Biography

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.

Biography (1987-present) is an American documentary anthology series broadcast on A&E and produced in the long-running profile tradition that began with David L. Wolper's 1961 CBS series hosted by Mike Wallace. Each episode is a self-contained life story, with the host Peter Graves guiding viewers through the career and private struggles of a single figure. The subjects range widely, from Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley and Freddie Mercury to Pope John Paul II, Mao Zedong and Queen Elizabeth II, and even fictional icons such as Superman and Hamlet. The engine of each installment is the question of how a public person became who they were, assembled from archival footage, photographs and interviews with associates. Across its twenty-one seasons the format has stayed steady, sometimes uneven in its season-by-season output, but always rooted in the same measured narration. The tone is sober and informative, with a reflective quality that suits viewers curious about celebrity, politics and history. Fans of American Experience, Behind the Music and the original Biography will find resonance in its blend of archival detail and character-driven storytelling.

• Biography (1961)biographical documentary profiles of famous lives, archival footage, narrated life stories
• Behind the Musictrue life profiles, documentary format, historical figures
• American Experiencenonfiction profile series, real people, archival storytelling

Created by

David L. Wolper, Agnes Nixon

Release Date

1987-04-06

Episode runtime

60 min

Rating

7.7 / 10 (36)

What is Biography about?

A long-running documentary anthology that profiles famous figures from history, entertainment and fiction, one life story per episode.

What is Biography like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Biography as measured, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as easy to follow.

Is Biography violent?

No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Biography.

Which shows are like Biography?

Shows with a similar feel include Biography (1961), Behind the Music, and American Experience.

How long is Biography?

Biography: 27 seasons, 356 episodes.

Is Biography still running?

Yes, Biography is still running.