Ken Burns has been making documentary films for almost 40 years. Since the Academy Award-nominated Brooklyn Bridge in 1981, Burns has gone on to direct and produce some of the most acclaimed historical documentaries ever made, including The Civil War; Baseball; Jazz; The Statue of Liberty; Huey Long; Lewis and Clark: The Journey of the Corps of Discovery; Frank Lloyd Wright; Mark Twain; Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson; The War; The National Parks: America's Best Idea; The Roosevelts: An Intimate History; Jackie Robinson; and, most recently, Defying the Nazis: The Sharps' War.
Burns's films have been honored with dozens of major awards, including 15 Emmy Awards, two Grammy Awards, and two Oscar nominations; and in September 2008, at the News & Documentary Emmy Awards, he was honored by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Known For
Credits
Cast Credits
In the Know (2024)
Guest starring as Interviewee
- Episode 1x02: Whose House? (Jan 25, 2024) [Special Guest Star]
Deadline: White House (2017)
Guest starring as Ken Burns
- Episode 2024-03-11: Episode 48 (Mar 11, 2024)
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (2015)
Guest starring as Ken Burns
(5 episodes)
- Episode 2022-09-19: Ana de Armas, Ken Burns, Sudan Archives (Sep 19, 2022)
- Episode 2022-04-01: John C. Reilly, Mandy Patinkin, Ken Burns (Apr 1, 2022)
- Episode 2021-03-24: Sharon Stone, Ken Burns (Mar 24, 2021)
- Episode 2017-09-26: Sofia Vergara, David Boreanaz, Ken Burns (Sep 26, 2017)
- Episode 2016-04-07: Mindy Kaling; Tituss Burgess; Ken Burns (Apr 7, 2016)
The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore (2015)
Guest starring as Ken Burns
- Episode 2016-05-05: Ken Burns (May 5, 2016)
The Roosevelts: An Intimate History (2014)
Starring as Filmmaker
(7 episodes)
- Episode 1x07: A Strong and Active Faith (1944-1952) (Sep 20, 2014)
- Episode 1x06: The Common Cause (1939-1944) (Sep 19, 2014)
- Episode 1x05: The Rising Road (1933-1939) (Sep 18, 2014)
- Episode 1x04: The Storm (1920-1933) (Sep 17, 2014)
- Episode 1x03: The Fire of Life (1910-1919) (Sep 16, 2014)
- Episode 1x02: In the Arena (1901-1910) (Sep 15, 2014)
- Episode 1x01: Get Action (1858-1901) (Sep 14, 2014)
Late Night with Seth Meyers (2014)
Guest starring as Ken Burns
- Episode 2018-09-20: Kelly Clarkson, Freddie Highmore, Ken Burns, Sean Kinney (Sep 20, 2018)
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (2014)
Guest starring as Director
- Episode 2023-12-15: Jessica Chastain, Alanis Morissette, Ken Burns (Dec 15, 2023)
The National Parks: America's Best Idea (2009)
Starring as Filmmaker
(7 episodes)
- Episode 1x06: The Morning of Creation (1946-1980) (Oct 2, 2009)
- Episode 1x05: Great Nature (1933-1945) (Oct 1, 2009)
- Episode 1x04: Going Home (1920-1933) (Sep 30, 2009)
- Episode 1x03: The Empire of Grandeur (1915-1919) (Sep 29, 2009)
- Episode 1x02: The Last Refuge (1890-1915) (Sep 28, 2009)
- Episode 1x01: The Scripture of Nature (1851-1890) (Sep 27, 2009)
- Episode S01 Special: Ken Burns: The National Parks (Mar 2, 2019)
CNN Special Report (2000)
Guest starring as Ken Burns
- Episode 2021-01-23: Living History with Anderson Cooper, Doris Kearns Goodwin & Ken Burns (Jan 23, 2021)
The Simpsons (1989)
Guest starring as Ken Burns
(3 episodes)
- Episode 35x04: Thirst Trap: A Corporate Love Story (Oct 29, 2023) [Special Guest Star]
