Biography(1987–2012)

6 Apr. 1987

Al Capone: Scarface

Bob Hope: America's Entertainer

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

Dalai Lama: The Soul of Tibet

King Arthur: His Life and Legends

Lucky Luciano: Chairman of the Mob

Nelson Mandela: Journey to Freedom

Muhammad: The Prophet

Napoleon Bonaparte: The Glory of France

Bonnie & Clyde: The Story of Love & Death

Babe Ruth

Frederick Douglass

Lizzie Borden: A Woman Accused

Leif Ericson: Voyages Of A Viking

The tale had been kept alive for generations, but the intriguing story of Vinland seemed more legendary than true. But a landmark discovery rewrote the history of human exploration, and showed he had indeed visited North America. Five hundred years before Christopher Columbus, Leif Ericson and the Vikings sailed from Greenland to a new land sighted further west. For centuries, their story was shrouded in mystery. But a remarkable discovery by archeologist Anne Ingstad uncovered the site of the legendary Vinland a Viking settlement in Newfoundland. BIOGRAPHY journeys to the Dark Ages to tell the story of one of the greatest explorers of all time, and the extraordinary journey that made him a legend. Tour the site where Ericson set foot on the New World, and learn what is known of his life from the world's leading scholars. Set sail for history in this unique program which re-creates one of the most important journeys in human history and introduces the legendary explorer at its heart.

Anastasia: Her True Story

Andy Griffith: Hollywood's Homespun Hero

Augustus: First of the Emperors

Ayatollah Khomeini: Holy Terror

Caligula: Reign of Madness

Charles Kuralt: A Life on the Road

Constantine: The Christian Emperor

David Copperfield: Master of Illusion

Diana: The People's Princess

Dow and Jones: Wizards of Wall Street

Dutch Schultz: Menace to Society

Edgar Cayce: The Sleeping Psychic

Edward R. Murrow: Voice of America

Eliot Ness: Untouchable

Elizabeth I: The Virgin Queen

Elizabeth: The Reluctant Monarch

Erwin Rommel: The Last Knight

F. Scott Fitzgerald: The Great American Dreamer

Frank Costello: Prime Minister of the Mob

General George C. Marshall: Soldier and Statesman

George Armstrong Custer: America's Golden Cavalier

Hadrian: Emperor of the Golden Age

Ivan the Terrible: Might and Madness

J.C. Penney: Main Street Millionaire

JFK: A Personal Story

Jimmy Stewart: His Wonderful Life

Joseph Kennedy: Father of an American Dynasty

Julius Caesar: Master of the Roman World

Justinian: The Last of the Romans

Katharine Graham: Pillar of the Post

Leonardo Da Vinci: Renaissance Master

Lucrezia Borgia: Pretty Poison

Martin Luther King, Jr.: The Man and the Dream

Meyer Lansky: Mob Tycoon

Mother Teresa: A Life of Devotion

Nancy Reagan: The President's Leading Lady

Neiman Marcus: Last of the Merchant Kings

Nelson Rockefeller: Passionate Millionaire

Nero: The Power and the Madness

Pancho Villa: Outlaw Hero

R.H. Macy: Merchant Prince

Sam Giancana

Sam Walton: Bargain Billionaire

Samuel Bronfman: Whiskey Man

Sigmund Freud: Analysis of a Mind

Stanley & Livingstone: The Mercenary and the Missionary

The Gambinos: First Family of Crime

A profile of New York's Gambino crime family examines the rise of its founder, Carlo Gambino, and that of his successors, Paul Castellano and John Gotti.

The Marshall Fields: A Chicago Tradition

The Woolworths: Five-and-Dime Fortune and Failure

Thurgood Marshall: Justice for All

Julia Child: An Appetite for Life

A biography of the life of Julia Child

John Wayne Gacy: A Monster in Disguise

Bram Stoker

Chuck Norris

A look at the actor who parlayed his martial arts skills into a successful acting career. We visit Chuck on the set of his new TV movie, Walker, Texas Ranger, giving Chuck the opportunity to return to the Cordell Walker role he played on TV for eight years. Chuck talks about his difficult childhood, his brother's death in Vietnam, his rise to the top of the karate world and friendship with Bruce Lee, and his divorce and remarriage.

