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Biography (1987)

6.7 27 seasons 355 episodes Returning Series

Documentary

Biography is a documentary television series. It was originally a half-hour filmed series produced for CBS by David Wolper from 1961 to 1964 and hosted by Mike Wallace. The A&E Network later re-ran it and has produced new episodes since 1987. The older version featured historical figures such as Helen Keller and Mark Twain, or long-dead entertainment figures such as Will Rogers or John Barrymore. The A&E series has placed the emphasis on such people as Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, Plácido Domingo, Freddie Mercury, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Eric Clapton, Pope John Paul II, Gene Tierney, Selena, Diego Rivera, Mao Zedong and Queen Elizabeth II, and fictional characters like The Phantom, Superman, Hamlet, Betty Boop, and Santa Claus. The program ended up profiling enough figures that in 1999, A&E spun it off into an entire network, The Biography Channel.

Watch S18 E9 Latest: S25 E2

Seasons & episodes

Arnold SchwarzeneggerJan 28, 2003 · 48m

He transformed the world of bodybuilding into a lucrative international sport followed by millions. He used his flex appeal to break down t…

Eva Braun: Love & DeathMar 4, 2003 · 1h 0m

A haunting look at the woman who stood beside Adolf Hitler through the rise and fall of the Third Reich. The episode traces Braun’s transfo…

Aileen WuornosApr 22, 2003 · 1h 0m

Trace the harrowing life of one of America’s most notorious female serial killers, shaped by poverty, trauma, and years of instability. The…

All the Presidents' KidsApr 29, 2003 · 1h 0m

A lively and revealing look at the sons and daughters who grew up in America’s most scrutinized household — the White House. The episode ex…

Edith Hahn Beer: The Nazi Officer's WifeMay 6, 2003 · 1h 0m

The most melodramatic Hollywood screenwriter could not concoct a tale as full of dramatic reversals, conflicted characters, and astounding…

Fred Rogers: America's Favorite NeighborMay 13, 2003 · 1h 0m

Writer, producer, puppeteer, songwriter--America's Favorite Neighbor takes a thorough look at the career of legendary children's television…

Harrison Ford: The Reluctant HeroMay 20, 2003 · 1h 0m

Explore how one of Hollywood’s most iconic leading men rose to fame despite his famously low‑key nature and initial struggles in the indust…

John McCain: American MaverickMay 27, 2003 · 1h 0m

Shot down in 1967 while flying a mission over Hanoi, navy pilot John McCain became a POW for over five years. After finally returning to th…

Kim Jong IlJun 3, 2003 · 1h 0m

Delve into the secretive and authoritarian world of North Korea’s longtime ruler, exploring how he transformed a reclusive nation into one…

Louis XIV: The Sun KingJun 10, 2003 · 1h 0m

Trace the dramatic life and reign of France’s most dazzling monarch, exploring how Louis XIV transformed his kingdom into Europe’s dominant…

SearsJun 17, 2003 · 1h 0m

Discover the remarkable rise, dominance, and reinvention of one of America’s most iconic retail institutions. Beginning with Richard Sears’…

Ted Kaczynski: The UnabomberJun 24, 2003 · 1h 0m

He was a brilliant mathematician who turned his back on his training and society. Alone in the Monta wilderness he conducted an 18-year cam…

The Munsters: America's First Family of FrightJul 1, 2003 · 1h 0m

Celebrate the creation, charm, and cultural legacy of one of television’s most beloved spooky sitcoms. The episode traces how The Munsters…

The Post-Impressionists: Van Gogh & GauguinJul 8, 2003 · 1h 0m

In October 1888, two struggling artists joined forces in a tiny yellow house in the South of France. This is the story of the tense friends…

The Saudi Royal FamilyJul 15, 2003 · 1h 0m

Examine the extraordinary rise and enduring power of the House of Saud, tracing how a desert clan became one of the most influential ruling…

Ariel SharonJan 8, 2004 · 1h 0m

He is the contemporary face of one of the world’s longest standing controversies. As the eleventh prime minister of Israel, Ariel Sharon’s…

Bram StokerJan 20, 2004 · 1h 0m

Scholar, writer, actor. Bram Stoker was born in Dublin, Ireland. A fan of the romantic movement in literature, Stoker corresponded with Wal…

Doc HollidayJan 27, 2004 · 1h 0m

The life story of one of the American West's most colorful and remarkable characters. Dr. John Henry "Doc" Holliday was a dentist by profes…

Harley-DavidsonFeb 3, 2004 · 1h 0m

Embark on an extraordinary exploration of the legendary Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Delve into the rich history and iconic journey of this…

Harold ShipmanFeb 10, 2004 · 1h 0m

The chilling story of one of history’s most prolific serial killers—a trusted British physician whose crimes shocked the world. The episode…

Jesus: His LifeFeb 17, 2004 · 1h 0m

From the miracle of his birth to the dramatic circumstances of his death and the lasting power of his words, Biography examines one of hist…

Joan of Arc: Virgin WarriorFeb 24, 2004 · 1h 0m

Explore the extraordinary life of the young peasant girl who rose from obscurity to become one of history’s most compelling and courageous…

Lord ByronMar 2, 2004 · 1h 0m

Trace the turbulent, dazzling life of the Romantic era’s most notorious poet, a figure whose brilliance and scandalous reputation captivate…

Pat TillmanMar 9, 2004 · 1h 0m

A powerful and human story of the NFL star who walked away from fame to serve his country, and whose death in Afghanistan became one of the…

The Ringling BrothersMar 16, 2004 · 1h 0m

Their name is synonymous with the American circus. But long before there were dramatic acrobatics, exotic animals, and special effects, the…

Sir Isaac Newton: The Gravity of GeniusMar 23, 2004 · 1h 0m

Explore the life of the brilliant yet enigmatic thinker whose discoveries reshaped the foundations of science. The episode traces Newton’s…

St. Francis of AssisiMar 30, 2004 · 1h 0m

Born in medieval Italy to a wealthy family, Francis enjoyed the high life before becoming a prisoner of war, an experience that left him cr…

The Google BoysApr 6, 2004 · 1h 0m

In the late 1990s, Larry Page and Sergey Brin were two ordinary Ph.D. students at Stanford University—ordinary, that is, until they came up…

BatmanJul 7, 2003 · 45m

Trace the evolution of one of pop culture’s most enduring heroes, from his 1939 comic‑book debut to his rise as a global entertainment icon…