- Episode 30x22: Woo-Hoo Dunnit (May 5, 2019) [Special Guest Star]
- Episode 24x01: Moonshine River (Sep 30, 2012)
60 Minutes (1968)
Guest starring as Ken Burns
- Episode 53x08: Counting the Vote | Operation Warp Speed | Ken Burns (Nov 8, 2020)
Crew Credits
The American Buffalo (2023)
Show crew as Executive Producer
(3 episodes)
- Episode 1x02: Into the Storm (Oct 17, 2023)
- Episode 1x01: Blood Memory (Oct 16, 2023)
- Episode S01 Special: The American Buffalo: A Story of Resilience (Aug 14, 2023)
The U.S. and the Holocaust (2022)
Show crew as Producer
(3 episodes)
- Episode 1x03: The Homeless, The Tempest-Tossed (1942 -- ) (Sep 21, 2022)
- Episode 1x02: Yearning to Breathe Free (1938-1942) (Sep 20, 2022)
- Episode 1x01: The Golden Door (Beginnings -- 1938) (Sep 18, 2022)
Benjamin Franklin (2022)
Show crew as Executive Producer
(2 episodes)
- Episode 1x02: Part 2: "An American" (1775-1790) (Apr 5, 2022)
- Episode 1x01: Part 1: "Join or Die" (1706-1774) (Apr 4, 2022)
Show crew as Producer
(2 episodes)
- Episode 1x02: Part 2: "An American" (1775-1790) (Apr 5, 2022)
- Episode 1x01: Part 1: "Join or Die" (1706-1774) (Apr 4, 2022)
Episode crew as Director
(2 episodes)
- Episode 1x02: Part 2: "An American" (1775-1790) (Apr 5, 2022)
- Episode 1x01: Part 1: "Join or Die" (1706-1774) (Apr 4, 2022)
Muhammad Ali (2021)
Show crew as Producer
(4 episodes)
- Episode 1x04: Round Four: The Spell Remains (1974-2016) (Sep 22, 2021)
- Episode 1x03: Round Three: The Rivalry (1970-1974) (Sep 21, 2021)
- Episode 1x02: Round Two: What's My Name? (1964-1970) (Sep 20, 2021)
- Episode 1x01: Round One: The Greatest (1942-1964) (Sep 19, 2021)
Show crew as Executive Producer
(4 episodes)
- Episode 1x04: Round Four: The Spell Remains (1974-2016) (Sep 22, 2021)
- Episode 1x03: Round Three: The Rivalry (1970-1974) (Sep 21, 2021)
- Episode 1x02: Round Two: What's My Name? (1964-1970) (Sep 20, 2021)
- Episode 1x01: Round One: The Greatest (1942-1964) (Sep 19, 2021)
Episode crew as Director
(4 episodes)
- Episode 1x04: Round Four: The Spell Remains (1974-2016) (Sep 22, 2021)
- Episode 1x03: Round Three: The Rivalry (1970-1974) (Sep 21, 2021)
- Episode 1x02: Round Two: What's My Name? (1964-1970) (Sep 20, 2021)
- Episode 1x01: Round One: The Greatest (1942-1964) (Sep 19, 2021)
Hemingway (2021)
Show crew as Creator
(3 episodes)
- Episode 1x03: The Blank Page (1944-1961) (Apr 7, 2021)
- Episode 1x02: The Avatar (1929-1944) (Apr 6, 2021)
- Episode 1x01: A Writer (1899-1929) (Apr 5, 2021)
The Gene: An Intimate History (2020)
Show crew as Executive Producer
(2 episodes)
- Episode 1x02: Part 2: Revolution in the Treatment of Disease (Apr 14, 2020)
- Episode 1x01: Part 1: Dawn of the Modern Age of Genetics (Apr 7, 2020)
Country Music (2019)
Show crew as Producer
(10 episodes)
- Episode 1x08: Don't Get Above Your Raisin' (1984-1996) (Sep 25, 2019)
- Episode 1x07: Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way? (1973-1983) (Sep 24, 2019)
- Episode 1x06: Will the Circle Be Unbroken? (1968-1972) (Sep 23, 2019)
- Episode 1x05: The Sons and Daughters of America (1964-1968) (Sep 22, 2019)
- Episode 1x04: I Can't Stop Loving You (1953-1963) (Sep 18, 2019)
- Episode 1x03: Hillbilly Shakespeare (1945-1953) (Sep 17, 2019)
- Episode 1x02: Hard Times (1933-1945) (Sep 16, 2019)
- Episode 1x01: The Rub (Beginnings -- 1933) (Sep 15, 2019)