General Douglas MacArthur: The Return of a Legend

He was one of America's greatest commanders, a warrior so tough and determined that he helped win World War II with a simple promise: "I shall return." Douglas MacArthur was a soldier's soldier the son of an officer, the star of West Point, the Army's youngest-ever full general.

Albert Einstein

Ben & Jerry's

Bill Clinton: Hope, Charisma & Controversy

Catherine the Great

Charles Darwin: Evolution's Voice

J. Pierpont Morgan: Emperor of Wall Street

Mussolini: Italy's Nightmare

Peter

Peter the Great: The Tyrant Reformer

Pocahontas: Ambassador of the New World

Pontius Pilate

Rasputin: The Mad Monk

Saint Paul

Solomon

The Hiltons

The Kellogg Brothers: Corn Flake Kings

William Shatner: Captain's Log

Al Qaeda

Frank Serpico: Honor Bound

Gerald R. Ford: Healing the Presidency

Jane Austen

The Brontë Sisters

The Home Depot

Founded in 1978 in Atlanta, Georgia, The Home Depot is today the largest home-improvement retailer in the world, with stores in all 50 states, as well as in Canada and Mexico. In this captivating BIOGRAPHY, interviews with some of the store's first employees and co-founders Bernie Marcus and Arthur Blank highlight the secrets behind the triumph of this innovative "do-it-yourself" giant.

Thomas Edison: Father of Invention

Woodrow Wilson: Reluctant Warrior

Howard Schultz and Starbucks

Solomon and Sheba: An Epic Love Story

Weird Al Yankovic

Bill Gates: The Sultan of Software

Caroline Kennedy: The Next Generation

David Ben-Gurion

Ian Fleming

Lucky: The Story of Charles Lindbergh

Ted Kennedy: Tragedy, Scandal, and Redemption

The Apostles

The Harry Potter Kids

Barack Obama

Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) is profiled.

George Washington: American Revolutionary

Wall Street

Jeff Dunham: Birth of a Dummy

Kate Middleton: Uncommon Bride

Pippa Middleton: Her Life

Dave Chappelle

A look at Dave Chappelles rise to a pinnacle in his career. A true comedic genius, in 2005 Chappelle was considered by many to be "the funniest man in Hollywood". This film covers the events surrounding Season 3 of "Chappelle's Show" which was scheduled to air on May 31, 2005. In that month, Chappelle stunned fans and the entertainment industry when he abruptly left during production of the third season of Chappelle's Show and took a trip to South Africa for two weeks. Essentially walking away from a deal with Comedy Central worth $50 Million Dollars We may never know the real reasons for this however this film gives great insight from people close to the event and several clips from Chappelle himself explaining things in his own words.

Gordon Ramsay

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Biography on the Action Legend from 2003.

Eva Braun: Love & Death

Eva Braun's own home movie footage highlights this portrait of the enigmatic woman who was Hitler's mistress and at the end his wife.

Harry S. Truman

Harry S. Truman

Henry Ford: Tin Lizzy Tycoon

His vision revolutionized industry, transformed life as we know it--and made him very, very rich.

Mata Hari

Mata Hari

Paul Revere

Paul Revere

Bruce Lee: The Immortal Dragon

A video tribute to a martial arts legend, Bruce Lee. Examined are his early years in Hong Kong and his journey to Hollywood, his role of Kato on the TV series 'The Green Hornet', and his years as the martial arts instructor to the stars. Lee's spectacular rise to super stardom through his Kung Fu films is detailed, with a revealing look at both the on-screen action and behind the scenes controversy. Celebrity interviews include actor James Coburn talking about Lee as a teacher and collaborator, and actress Diane McBain on Lee's Kato years. Lee's successors in martial arts cinema are profiled, and theories offered about mysterious deaths of Bruce Lee and his son Brandon. Plus rare footage and more! Although his life was cut short at the age of 32, Bruce Lee-- through his movies and his teachings-- will forever be remembered as the Immortal Dragon!

