ALL
Biography poster

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 S20 E1 Latest: S25 E2

Seasons & episodes

E1
Chuck NorrisSep 23, 2005 · 1h 0m

Chuck Norris is a martial artist, actor, and cultural icon whose name became synonymous with toughness and discipline. The episode traces N…

E2
General Douglas MacArthur: The Return of a LegendSep 30, 2005 · 1h 0m

General Douglas MacArthur was one of America’s greatest and most complex commanders, a warrior so tough and determined that he helped win W…

E3
Albert EinsteinOct 7, 2005 · 1h 0m

As one of the most important minds of all time, his name has become a universal synonym for genius. Born in Ulm, Germany, in 1879, Albert E…

E4
Ben & Jerry'sOct 14, 2005 · 1h 0m

Ben & Jerry's ice cream is known as much for its rich, unusual flavors as for its unique approach to business, with good will, good times,…

E5
Bill Clinton: Hope, Charisma & ControversyOct 21, 2005 · 1h 0m

The first president to be born after WWII, he represented the strength and energy of a new generation. Although his term was marred by pers…

E6
Catherine the GreatOct 28, 2005 · 1h 0m

Born a minor German princess destined for an arranged marriage, Catherine II would rise to become one of the most powerful and influential…

E7
Charles Darwin: Evolution's VoiceNov 4, 2005 · 1h 0m

Charles Darwin's theory of evolution is one of the most important discoveries in the history of science. But in his quest for truth he had…

E8
J. Pierpont Morgan: Emperor of Wall StreetNov 11, 2005 · 1h 0m

He single-handedly saved the U.S. from bankruptcy on two occasions but was often accused of being a monopolist. He wielded as much power as…

E9
Mussolini: Italy's NightmareNov 18, 2005 · 1h 0m

With pounding fists and brutal charisma, the enigmatic journalist Benito Mussolini seized power through a potent combination of terror and…

E10
PeterNov 25, 2005 · 1h 0m

Born as Simon, a humble fisherman from Galilee, Peter would become one of the most influential figures in the history of Christianity. This…

E11
Peter the Great: The Tyrant ReformerDec 2, 2005 · 1h 0m

Towering over his people, he was a physical giant determined to shatter tradition and force his nation into the modern world. By the time P…

E12
Pocahontas: Ambassador of the New WorldDec 9, 2005 · 1h 0m

She was a Native American princess who saved the life of English explorer Captain John Smith at the age of 12. Before her death at 22, she…

E13
Pontius PilateDec 16, 2005 · 1h 0m

As the Roman governor of Judea, Pontius Pilate presided over one of the most consequential trials in human history. Remembered for his role…

E14
Rasputin: The Mad MonkDec 23, 2005 · 1h 0m

He was an uneducated peasant who gained a reputation as a faith healer. His strange behavior and remarkable influence over the imperial fam…

E15
Saint PaulDec 30, 2005 · 1h 0m

Born Saul of Tarsus, he began as a fierce persecutor of Christians before undergoing one of history's most dramatic spiritual transformatio…

E16
SolomonJan 6, 2006 · 1h 0m

Wise, wealthy, and revered, King Solomon is remembered as one of the most celebrated rulers of the ancient world. This illuminating episode…

E17
The HiltonsJan 13, 2006 · 1h 0m

One of the wealthiest families in the country, the name Hilton resonates across America as they continue to pursue innovative business ende…

E18
The Kellogg Brothers: Corn Flake KingsJan 20, 2006 · 1h 0m

They may have collaborated on the cornflake, but the Kellogg brothers could not have been less alike. One was an eccentric crusader for hea…

E19
William Shatner: Captain's LogJan 27, 2006 · 1h 0m

From humble beginnings in Montreal to commanding the bridge of one of television's most iconic starships, William Shatner has built one of…

E20
Al QaedaFeb 3, 2006 · 1h 0m

For many in the Western world, their name is unequivocally associated with terror, tragedy, and death. For many more, however, Al Qaeda sig…

E21
Frank Serpico: Honor BoundFeb 10, 2006 · 1h 0m

He was an honest cop whose refusal to be complicit in the severe corruption of the New York City Police Department in the 1960s and '70s le…

E22
Gerald R. Ford: Healing the PresidencyFeb 17, 2006 · 1h 0m

As the 38th U.S. president, Gerald Ford holds the unique position of being the only person to serve as both vice president and president wi…