- Episode S01 Special: Ken Burns: Country Music (Nov 30, 2019)
- Episode S01 Special: Country Music: Live at the Ryman, A Concert Celebrating the Film by Ken Burns (Sep 8, 2019)
Episode crew as Director
(4 episodes)
- Episode 1x04: I Can't Stop Loving You (1953-1963) (Sep 18, 2019)
- Episode 1x03: Hillbilly Shakespeare (1945-1953) (Sep 17, 2019)
- Episode 1x02: Hard Times (1933-1945) (Sep 16, 2019)
- Episode 1x01: The Rub (Beginnings -- 1933) (Sep 15, 2019)
The Vietnam War (2017)
Show crew as Producer
(2 episodes)
- Episode 1x02: Riding the Tiger (1961–1963) (Sep 18, 2017)
- Episode 1x01: Déjà Vu (1858-1961) (Sep 17, 2017)
Episode crew as Director
(3 episodes)
- Episode 1x03: The River Styx (January 1964 – December 1965) (Sep 19, 2017)
- Episode 1x02: Riding the Tiger (1961–1963) (Sep 18, 2017)
- Episode 1x01: Déjà Vu (1858-1961) (Sep 17, 2017)
Jackie Robinson (2016)
Show crew as Executive Producer
(2 episodes)
- Episode 1x02: Part 2 of 2 (Apr 12, 2016)
- Episode 1x01: Part 1 of 2 (Apr 11, 2016)
The Roosevelts: An Intimate History (2014)
Show crew as Producer
(7 episodes)
- Episode 1x07: A Strong and Active Faith (1944-1952) (Sep 20, 2014)
- Episode 1x06: The Common Cause (1939-1944) (Sep 19, 2014)
- Episode 1x05: The Rising Road (1933-1939) (Sep 18, 2014)
- Episode 1x04: The Storm (1920-1933) (Sep 17, 2014)
- Episode 1x03: The Fire of Life (1910-1919) (Sep 16, 2014)
- Episode 1x02: In the Arena (1901-1910) (Sep 15, 2014)
- Episode 1x01: Get Action (1858-1901) (Sep 14, 2014)
Prohibition (2011)
Show crew as Producer
(3 episodes)
- Episode 1x03: A Nation of Hypocrites (Oct 4, 2011)
- Episode 1x02: A Nation of Scofflaws (Oct 3, 2011)
- Episode 1x01: A Nation of Drunkards (Oct 2, 2011)
The War (2007)
Show crew as Producer
(7 episodes)
- Episode 1x07: A World Without War (Oct 2, 2007)
- Episode 1x06: The Ghost Front (Oct 1, 2007)
- Episode 1x05: FUBAR (Sep 30, 2007)
- Episode 1x04: Pride of Our Nation (Sep 26, 2007)
- Episode 1x03: A Deadly Calling (Sep 25, 2007)
- Episode 1x02: When Things Get Tough (Sep 24, 2007)
- Episode 1x01: A Necessary War (Sep 23, 2007)
Episode crew as Director
(7 episodes)
- Episode 1x07: A World Without War (Oct 2, 2007)
- Episode 1x06: The Ghost Front (Oct 1, 2007)
- Episode 1x05: FUBAR (Sep 30, 2007)
- Episode 1x04: Pride of Our Nation (Sep 26, 2007)
- Episode 1x03: A Deadly Calling (Sep 25, 2007)
- Episode 1x02: When Things Get Tough (Sep 24, 2007)
- Episode 1x01: A Necessary War (Sep 23, 2007)
Mark Twain (2002)
Show crew as Producer
(4 episodes)
- Episode 1x04: Part 4 (Jan 15, 2002)
- Episode 1x03: Part 3 (Jan 15, 2002)
- Episode 1x02: Part 2 (Jan 14, 2002)
- Episode 1x01: Part 1 (Jan 14, 2002)
Show crew as Director Of Photography
The Civil War (1990)
Show crew as Creator
(10 episodes)
- Episode 1x09: The Better Angels of Our Nature (1865) (Sep 27, 1990)
- Episode 1x08: War Is All Hell (1865) (Sep 27, 1990)
- Episode 1x07: Most Hallowed Ground (1864) (Sep 26, 1990)
- Episode 1x06: Valley of the Shadow of Death (1864) (Sep 26, 1990)
- Episode 1x05: The Universe of Battle (1863) (Sep 25, 1990)
- Episode 1x04: Simply Murder (1863) (Sep 25, 1990)
- Episode 1x03: Forever Free (1862) (Sep 24, 1990)
- Episode 1x02: A Very Bloody Affair (1862) (Sep 24, 1990)
- Episode 1x01: The Cause (1861) (Sep 23, 1990)
- Episode S01 Special: Ken Burns: The Civil War (Aug 8, 2015)