Sid Caesar: Television's Comedy Genius

The life of comedy genius Sid Caesar with interviews and film clips

The Rockefellers

The Rockefellers

Teddy: A Kennedy Portrait

Teddy: A Kennedy Portrait

General Omar Bradley

Files and footage from the archives of the U.S. Naval Institute highlight this profile of the military genius who prepared America's forces for World War II.

Marilyn Monroe - Behind the Legend

One-hour A&E biography hosted by Jack Perkins showing the life story of Marilyn with archival footage.

Houdini: The Great Escape

Documentary about Harry Houdini (1874-1926) which includes on camera appearances by Patrick Culliton, Penn and Teller, and Houdini's last living assistant, Dorothy Young.

George Washington: Founding Father

Explore the truths and explode the myths of the man who remains "First in war, first in peace, first in the hearts of his countrymen."

Christa McAuliffe: Teacher in Space

Christa McAuliffe: Teacher in Space

Wilbur and Orville: Dreams of Flying

Wilbur and Orville: Dreams of Flying

Gene Roddenberry: Star Trek and Beyond

Biography of "Star Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry.

Donald Trump: Master of the Deal

From his days on top of the world in the glitzy eighties to his decline and remarkable rebirth, chronicle the astonishing life of the modern Midas whose name is synonymous with wealth.

Frank Capra: Mr. Capra Goes to America

Frank Capra's rise to fame as one of early Hollywood's most acclaimed directors.

Davy Crockett: American Frontier Legend

He is known to millions as "the King of the Wild Frontier," but the real story of Davy Crockett is not nearly as familiar as his name.

Roy Rogers: American Legend

Roy Rogers, along with his wife Dale Evans, and horse Trigger become icons of the western genre.

Willie Nelson

Here's Willie Nelson's official, authorized biography! "Willie Nelson: My Life" is the close-up portrait of America's favorite singer/songwriter, from the days he sold one of his early hits, Family Bible, for $50 to buy milk for his children through his long struggle to superstardom. Included are frank and sometimes humorous interviews with Willie and his friends Ray Charles (who duets with Wilie on the song "Seven Spanish Angels"), Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Emmylou Harris, Sydney Pollack, Gary Busey, Mel Tillis, Ray Price, Jerry Jeff Walker and others.

Patsy Cline: Remembering Patsy

Patsy Cline died in a plane crash on March 5, 1963. Now, her musical legacy lives on in Remembering Patsy. This heartfelt celebration features 17 great Patsy Cline songs, and 10 rare television appearances, recently discovered and never before seen on video. You'll meet Patsy through her intimate home movies, her personal letters, as read by Arista recording artist Michele Wright, and the fond reminiscences of Patsy's husband, Charlie Dick, and Willie Nelson, Loretta Lynn, George Jones, Mel Tillis, Roy Clark, Eddy Arnold, Bill Anderson and Jan Howard. A new generation of stars including Trisha Yearwood, k.d. lang, Ronna Reeves, Lisa Stewart, and Marsha Thorntorn, add insight into Patsy's influence and proof positive that Patsy Cline does live on in her music.

W.C. Fields: Behind the Laughter

W.C. Fields: Behind the Laughter

Eleanor Roosevelt: A Restless Spirit

One of this century's most respected and admired figures, she was a humanitarian who transformed the place of women in society, and in the White House. Eleanor Roosevelt created the tradition of the activist First Lady. A pioneer among Presidents' wives, she formed a staff, held press conferences, and defined an agenda beyond that of homemaker. She fought for Civil Rights, for women and the oppressed. Yet this towering public figure was also an orphan whose family was destroyed by alcoholism, the unhappy wife of a philandering husband, and a passionate friend. Experts and scholars finally succeed in connecting her public and private lives in this unique and intimate portrait. Revisit the complete, inspiring life story of Eleanor Roosevelt, champion of freedom and human dignity.

