American Masters

Discover insightful profiles of important figures in America's artistic and cultural life.

Episodes

  • Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road: asset-mezzanine-16x9
    Embedded Video Link

    Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road

    S36 Ep5 |
    Explore the life of the legendary singer, songwriter and co-founder of The Beach Boys.
  • Joe Papp in Five Acts: asset-mezzanine-16x9
    Embedded Video Link

    Joe Papp in Five Acts

    S36 Ep4 |
    Papp, founder of Free Shakespeare in the Park, believed great art is for all.
  • Waterman – Duke: Ambassador of Aloha: asset-mezzanine-16x9
    Embedded Video Link

    Waterman – Duke: Ambassador of Aloha

    S36 Ep3 |
    Jason Momoa narrates the story of five-time Olympic medalist and surfer Duke Kahanamoku.
  • Marian Anderson: The Whole World in Her Hands: asset-mezzanine-16x9
    Embedded Video Link

    Marian Anderson: The Whole World in Her Hands

    S36 Ep2 |
    Explore the life of the famous singer who became an icon for the civil rights movement.
  • Ailey: asset-mezzanine-16x9
    Embedded Video Link

    Ailey

    S36 Ep1 |
    The story of a visionary artist who found salvation through dance.
  • Becoming Helen Keller (Extended Audio Description Version): asset-mezzanine-16x9
    Embedded Video Link

    Becoming Helen Keller (Extended Audio Description Version)

    S35 Ep12 |
    Revisit the remarkable career and life of an icon who became a human rights pioneer.
  • Becoming Helen Keller: asset-mezzanine-16x9
    Embedded Video Link

    Becoming Helen Keller

    S35 Ep11 |
    Revisit the remarkable career and life of an icon who became a human rights pioneer.
  • Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For It: asset-mezzanine-16x9
    Embedded Video Link

    Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For It

    S35 Ep10 |
    Explore the life and 70-year career of the iconic Latina actor, performer and activist.
  • Buddy Guy: The Blues Chase The Blues Away: asset-mezzanine-16x9
    Embedded Video Link

    Buddy Guy: The Blues Chase The Blues Away

    S35 Ep9 |
    Dive into the career of the legendary blues guitarist.

Specials

  • Tracey Ullman on Mel Brooks' intrinsically American comedy: asset-mezzanine-16x9
    Embedded Video Link

    Tracey Ullman on Mel Brooks' intrinsically American comedy

    Tracey Ullman discusses the joys of working with Mel Brooks.
  • Baayork Lee on becoming a Broadway star at age 5: asset-mezzanine-16x9
    Embedded Video Link

    Baayork Lee on becoming a Broadway star at age 5

    Baayork Lee discusses starring on Broadway at age 5 and working with Richard Rodgers.
  • I. M. Pei on sculpture: asset-mezzanine-16x9
    Embedded Video Link

    I. M. Pei on sculpture

    I. M. Pei shares his thoughts on the relationship between sculpture and scale.
  • Gloria Steinem on the legacy of Marilyn Monroe: asset-mezzanine-16x9
    Embedded Video Link

    Gloria Steinem on the legacy of Marilyn Monroe

    Gloria Steinem talks about Marilyn Monroe in relation to the women's movement.
  • Laura Linney on mastering acting at Juilliard: asset-mezzanine-16x9
    Embedded Video Link

    Laura Linney on mastering acting at Juilliard

    Laura Linney discusses her time at Juilliard and how it helped shape her as an actor.
  • Patti Smith on Lou Reed and rock and roll: asset-mezzanine-16x9
    Embedded Video Link

    Patti Smith on Lou Reed and rock and roll

    Patti Smith shares her thoughts on Lou Reed and the 70s rock and roll scene.
  • Dionne Warwick on Lena Horne and her musical influences: asset-mezzanine-16x9
    Embedded Video Link

    Dionne Warwick on Lena Horne and her musical influences

    Dionne Warwick discusses Lena Horne and her other musical influences.
  • Betty White talks about funny women in comedy history: asset-mezzanine-16x9
    Embedded Video Link

    Betty White talks about funny women in comedy history

    Betty White talks about funny women in comedy history like Carol Burnett and Lucille Ball.
  • Gloria Naylor on the American dream: asset-mezzanine-16x9
    Embedded Video Link

    Gloria Naylor on the American dream

    Gloria Naylor speaks about the American dream and Nella Larsen's "Passing."

About American Masters

American Masters, committed to producing comprehensive film biographies about the broad cast of characters who comprise our cultural history.

Extras