Biography

1h

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.

Production Companies

Towers Productions

Departure Films

Atlas Media

Actuality Productions

Foxstar Productions

Working Dog Productions

Stage 3 Productions

Electric Sky Productions

Eagle Rock Entertainment

Sharp Entertainment

Atlas Media Corp.

Jupiter Entertainment

Popular Arts Entertainment

Flashback Television

Pangolin Pictures

Robert Small Entertainment

Screaming Flea Productions

Lou Reda Productions

Episodes

Cast

6 Apr. 1987

1. 6 Apr. 1987

1h

6th Apr 1987

Al Capone: Scarface

2. Al Capone: Scarface

1h

13th Apr 1987

Bob Hope: America's Entertainer

3. Bob Hope: America's Entertainer

1h

20th Apr 1987

A profile of orator and abolitionist Frederick Douglass (1818-95), who campaigned against slavery, discrimination and other injustices directed against blacks. Douglass, a former slave himself, also helped run the Underground Railroad, a series of safe houses for escaped slaves.

Bugsy Siegel

4. Bugsy Siegel

1h

27th Apr 1987

Dalai Lama: The Soul of Tibet

5. Dalai Lama: The Soul of Tibet

1h

4th May 1987

King Arthur: His Life and Legends

6. King Arthur: His Life and Legends

1h

11th May 1987

Lucky Luciano: Chairman of the Mob

7. Lucky Luciano: Chairman of the Mob

1h

18th May 1987

Nelson Mandela: Journey to Freedom

8. Nelson Mandela: Journey to Freedom

1h

25th May 1987

Muhammad: The Prophet

9. Muhammad: The Prophet

1h

1st Jun 1987

Napoleon Bonaparte: The Glory of France

10. Napoleon Bonaparte: The Glory of France

1h

8th Jun 1987

Bonnie & Clyde: The Story of Love & Death

11. Bonnie & Clyde: The Story of Love & Death

1h

15th Jun 1987

Babe Ruth

12. Babe Ruth

1h

22nd Jun 1987

Frederick Douglass

13. Frederick Douglass

1h

29th Jun 1987

Lizzie Borden: A Woman Accused

14. Lizzie Borden: A Woman Accused

1h

6th Jul 1987

Milton Hershey: The Chocolate King

15. Milton Hershey: The Chocolate King

1h

13th Jul 1987

First air date

6th Apr 1987

Last air date

2nd Jan 2012

Status

Ended

Type

Scripted

Original language

en

Networks