The Babe: The Story of Babe Ruth

Revisit the life of the immortal slugger whose incredible ability to hit home runs was matched only by his appetite for good living.

Pope John Paul II: Statesman of Faith

Pope John Paul II: Statesman of Faith

Bette Davis: If Looks Could Kill

Share the magical memories - and see clips from her Oscar winning performances - in this profile of the "First Lady of the American screen."

Gilda Radner: In Her Own Words

The life of comedian and original "Saturday Night Live" star Gilda Radner.

Benjamin Franklin: Citizen of the World

Franklin's own words come alive in this detailed portrait of America's first great statesman and Renaissance man.

Mike Tyson: Fallen Champ

Mike Tyson: Fallen Champ

Michelangelo: Artist and Man

Examine the broad canvas of Michelangelo's life and legacy to probe the very soul of the artist who was recognized as a genius in his own lifetime.

Edgar Allan Poe: The Mystery of Edgar Allan Poe

Descend into the dark world and tragic life of the melancholy author who is the uncontested master of the macabre, and hear excerpts from his famous works.

Cleopatra: Destiny's Queen

Ancient art and period accounts, along with commentary from the world's leading Egyptologists brings the fabled story of Cleopatra to life.

Van Cliburn: Concert Pianist

Biography of the legendary pianist, and his 1994 summer tour.

Admiral William 'Bull' Halsey

Admiral William 'Bull' Halsey

FDR: The War Years

Follow the life and career of the famed politician in the years before he became president, and explore the forces that shaped his vision.

Hirohito

Hirohito

Clint Eastwood: The Man from Malpaso

A look at the life and career of actor/director Clint Eastwood, including scenes from his past film and television work and interviews with friends, fellow actors and crew members who have worked with him over the years.

Santa Claus

A look at the "life' of Santa Claus from his beginnings as the real Saint Nicholas of Myra to the modern American and pop culture icon of Christmas.

Shari Lewis and Lamb Chop

A look at the career of the entertainer and puppeteer and her sassy sheep character.

Stooges: The Men Behind the Mayhem

For six decades, the Three Stooges ran amuck in a riotous frenzy of eye-poking, ear-slapping, kicks, jabs, punches and frying pans to the cranium. Now Laughsmith Entertainment and A&E offer fans of the Moronic Maestros a chance to relive the Golden Age of Stoogery. Through rare recordings, exclusive interviews and outtakes of behind-the-scenes antics, "Stooges: The Men behind the Mayhem" tells the pure, uncensored Stooge story--from the early vaudeville years with Shemp and Ted Healy, through the golden years at Columbia Pictures with Curly, to the final feature films with Curly Joe DeRita, "the last Stooge." Whether you're fascinated by the unrestrained id, or just enjoy the good, clean humor of pliers applied to the nose, you'll find something to love in this in-depth look at America's most beloved madcaps The Three Stooges!

FDR: Years of Crisis

Andrew Carnegie: Prince of Steel

Andrew Jackson: A Man for the People

A portrait of "Old Hickory," President Andrew Jackson (1767-1845), from his Tennessee law days through his military career to his tenure as the seventh U.S. President. Included: interviews with historians. Monte Markham is the narrator.

