American Masters

1986 - Present TV-14 1h 30m 8.2

Documentary series focusing on great American artists and personalities.

Since its premiere in 1986, this Emmy-winning documentary series has presented hundreds of hours comprising profiles of outstanding American cultural artists. Past subjects have included Charlie Chaplin, Helen Hayes, pop icon Andy Warhol, singer Billie Holiday, and Composer and Conductor Leonard Bernstein.

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Main Cast

Erica Newhouse Erica Newhouse Hedy Lamarr
Kate Burton Kate Burton Voice of Novels
Claire Bloom Claire Bloom Narrator
Dyanna Taylor Dyanna Taylor Narrator
William Hurt William Hurt Narrator
Kevin Spacey Kevin Spacey Narrator
Stanley Tucci Stanley Tucci Narrator
Carl Lumbly Carl Lumbly Miles Davis
Jesse L. Martin Jesse L. Martin Narrator
Jeffrey DeMunn Jeffrey DeMunn Eugene O'Neill
Doc Severinsen Doc Severinsen
John Rubinstein John Rubinstein Host
Stockard Channing Stockard Channing Narrator
Elizabeth Marvel Elizabeth Marvel Louisa May Alcott
Ben Vereen Ben Vereen Narrator
Bobby Short Bobby Short Narrator
Matthew Allis Matthew Allis Carl Sandburg
Maya Angelou Maya Angelou
Sheila Tousey Sheila Tousey Narrator
Jane Alexander Jane Alexander Narrator
Blythe Danner Blythe Danner Aline Saarinen
LaTanya Richardson Jackson LaTanya Richardson Jackson Narrator
Helen Mirren Helen Mirren Narrator
Fritz Weaver Fritz Weaver Narrator
Adam Driver Adam Driver
George Bartenieff George Bartenieff Danforth
Lou Adler Lou Adler
Laura Linney Laura Linney Zelda Fitzgerald
Eric Christmas Eric Christmas Old Man
Morgan Freeman Morgan Freeman Narrator
Dennis Hopper Dennis Hopper Narrator
Kim Brockington Kim Brockington Zora Neale Hurston
Andre Braugher Andre Braugher Narrator
Jamil A.C. Mangan Jamil A.C. Mangan Harold Loomis
Peter Riegert Peter Riegert W. Eugene Smith
Ellen Adair Ellen Adair Lucy Audubon
Abiola Abrams Abiola Abrams Lutie Johnson
Patrick Adiarte Patrick Adiarte Wang San
Lindsay Anderson Lindsay Anderson Narrator
Zoe Caldwell Zoe Caldwell Carlotta Monterey O'Neill
Rosanne Cash Rosanne Cash Narrator
Daniel Gerroll Daniel Gerroll Bronson Alcott
Rick Sharp Rick Sharp Woody Guthrie
Reed Birney Reed Birney Actor
Bill Clinton Bill Clinton
David Strathairn David Strathairn Narrator
Bill Pullman Bill Pullman Edward Curtis
Cynthia Adler Cynthia Adler Narrator
Peter Franzén Peter Franzén Voice of Eero Saarinen
Anika Noni Rose Anika Noni Rose Lorraine Hansberry
Jeremy Northam Jeremy Northam Cary Grant
Donald Crisp Donald Crisp
Peter Asher Peter Asher
Amy Irving Amy Irving Novels
Horace V. Rogers Horace V. Rogers Bono
Hattie Winston Hattie Winston Narrator
Ned Beatty Ned Beatty Frederic Remington
John Amos John Amos Dr. Bledsoe
Goran Visnjic Goran Visnjic Robert Capa
Anthony Hopkins Anthony Hopkins Narrator
Philip Ahn Philip Ahn
Joe Urla Joe Urla George Antheil
James Naughton James Naughton Ernest Hemingway
Steven Yeun Steven Yeun Narrator
Warren Snipe Warren Snipe Translator
Peggy Lipton Peggy Lipton
Dorothy Gish Dorothy Gish
Mary Beth Peil Mary Beth Peil Mrs. Carr
Morley Safer Morley Safer Narrator
Melvin Van Peebles Melvin Van Peebles Louis Armstrong
Paul Benjamin Paul Benjamin Grandfather
Michelle Joyner Michelle Joyner Eliza Poe
Mitchell Greenberg Mitchell Greenberg Rod Serling
Nils Asther Nils Asther
DeVeren Bookwalter DeVeren Bookwalter
Samuel Allen Samuel Allen Starving boy
Jean Simmons Jean Simmons Narrator
Christopher Flockton Christopher Flockton Garth Williams
Campbell Scott Campbell Scott F Scott Fitzgerald
Jacques C. Smith Jacques C. Smith Invisible Man
Ingrid Bergman Ingrid Bergman Gladys Aylward
Louis Calhern Louis Calhern Alonzo D. Emmerich
Edwin Newman Edwin Newman Narrator
Frances Conroy Frances Conroy
Denis O'Hare Denis O'Hare Edgar Allan Poe
Sidney Poitier Sidney Poitier
Tanya Tucker Tanya Tucker Narrator
Judith Anderson Judith Anderson
Victor Garber Victor Garber Narrator
Marceline Hugot Marceline Hugot Mary Margaret McBride
Bill Irwin Bill Irwin
Daniel Bernhardt Daniel Bernhardt
Devyn Puett Devyn Puett Virginia Poe
Harry Beresford Harry Beresford Brother Bowser
Wendy Barrie-Wilson Wendy Barrie-Wilson Funeral goer
Frank Converse Frank Converse
Oprah Winfrey Oprah Winfrey
Pat Hingle Pat Hingle
Dossy Peabody Dossy Peabody Abigail Alcott
D.W. Griffith D.W. Griffith
Richard Brown Richard Brown Moe Asch

