Biography1996
TV-PG
First hosted by veteran actor Peter Graves, and later by Jack Perkins, this popular Arts and Entertainment Network series profiled the lives of notable figures in the history of entertainment, sports, arts, science, politics and warfare. The show is notable for its in-depth research, which often provides viewers with little-known information about well-known people.
Where to Watch Biography • 1996
108 Episodes
- Richard Nixon: The Man and the President
E2Richard Nixon: The Man and the PresidentRichard M. Nixon is profiled. According to narrator Jack Smith, he was "a figure larger than life but more obviously human than any other politician of his era." Interviewed: Nixon biographer Stephen Ambrose; columnist William Safire; former Nixon aides John Ehrlichman, Charles Colson and John Dean. - Joseph Stalin: Red Terror
E7Joseph Stalin: Red TerrorHe held absolute power over the Soviet Union for 29 years. His legacy arguably surpasses even Hitler's he sent over 20 million of his own countrymen to their deaths! Josef Stalin is one of the greatest tyrants of all time. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union the extent of his atrocities have been revealed to a stunned world and he has taken his place alongside Hitler as one of the most reviled leaders of the century. This comprehensive portrait revisits the life of "Uncle Joe" through astonishing Soviet archival film and an astonishing collection of interviews. Biographers Robert Conquest and Edvard Radzinsky explore his disastrous reforms including the collectivization of agriculture and his massive purges. Former interpreter Valentin Berezhkov offers a first-person view of the dictator while purge victim Dr. Janusz Bardach talks about his time in the Gulags. And in a rare interview Mikail Gorbachev explores the rise rule and legacy of the most infamous of all his predecessors. BIOGRAPHY proudly presents a definitive history of one of the most important compelling and hated men in history. - Adam & Eve: Lost InnocenceE8
Adam & Eve: Lost InnocenceThe first love story, the first morality play--the story of Adam and Eve has inspired countless poets and artists and shaped Western civilization as we know it today. Through the use of paintings and interviews, a fascinating portrait of the lives of the first man and woman is created. - Theodore Roosevelt: Roughrider to RushmoreE11
Theodore Roosevelt: Roughrider to RushmoreTheodore Roosevelt, author, cowboy, conservationist, soldier, explorer and, notes historian Kathleen Dalton, "the President who launched the 20th century." Included: clips of Roosevelt's Roughriders in action during the Spanish-American War. - Ronald Reagan: The Role of a LifetimeE12
Ronald Reagan: The Role of a LifetimeThis episode of Biography traces the life of Ronald Reagan from his childhood in the small, working class towns of Illinois, through his career as a Hollywood actor, and his political career which took him from liberal Democrat to conservative Republican, from a two-term governorship of California, to a two-term presidency that helped define and shape policies in the 1980s and far beyond. - Bud Abbott & Lou Costello: Abbott & Costello Meet Biography
E16Bud Abbott & Lou Costello: Abbott & Costello Meet BiographyBud Abbott and Lou Costello are one of the most famous and beloved comedy teams in history. Their unique chemistry and superb comedic timing have never been surpassed. In a partnership that lasted 21 years they conquered every facet of show business, including burlesque, radio, Broadway, motion pictures and television. - John Paul Jones: Captain of the High SeasE17
John Paul Jones: Captain of the High Seas”I have not yet begun to fight.” These words immortalized the seafaring Scotsman who would side with the Americans in the War for Independence. Naval hero to some, pirate to others, Captain John Paul Jones took on the Royal Navy —and won. This episode of Biography, hosted by Jack Perkins, details the life of this extraordinary man. - The Boston Strangler
E20The Boston StranglerAlberto DeSalvo was born September 3, 1931 in Chelsea, Massachusetts. DeSalvo was in and out of trouble with the police from an early age, but nothing as gruesome as the Boston Strangler case. Between 1962 and 1964, DeSalvo admitted to murdering 13 women in Boston, most of whom were elderly and alone. DeSalvo was killed in prison after being sentenced to life. - The Earp Brothers: Lawmen of the WestE26
The Earp Brothers: Lawmen of the WestThey are perhaps the most famous lawmen of the Old West the Earp brothers: Virgil, Morgan, James, Newton, Warren and Wyatt. But did they really use their power to uphold the law? BIOGRAPHY takes a penetrating look at the career of the legendary gunslingers, and searches for answers to the question that has trouble historians for decades. Interviews with experts suggest that, in many cases, the brothers used their badges to rise above the law, not defend it. But others say that in such a lawless time and place, the Earps did what they had to do to carry out their duties as best they could. Travel with the Earps through the legendary towns of the Old West Leadsville, Dodge City, and Tombstone in search of their legacy. Revisit their finest moments and greatest defeats, and see rare pictures that bring these Western legends to life. From their Midwestern roots to the O.K. Corral, follow the Earps along a path of blood and controversy. - Alexander Graham Bell: Voice Of InventionE31