Aristotle Onassis: The Golden Greek

Attila: Scourge of God

Benedict Arnold: Triumph and Treason

Charles Dickens: A Tale of Ambition and Genius

Charles Manson: Journey into Evil

Charlton Heston: For All Seasons

Christopher Columbus: Explorer of the New World

Crazy Horse: The Last Warrior

Daniel Boone

Genghis Khan: Terror and Conquest

George Custer: Showdown at the Little Bighorn

Goebbels: Master of Propaganda

H.G. Wells: Time Traveler

Hercules: Power of the Gods

Huey Long: The Kingfish

Jack the Ripper: Phantom of Death

John Dillinger: Public Enemy #1

John Wilkes Booth: Assassin in the Spotlight

Lee Harvey Oswald: An American Tragedy

Leif Ericson: Voyages of a Viking

Malcolm X: A Search for Identity

Marco Polo: Journey to the East

Mozart

Nostradamus: Prophet of Doom

Patrick Henry: Voice of Liberty

Ponce de León: The First Conquistador

Sherlock Holmes: The Great Detective

Sitting Bull: Chief of the Lakota Nation

Susan B. Anthony: Rebel for the Cause

The Gettys: A Tragedy of Riches

The James Gang: Outlaw Brothers

The Red Baron: Master of the Air

The Vanderbilts: An American Dynasty

Theodore Roosevelt: Roughrider to Rushmore

Thomas Jefferson: Philosopher of Freedom

Tokyo Rose: Victim of Propaganda

Wild Bill Hickock: Gentleman of the Old West

Larry Flynt: Fighting Dirty

From bootlegger to convict, to millionaire pornographer, to born-again Christian, to paraplegic gunshot-victim, Larry Flynt's life so far has been anything but ordinary. As the founder and publisher of Hustler Magazine Flynt broke new ground in porn publishing, offering filth and debauchery of a sort hitherto only imaginable. In his life Larry Flynt has always courted controversy, and along the way he's made himself the enemy of millions. But Larry Flynt always seems to come out on top. This comprehensive portrait follows Flynt from his dirt-poor Appalachian childhood to his surprising role as a poster-boy for First Amendment rights. Rare footage documents the defining moments in his life, from the launch of Hustler in 1974 to his landmark Supreme Court victory over Moral Majority head Jerry Falwell. In a moving interview, Flynt recalls his long and painful recovery from the assassination attempt that nearly took his life, and the tragic death of his wife. From selling moonshine to his dad to the controversial film that cemented his place in folklore, this is the controversial saga of Larry Flynt.

Al Lewis: Forever Grandpa

Jimmy Hoffa: The Man Behind the Mystery

John J. Pershing: The Iron General

John Steinbeck: An American Writer

Mary Magdalene: The Hidden Apostle

Pol Pot: Secret Killer

Sally Hemings: Redefining History

Stonewall Jackson

Yvonne De Carlo: Gilded Lily

Enzo Ferrari: Passion for Speed

Genovese: Portrait of a Crime Family (The Mafia - Disc 3)

George Lucas: Creating an Empire

Henry Hill: Goodfella

Calamity Jane

Donald Rumsfeld: Top Gun

General George Patton: A Genius for War

Hitler and Stalin: Roots of Evil

Home Improvement: A Half-Hour of Power

John & Abigail Adams: Love and Liberty

Joseph Stalin: Red Terror

Lewis & Clark: Explorers of the New Frontier

Mahatma Gandhi: Pilgrim of Peace

Mark Twain: His Amazing Adventures

Osama Bin Laden: In the Name of Allah

Pablo Escobar: The Terror of Columbia

RFK: His Many Sides

Ronald Reagan: The Role of a Lifetime

The Extraordinary Voyages of Jules Verne

The Manson Women: An American Nightmare

Bob Dylan: The American Troubadour

Robert Redford: Hollywood Outlaw

Drew Barrymore: Beating the Odds

Born into a famous family of talented, but troubled actors, Drew Barrymore overcomes turmoil to become a Hollywood superstar.