Appearances

Clint Eastwood Clint Eastwood
George Cukor George Cukor
Nam June Paik Nam June Paik
Clarke Peters Clarke Peters
Dave Alvin Dave Alvin
Michael Tilson Thomas Michael Tilson Thomas
Michael Ballhaus Michael Ballhaus
David O. Selznick David O. Selznick
Sidney Lumet Sidney Lumet
Joan Baez Joan Baez
Don Hewitt Don Hewitt
Joni Mitchell Joni Mitchell
Loretta Lynn Loretta Lynn
Julie Andrews Julie Andrews
Philip Roth Philip Roth
Judd Hirsch Judd Hirsch
Tyrus Wong Tyrus Wong
David Geffen David Geffen
Jules Feiffer Jules Feiffer
Richard Avedon Richard Avedon
Richard Crenna Richard Crenna
Stephen Stills Stephen Stills
Benny Goodman Benny Goodman
Steve Allen Steve Allen
Walter Winchell Walter Winchell
Dustin Hoffman Dustin Hoffman
Althea Gibson Althea Gibson
Paul Simon Paul Simon
Ted Allen Ted Allen
John Lennon John Lennon
Peter Coyote Peter Coyote
Edward Albee Edward Albee
Peaches Bartkowicz Peaches Bartkowicz
Spiro Agnew Spiro Agnew
Twyla Tharp Twyla Tharp
Joan Allen Joan Allen
Gore Vidal Gore Vidal
Jascha Heifetz Jascha Heifetz
Kathleen Turner Kathleen Turner
Edie Adams Edie Adams
Raul Julia Raul Julia
Willie Nelson Willie Nelson
Akihito Akihito
Mark Rydell Mark Rydell
Martin Scorsese Martin Scorsese
André 3000 André 3000
Christo Christo
Yehudi Menuhin Yehudi Menuhin
Gregory Peck Gregory Peck
Adriana Trigiani Adriana Trigiani
Alexander Calder Alexander Calder
Ahmet Ertegun Ahmet Ertegun
I.A.L. Diamond I.A.L. Diamond
George Benson George Benson
Helen Hayes Helen Hayes
Jim Bailey Jim Bailey
Steven Spielberg Steven Spielberg
Stella Adler Stella Adler
Erin Brockovich-Ellis Erin Brockovich-Ellis
Elvis Presley Elvis Presley
Jimi Hendrix Jimi Hendrix
Heywood Hale Broun Heywood Hale Broun
Woody Allen Woody Allen
Jacques Pepin Jacques Pepin
Jon Hamm Jon Hamm
Buckminster Fuller Buckminster Fuller
Danny Kaye Danny Kaye
James Watson James Watson
Harris Yulin Harris Yulin
Chris Sarandon Chris Sarandon
Harold Lloyd Harold Lloyd
Lou Reed Lou Reed
Holly Near Holly Near
Carole King Carole King
Michael Murphy Michael Murphy
Bob Dylan Bob Dylan
Ellen Burstyn Ellen Burstyn
Ella Fitzgerald Ella Fitzgerald
Maurice Sendak Maurice Sendak
Roy Blount Jr. Roy Blount Jr.
Alison Arngrim Alison Arngrim
