Barbara Walters Retiring May 16, Making Barbara Walters One of The Most Fascinating People of 2014

Barbara Walters is retiring from television after one of the most influential and innovative careers in news. Forever pointing out other interesting people, it is about time "The View" creator lands on the Barbara Walters Most Fascinating People lists, for 2014 or any year.

Barbara Walters plans to make her final appearance on "The View" on May 16. The appearance will be part of a daylong retirement celebration that will include ABC News naming its New York headquarters after her.

It's been almost a year since Barbara Walters announced her plan to depart daily television. Walters joined the ABC network in 1976. She was the first female anchor on an evening news program. Three years later, she was named co-host of "20/20." Walters launched The View in 1997.

 Barbara Walters, 84, will also be honored with an ABC News two-hour primetime news special, from 9-11 p.m. ET, as part of her official retirement.

Robert A. Iger, Chairman and Chief Executive of The Walt Disney Company said, "In this business there are legends, there are icons, and then there is Barbara Walters. She's a dear friend and colleague as well as someone I deeply admire, and it's impossible to fully convey her impact and influence on television. She broke barriers, defied convention, made history and set the standard for journalistic excellence for more than 50 years. It's hard to imagine television without her."

The View has been celebrating Walters' career all season, showing daily highlights of her most famous interviews on an ongoing series, "The Year of Barbara."

Anne Sweeney, co-chair, Disney Media Networks and president, Disney/ABC Television Group said "Barbara Walters was one of the first people I met as an ABC page almost 38 years ago. She was fiercely intelligent, impressive and inspiring then, and remains so to this day. I am honored that I've had the rare opportunity to work, and learn, from her all these years. Her influence on television, and American culture, will resonate for decades to come."

When Walters announced her retirement last year, she told ABC News that she was excited "to find out if there's something I can do besides television."

After her retirement in May, Walters will remain an executive producer of the show. ABC said Monday that Walters will also be a lifelong member of the ABC News team, and will make special appearances as news warrants.