Abbott and Costello

Abraham Lincoln: Preserving the Union

Adam & Eve: Lost Innocence

Admiral Chester Nimitz: Thunder of the Pacific

Albert DeSalvo: The Boston Strangler

Alexander Graham Bell: Voice of Invention

Albert DeSalvo: The Boston Strangler

A history of the case

Annie Oakley: Crack Shot in Petticoats

Audie Murphy: Great American Hero

Confucius: Words of Wisdom

Conrad Hilton: Innkeeper to the World

David and Goliath: A Biblical Battle

Edward VIII: The Traitor King

Evita: The Woman Behind the Myth

Fidel Castro: El Comandante

Hatfields & McCoys: An American Feud

Henry VIII: Scandals of a King

Jeffrey Dahmer: The Monster Within

John F. Kennedy Jr.: Child of a Dream

John Paul Jones: Captain of the High Seas

The exploits of the Continental Navy's greatest captain, John Paul Jones (1747-92), are recalled. The Scot's boast, “I have not yet begun to fight!” became an inspiration to future generations of American sailors. Included: involvement in the American Revolution; the famous 1779 battle between Jones' Bonhomme Richard and HMS Serapis.

Marie Antoinette: The Tragic Queen

Mikhail Gorbachev: A Man Who Changed the World

Moses and the Ten Commandments

Trace the story of the reluctant prophet who delivered his people from 2,000 years of bondage, and explore his very human frailties and failings.

Moshe Dayan: A Warrior's Story

Noah and the Ark: Voyage to a New Beginning

Richard Nixon: Man and President

Saddam Hussein

Saint Patrick: Man, Myth & Magic

The Astors: High Society

The Fabulous World of Fabergé

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

David Berkowitz: Son of Sam

For over a year, he held a city hostage to fear. When he was finally caught, the nation was shocked to discover that the "face of terror" was a cherubic postal worker who smiled sweetly for the camera. David Berkowitz claimed the lives of six people in a killing spree that resulted in the largest manhunt in the history of New York. Once apprehended, he confessed to all the crimes and asked the judge to put him away forever so he would not kill again. In this comprehensive portrait, reporters and detectives who worked on the case, the parents of victims, a prosecutor and a former FBI profiler relive the case that galvanized a nation. Psychologists explore the many frustrations and disappointments that led Berkowitz to kill, and in a gripping interview, Berkowitz himself talks about his crimes and jailhouse transformation into the "Son of Hope." Today, he ministers to other prisoners and born-again Christians all over the world in hopes of restoring some meaning to his shattered life. From the dark streets of a shaken city to the jailhouse reformation, BIOGRAPHY examines the "Son of Sam."

Mao Tse Tung: China's Peasant Emperor

“For 25 years Mao Zedong ruled one quarter of the world’s population. This is the extraordinary story of a farmer’s son who became a God in his life time but in private never shook off his peasant roots; a man who presided over one of the most radical experiments in social reform ever seen in human history but who will be remembered as one of the bloodiest dictators of the twentieth century. This program–told through the accounts of those who have met and studied him, loved and loathed him–includes archive film and pictures going back to the very earliest days of Mao’s life, as well as unique film of China at the turn of the century and during key episodes in Mao’s communist revolution. It includes harrowing and eye-witness accounts of such momentous events as the cultural revolution, the Great Leap Forward and the most severe man-made famine ever recorded.”

Amelia Earhart: Queen of the Air

Angela Lansbury: A Balancing Act

Anne Frank: The Life of a Young Girl

Beethoven: The Sound and the Fury

Colonel Sanders: America's Chicken King

Dwight D. Eisenhower: Commander-in-Chief

Ernest Hemingway: Wrestling With Life

Evel Knievel: Hell on Wheels

Howard Carter: Triumph and Treasure

Jackie Kennedy Onassis: In a Class of Her Own

Jim Jones: Journey into Madness

John Wayne: American Legend

P.T. Barnum: The Greatest Showman on Earth

Ray Kroc: Fast Food McMillionaire

Satan: Prince of Darkness

Examining the story of Satan's fall from grace and his efforts against the human race.

Vincent Van Gogh: A Stroke of Genius

Charles Lindbergh: Against the Wind

Fred Gwynne: More than a Munster

John Wayne Gacy: A Monster in Disguise

Nicolae Ceausescu: The Unrepentant Tyrant

The Tiffanys: Mark of Excellence

Dean Martin: Everybody Loves Somebody

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

Their incredible exploits earned them a place in American legend. Their true fate remains one of the great mysteries of the Old west.