special weaves together dazzling graphics, historical film and photos, newly shot location footage and wide ranging commentary, beginning with #100 on the list and counting down to #1. Some of the 40 interviewees include Kofi Annan, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Richard Holbrooke, Walter Isaacson, Henry Kissinger, Beverly Sills, David Remnick, Simon Schama, Norman Schwarzkopf, Steven Spielberg, Gloria Steinem and Wendy Wasserstein.

Aired in October of 1999 and re-run often in the lead-up to the millennium celebration, the special posted strong ratings for A&E. In addition, Biography of the Millennium has gone on to become a best-selling homevideo title.