Biography
Season 1998
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 Season 1998
53 Episodes
- Colonel Sanders: America's Chicken King
E4Colonel Sanders: America's Chicken KingHere is the story of the fast-food giant who waited 65 years before he hit it big. For the first 65 years of his life, he bounced from job to job, trying to make ends meet. It was only after he collected his first social security check that he found the secret to success. Colonel Sanders' face is one of the most recognizable commercial icons in the world. Yet few people know the story of the man behind the chicken franchise. BIOGRAPHY® interviews his two daughters and official biographer to tell the rags-to-riches story of the country boy from Indiana. Family photos show him in the days before he became famous, behind the counter of the 6-seat dining room attached to a gas station where he perfected his blend of 11 herbs and spices. Discover how a fire launched him on the road to riches, and how he built an empire of 600 stores in just a decade. But even then, some of his old poor luck stayed with him when he sold the business, he opted for a $40,000 annual salary for life rather than stock options! Fellow fast-food maven Dave Thomas who cut his teeth at KFC helps tell the story of America's Chicken King. - Nicholas & AlexandraE13
Nicholas & AlexandraFor almost a century their fabled dynasty and tragic fate has been enveloped in myth and surrounded by mystery. Now, with the opening of the former Soviet Union, the true story of Nicholas and Alexandra can be told. This groundbreaking production, filmed on location throughout the former Soviet Union and Europe, presents a treasure trove of information and documents that have been kept secret for decades. Intimate diaries, letters and personal effects from the once-sealed imperial archives tell the astonishing story of the Romanovs' reign. Chilling eyewitness accounts, testimony from executioners, and a somber exhumation finally put to rest the enigma of their dynasty's horrifying end. Stunning, fact-filled and grand, this is the ultimate chronicle of a romance that changed the world. - Bio Remembers: Farrah FawcettE15
Bio Remembers: Farrah FawcettHer greatest success came after she won a starring role in a new series called 'Charlie's Angels'. Farrah Fawcett-Majors became a household name as the sexy blonde, Jill Munroe. 'Charlie's Angels' was a huge success but Farrah became a phenomenon. - Satan: Prince Of Darkness
E16Satan: Prince Of DarknessThe Personification of Evil holds a mysterious appeal: a fascinating charisma that draws the curious, as well as admirers and even zealous devotees. What is the nature of the Beast, where did he come from and what role does this complex figure play in the eternal human drama? From the Biblical tale of the Fall to stories of those who believe they have crossed his path, A&E Biography takes a journey through the "life" of Satan. Scholars, historical experts, and theologians examine classic paintings, academic texts, and modern movies for a look at the many ways Satan has been portrayed throughout the centuries. - Elizabeth: The Reluctant Monarch
E17Elizabeth: The Reluctant MonarchGreat Britain's Elizabeth II is profiled. Born in 1926, the Queen has served as the United Kingdom's constitutional monarch since 1952. Included: highlights of her reign and her reaction to problems within the Royal Family; interviews with friends and associates. - Ernest Hemingway - Wrestling With LifeE20
Ernest Hemingway - Wrestling With LifeA&E's long-running biography series takes a look at one of the 20th century's most emblematic figures, Ernest Hemingway. Through a collection of still photography, narration by granddaughter Mariel Hemingway, commentary from author A.E. Hotchner and publisher Charles Scribner, and readings from Hemingway's writing (including personal letters and unpublished works) by Scott Glenn, the film takes us from the man's Midwestern childhood roots up through the tragic suicide that serves as a bittersweet exclamation on what is otherwise considered to be a life of profound accomplishment. - Mao Tse Tung: China's Peasant EmperorE23
Mao Tse Tung: China's Peasant EmperorBorn on December 26, 1893, in Shaoshan, Hunan Province, China, Mao Tse-tung served as chairman of the People's Republic of China from 1949 to 1959, and led the Chinese Communist Party from 1935 until his death. Mao's "Great Leap Forward" and the Cultural Revolution were ill-conceived and had disastrous consequences, but many of his goals, including stressing China's self-reliance, were generally laudable. - Johnny Cash: The Man in Black
E24Johnny Cash: The Man in BlackThe inimitable vocal chords of Johnny Cash will always be sorely missed by music fans, but he left behind an incredible legacy for his legions of followers to bask in. This documentary on Cash follows his life from a rough upbringing in Arkansas to global success which was achieved without compromising his vision. Friends, fellow musicians, and family members unite to tell Cash's inspiring tale here, resulting in a heartfelt tribute to the great man. - Greta Garbo: The Mysterious LadyE27
Greta Garbo: The Mysterious LadyBIOGRAPHY® traces this mysterious star's life -- from her poor childhood in Stockholm through her early years in Hollywood silent films to her smooth transition to talkies with her low, throaty voice. Known for her reclusiveness, the less she spoke, the more the public and the press pursued her. In particular, her exotic love affairs were followed closely, even long after she retired from film. GRETA GARBO: THE MYSTERIOUS LADY features clips from her sensual performance opposite John Gilbert in the MGM silent film FLESH AND THE DEVIL, her sound film debut, her final two comedy films, and rare clips of Garbo on the streets of New York City in the 1970s. Interviews include acquaintances, walking companions, biographers, journalists, and a photographer who spent twelve years of his life stalking Garbo during her final years. Karen Swenson, author of Greta Garbo: A Life Apart, was a consultant for the program. - Tennessee Williams: Wounded GeniusE33
Tennessee Williams: Wounded GeniusThe classic works of Tennessee Williams have earned him a reputation as one of the greatest American playwrights of the 20th century. Now BIOGRAPHY-® paints an in-depth portrait of the famed writer and the personal problems that both plagued his life and inspired his masterworks. Williams first found sanctuary from his famously dysfunctional family by writing them as characters into his stories. Personal issues such as his constant need for companionship were manifested in his remarkably unique body of work which was laded with controversial themes of sexuality. Yet even after finding success with such hits as The Glass Menagerie Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and the Pulitzer Prize-winning A Streetcar Named Desire Williams began an irreversible downfall spiraling into a substance-abusing depression. Featuring interviews with Williams his brother biographers and friends this fascinating comprehensive program sheds light on the life of a tormented genius. - Bill Gates: Sultan of SoftwareE38
Bill Gates: Sultan of SoftwareBill Gates at the age of 42 has established himself as one of the titans of American business in the 20th Century. His company Microsoft now controls 95% of the world's operating systems for personal computers which has made Gates the richest man in the world with an estimated personal worth of more than 50 billion dollars. - Dave Thomas: Made to Order
E39Dave Thomas: Made to OrderStory of the lovable guy behind the Wendy's fast-food empire. He began with Kentucky Fried Chicken and invented the famous bucket of chicken with Colonel Sander's face on it. After leaving KFC, he started doing Wendy's commercials in 1989--the first of 500. - Anthony Quinn: A Lust for LifeE52
Anthony Quinn: A Lust for LifeSummaries An actor of many faces, Mexican-born Anthony Quinn has appeared in over 270 films in ethnically diverse roles from an American Indian to a Greek peasant. Quinn himself tells his fascinating story with help from his daughter and son, actors and directors including Kirk Douglas, Julie Harris and Stanley Kramer. Including clips from such acclaimed films as La Strada, Viva Zapata! and Zorba the Greek.