Alexander Graham Bell: Voice Of InventionHis drive to help his deaf mother communicate led to one of the most important inventions of the 20th century. But the telephone was only one of many notable contributions he made to fields ranging from medicine to aviation. Alexander Graham Bell left his mark on the world with the invention of the telephone. But he might have been a footnote in history if not for his lawyer, who filed for the patent a mere two hours before his rival Elisha Gray, who had also unraveled the mysteries of communicating bywire. From his childhood in Scotland and his long struggle to get out from under his father's shadow to the invention of the precursors to the X-ray machine and Iron Lung, BIOGRAPHY traces the life of the famed inventor. Discover how he saved National Geographic from financial ruin, and why Helen Keller dedicated her autobiography to him! BIOGRAPHY proudly presents a tribute to a man whose life and genius touched millions. - Hank Williams Jr.: Living ProofE35
Hank Williams Jr.: Living ProofHe was born Randall Hank Williams, a boy destined to live in the shadow of a legend. For years, he was groomed to be a carbon copy of his father, but the 'Bocephus' his fans know today is a man who had to die before he could truly live. This episode of BIOGRAPHY traces the tumultuous journey of Hank Williams Jr., from his days as a teenage child star to his near-fatal 500-foot fall down Ajax Mountain. Discover how a tragic accident and a defiant spirit transformed a 'lonesome' son into an outlaw icon who reinvented country music with his own rowdy brand of Southern rock. - Samson and Delilah: Love and BetrayalE37
Samson and Delilah: Love and BetrayalFeared and revered for slaying thousands of Philistine people with a donkey's jawbone, the Hebrew judge Samson was one of the strongest men in the Bible. But he did have one weakness: his love for a Philistine courtesan named Delilah. This installment of A&E's popular "Biography" series explores the legendary love affair that was built on passion and -- unbeknownst to Samson -- betrayal, as Delilah was being paid to deplete her lover's strength. - Admiral Chester Nimitz: Thunder of the PacificE43
Admiral Chester Nimitz: Thunder of the PacificHe inherited a shattered, demoralized command with burning ships, ruined planes and over 2,000 men under his new command were dead before he got to direct a shot in return. See how Admiral Nimitz pushed the Japanese to surrender against incredible odds, ending the war in the Pacific. - John F. Kennedy: A Personal Story
E45John F. Kennedy: A Personal StoryYouthful and charismatic, John Fitzgerald Kennedy inspired America with a renewed sense of pride and confidence. A war hero, respected Senator and author of the Pulitzer Prize - winning Profiles in Courage, the dashing and handsome young Kennedy regarded life as a race against boredom. Experience the pivotal moments of his life though archival footage and interviews with esteemed journalists, White House insiders and members of the family. - Abraham Lincoln: Preserving the Union
E46Abraham Lincoln: Preserving the UnionHonest, eloquent and courageous, he risked everything to save a young America from self-destruction, and paid the ultimate price. This unforgettable program tells the complete story of Abraham Lincoln, from the rustic childhood that forged his beliefs to the tough campaign that made him president. Historians examine the difficult leadership choices of his turbulent first term, as well as his bouts with depression and troubled marriage to Mary Todd. Experts untangle a web of murder and kidnapping plots to learn the truth about the complex conspiracy that made Lincoln an American Martyr. - Mark Twain: His Amazing AdventuresE47
Mark Twain: His Amazing AdventuresProfiling Mark Twain (1835-1910) in his roles as steamboat pilot, gold miner, lecturer and reporter. Included: how Sam Clemens chose his pen name; the 1895 world tour aimed at paying his way out of bankruptcy; comments from scholars. - Evita: The Woman Behind the MythE49
Evita: The Woman Behind the MythEva Duarte de Peron, or 'Evita' as she is also called, is one of the most controversial figures in history. A minor actress when she married Argentine president-to-be Juan Peron, her political power and prestige eventually equaled, and perhaps eclipsed, his. Was she the power-hungry Marie Antoinette figure her detractors claim? Or was she really the savior of the working poor? Rare photographs and films tell Evita's real story, from her humble birth to her tragic death of cancer at 33. Close aids and bitter enemies offer their accounts, and consider why she continues to fascinate us today. - Mata Hari: Unveiling the MythE84
Mata Hari: Unveiling the Myth"Mata Hari: Seductive Spy" profiles Margaretha Zelle (1876-1917), "the ultimate femme fatale"---dancer, courtesan and, the French government contended, World War I spy. "She loved fame, she loved risk, she loved danger," says her biographer Erika Ostrovsky. - Solomon and Sheba: An Epic Love StoryE98
Solomon and Sheba: An Epic Love StorySolomon was the son of David and his beloved Bathsheba. He was a 12-year-old prodigy when he ascended to the throne of Israel. Yet for all his storied wisdom, his agnificent talent for palace building, and his 700 wives, Solomon remained a lonely and introspective man for most of his rule. Who was the mysterious and beautiful queen who finally captured the king's heart? Witness Solomon's evolution from his juvenile accession of the throne to his position as the wisest man of the ancient world.
