The star of blockbuster films including "Star Wars," "Raiders of the Lost Ark," "The Fugitive" and "Air Force One" will receive the tribute _ among the film industry's highest honors _ on Feb. 17. The event will be taped for a CBS spring broadcast.

"Unfortunately, (the ceremony) is four months away, plenty of time to worry about it," Ford said. "Public speaking is certainly not one of my strengths."

"It is fitting that AFI begin the new millennium by honoring Harrison Ford _ the most popularly acclaimed actor of our day," AFI Chairman Tom Pollock announced Monday.

Ford, 57, will join a select group of movie luminaries. Previous honorees included Dustin Hoffman, Clint Eastwood, James Cagney, Bette Davis, Alfred Hitchcock, James Stewart, Jack Nicholson and John Ford.

Ford earned his lone Oscar nomination for 1985's "Witness" but his films starting with "American Graffiti" created some of the most recognizable characters of modern films.

"In my case, there was a lot of luck involved," Ford said. "Really, the things that brought me success were other people's successes, not mine. I've always given credit to them for that."

Among those he singles out were producer Fred Roos, who cast him in George Lucas' "American Graffiti," and Lucas for giving him the plum role of Han Solo in "Star Wars."