American Masters
Since its premiere in 1986, American Masters has been the only PBS series committed to developing and producing comprehensive film biographies about the broad cast of characters who comprise our cultural history.
FULL EPISODES (41)
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Unladylike2020: The ChangemakersIlluminating the stories of extraordinary American heroines from the early years ...Illuminating the stories of extraordinary American heroines from the early years of feminism, American Masters — Unladylike2020 is a multimedia series consisting of a one-hour special for broadcast ... -
Mae West: Dirty BlondeDive into the life and career of groundbreaking writer, performer and subversive ...Dive into the life and career of groundbreaking writer, performer and subversive star Mae West. Over a career spanning eight decades, she broke boundaries and possessed creative and economic powers ... -
SIGN IN TO WATCHMiles Davis: Birth of the CoolDiscover the man behind the legend. With full access to the Miles Davis Estate, ...Discover the man behind the legend. With full access to the Miles Davis Estate, the film features never-before-seen footage, including studio outtakes from his recording sessions, rare photos and new ... -
N. Scott Momaday: Words From a BearDelve into the enigmatic life and mind of the Pulitzer Prize-winning author and ...Delve into the enigmatic life and mind of the Pulitzer Prize-winning author and poet N. Scott Momaday, best known for “House Made of Dawn” and a formative voice of the Native American Renaissance ... -
Rothko: Pictures Must Be MiraculousExplore the life of the celebrated artist whose luminous color field paintings ...Explore the life of the celebrated artist whose luminous color field paintings helped define the abstract expressionist movement, which shifted the art world epicenter from Paris to New York. ... -
Raúl Juliá: The World’s a StageExplore a warm and revealing portrait of the charismatic, groundbreaking ...Explore a warm and revealing portrait of the charismatic, groundbreaking actor’s journey from his native Puerto Rico to the creative hotbed of 1960s New York City, to prominence on Broadway and in ... -
Worlds of Ursula K. Le GuinExplore the remarkable life and legacy of late feminist author Ursula K. Le Guin ...Explore the remarkable life and legacy of late feminist author Ursula K. Le Guin whose groundbreaking work, including “The Left Hand of Darkness,” transformed American literature by bringing ... -
SIGN IN TO WATCHRobert Shaw – Man of Many VoicesTrace the journey of one of America’s greatest choral music conductors. With ...Trace the journey of one of America’s greatest choral music conductors. With no formal training, Robert Shaw was legendary for his interpretations of classical music’s choral masterpieces and ... -
Terrence McNally: Every Act of LifeExplore four-time Tony-winning playwright Terrence McNally’s six ...Explore four-time Tony-winning playwright Terrence McNally’s six groundbreaking decades in theater, from Kiss of the Spider Woman, Love! Valour! Compassion! and Master Class to Ragtime, The Visit ... -
SIGN IN TO WATCHGarry Winogrand: All Things are PhotographableDiscover the life and work of Garry Winogrand, the epic storyteller in pictures ...Discover the life and work of Garry Winogrand, the epic storyteller in pictures who harnessed the serendipity of the streets to capture the American 1960s-70s. His “snapshot aesthetic” is now the ... -
SIGN IN TO WATCHJoseph Pulitzer: Voice of the PeopleDiscover the man behind the award. An immigrant who became a media mogul with an ...Discover the man behind the award. An immigrant who became a media mogul with an outspoken, cantankerous voice, who created two bestselling newspapers, Joseph Pulitzer championed what he regarded as ... -
SIGN IN TO WATCHHolly Near: Singing for Our LivesExperience the power of song in the struggle for equality through the story of ...Experience the power of song in the struggle for equality through the story of feminist singer and activist Holly Near, who for the last 40 years has worked on global social justice coalition-building ... -
SIGN IN TO WATCHCharley Pride: I’m Just MeExplore the complicated history of the American South and its music through the ...Explore the complicated history of the American South and its music through the life of country star Charley Pride. Raised in segregated Mississippi, his journey shows the ways that artistic ... -
SIGN IN TO WATCHSammy Davis, Jr.: I’ve Gotta Be MeThe first major film documentary to examine Sammy Davis, Jr.'s vast talent and ...The first major film documentary to examine Sammy Davis, Jr.'s vast talent and his journey for identity through the shifting tides of civil rights and racial progress during 20th century America. -
SIGN IN TO WATCHS33 E1: Decoding WatsonMeet James Watson, the Nobel Prize-winning scientist behind the double helix as ...Meet James Watson, the Nobel Prize-winning scientist behind the double helix as he confronts his complex legacy. With unprecedented access to Watson and his family, "American Masters: Decoding Watson" ... -
SIGN IN TO WATCHItzhakThis inspiring new documentary provides an intimate and unprecedented look into ...This inspiring new documentary provides an intimate and unprecedented look into the remarkable life of Itzhak Perlman, widely considered the world’s greatest violinist. -
SIGN IN TO WATCHS32 E8: Basquiat: Rage to RichesOne of the most influential American artists of the 20th century, Jean-Michel ...One of the most influential American artists of the 20th century, Jean-Michel Basquiat was a rock star of the early ’80s New York art scene. -
SIGN IN TO WATCHEverybody Knows... Elizabeth MurrayThis intimate portrait of maverick painter and printmaker Elizabeth Murray ...This intimate portrait of maverick painter and printmaker Elizabeth Murray explores the relationship between her family life and career, and reconsiders her place in contemporary art history. -
SIGN IN TO WATCHWyethThrough unprecedented access to Wyeth’s family members, including sons Jamie ...Through unprecedented access to Wyeth’s family members, including sons Jamie and Nicholas Wyeth, and never-before-seen archival materials from the family’s personal collection and hundreds of ... -
SIGN IN TO WATCHEva HesseOne of the few women recognized as central to the New York art scene, she had ...One of the few women recognized as central to the New York art scene, she had over 20 group shows scheduled for 1970 in addition to being chosen for a cover article in ArtForum Magazine. -
SIGN IN TO WATCHS32 E4: Ted WilliamsWatch a new biography of the Boston Red Sox player who may have been the ...Watch a new biography of the Boston Red Sox player who may have been the greatest hitter who ever lived. Features Bob Costas, Wade Boggs, Roger Angell & Joey Votto. Narrated by Jon Hamm.