E23
Jane AustenFeb 24, 2006 · 1h 0m

In six extraordinary works, she cast her ironic yet sympathetic eye on the privileged life of Georgian England. While Jane Austen's books h…

E24
The Brontë SistersMar 3, 2006 · 1h 0m

Their names are synonymous with some of English literature's most timeless and celebrated novels. However, the real-life story of the famou…

E25
The Home DepotMar 10, 2006 · 1h 0m

Founded in 1978 in Atlanta, Georgia, The Home Depot is today the largest home‑improvement retailer in the world, with stores in all 50 stat…

E26
Thomas Edison: Father of InventionMar 17, 2006 · 1h 0m

Without the success of his innovative and groundbreaking inventions, modern-day life as we know it would be wholly unimaginable. Thomas Alv…

E27
Woodrow Wilson: Reluctant WarriorMar 24, 2006 · 1h 0m

He revolutionized American foreign affairs with his strong leadership during World War I, but his questionable domestic policies made him o…

E28
Howard Schultz and StarbucksMar 31, 2006 · 1h 0m

Howard Schultz transformed a small Seattle coffee retailer into one of the most recognizable brands in the world. This inspiring episode of…

E29
Solomon and Sheba: An Epic Love StoryApr 7, 2006 · 1h 0m

The son of David and Bathsheba, Solomon was a 12-year-old prodigy when he ascended to the throne of Israel. When asked by God what he neede…

E30
Weird Al YankovicApr 14, 2006 · 1h 0m

From accordion-playing teenager to pop culture icon, "Weird Al" Yankovic turned musical parody into an art form and built one of the most u…

E31
Bill Gates: The Sultan of SoftwareApr 21, 2006 · 1h 0m

From a precocious young programmer to the architect of the personal computer revolution, Bill Gates changed the way the world works, commun…

E32
Caroline Kennedy: The Next GenerationApr 28, 2006 · 1h 0m

The eldest child of John F. Kennedy and Jackie, she is American royalty. But her life has been shaped by tragedy - the assassination of her…

E33
David Ben-Gurion: Lion of JudahMay 5, 2006 · 1h 0m

From the struggle to establish a homeland for the Jewish people emerged one of the twentieth century's most determined and influential lead…

E34
Ian FlemingMay 12, 2006 · 1h 0m

Born into privilege but driven by imagination and adventure, Ian Fleming created one of the most enduring characters in popular culture: Ja…

E35
Lucky: The Story of Charles LindberghMay 19, 2006 · 1h 0m

Celebrated the world over for his triumphant flight across the Atlantic, Charles Lindbergh was the epitome of the American hero. But person…

E36
Ted Kennedy: Tragedy, Scandal, and RedemptionMay 26, 2006 · 1h 0m

Born into a family of great wealth and privilege "Ted" was the 9th - and final - child of Rose and Joseph Kennedy patriarchs of the closest…

E37
The ApostlesJun 2, 2006 · 1h 0m

Chosen by Jesus from among ordinary men, the Apostles became the founders of a movement that would change the course of history. This compe…

E38
The Harry Potter KidsJun 9, 2006 · 1h 0m

They were virtually unknown when they were cast in the first Harry Potter movie in 2000, but Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grin…

E39
Barack ObamaJun 16, 2006 · 1h 0m

When he called himself "a skinny kid with a funny name" at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, his star was already rising. By the tim…

E40
George Washington: American RevolutionaryJun 23, 2006 · 1h 0m

A man of passion, intensity, and purpose, George Washington remains one of the most celebrated men in American history. Our glorified image…

E41
Wall StreetJun 30, 2006 · 1h 0m

Wall Street has long been the symbol of American capitalism, a place where fortunes are made, markets rise and fall, and financial power sh…

E42
Jeff Dunham: Birth of a DummyJul 7, 2006 · 1h 0m

From a childhood fascination with ventriloquism to sold-out arenas around the world, Jeff Dunham transformed a classic stage art into a mod…

E43
Kate Middleton: Uncommon BrideJul 14, 2006 · 1h 0m

From a middle-class upbringing to life within the British royal family, Kate Middleton's journey captivated the world. This episode of Biog…

E44
Pippa Middleton: Her LifeJul 21, 2006 · 1h 0m

Thrust into the international spotlight during one of the most celebrated royal weddings in modern history, Pippa Middleton quickly became…

E45
Under 21 and Filthy RichJul 28, 2006 · 1h 0m

From young entrepreneurs to heirs of vast fortunes, some of the world's wealthiest young people inherited opportunities most can only imagi…

You may also like