Joseph Campbell Joseph Campbell
Rita Marley Rita Marley
Aretha Franklin Aretha Franklin
Layla Claire Layla Claire
Laurie Anderson Laurie Anderson
Carol Burnett Carol Burnett
John Cage John Cage
Billie Holiday Billie Holiday
Roy Acuff Roy Acuff
Louis Armstrong Louis Armstrong
Dan Aykroyd Dan Aykroyd
Arthur Miller Arthur Miller
Lee Grant Lee Grant
Gracie Allen Gracie Allen
Mel Brooks Mel Brooks
Halle Berry Halle Berry
Miles Davis Miles Davis
Mary Davenport Mary Davenport
Isaac Bashevis Singer Isaac Bashevis Singer
Roy O. Disney Roy O. Disney
Irving Azoff Irving Azoff
Lynn Johnston Lynn Johnston
John Lahr John Lahr
Neil Young Neil Young
Bea Arthur Bea Arthur
Harry Carey Jr. Harry Carey Jr.
Man Ray Man Ray
Dana Andrews Dana Andrews
Irving Berlin Irving Berlin
Art Garfunkel Art Garfunkel
Bud Abbott Bud Abbott
Rosie Casals Rosie Casals
Dolly Parton Dolly Parton
Tony Benn Tony Benn
Willa Cather Willa Cather
Barry Diller Barry Diller
Karen Allen Karen Allen
Ralph Edwards Ralph Edwards
Rita Moreno Rita Moreno
Daniel Boulud Daniel Boulud
H.B. Barnum H.B. Barnum
James Baldwin James Baldwin
Fats Domino Fats Domino
Martin Landau Martin Landau
B.B. King B.B. King
Billy Joel Billy Joel
Cecilia Peck Cecilia Peck
Tovah Feldshuh Tovah Feldshuh
Bette Midler Bette Midler
William Friedkin William Friedkin
Groucho Marx Groucho Marx
Pat Carroll Pat Carroll
Waylon Jennings Waylon Jennings
Harold Clurman Harold Clurman
Kim Cattrall Kim Cattrall
Martha Graham Martha Graham
Marian Anderson Marian Anderson
Carl Perkins Carl Perkins
Mitch Mitchell Mitch Mitchell
John Cox John Cox
Linda Hunt Linda Hunt
Warren Beatty Warren Beatty
Marc Connelly Marc Connelly
Letty Aronson Letty Aronson
Richard Burton Richard Burton
Philip Johnson Philip Johnson
Hugh Downs Hugh Downs
June Allyson June Allyson
Robert Rauschenberg Robert Rauschenberg
Herb Alpert Herb Alpert
Ben Schnetzer Ben Schnetzer
Julia Child Julia Child
Frank Corsaro Frank Corsaro
Count Basie Count Basie
Amy Brenneman Amy Brenneman
Susan Orlean Susan Orlean
Cab Calloway Cab Calloway
Kate Capshaw Kate Capshaw
Bob Marley Bob Marley
C.L. Franklin C.L. Franklin
Jeff Bridges Jeff Bridges
Leonard Feather Leonard Feather
Jamie Bernstein Jamie Bernstein
Michael Fitzgerald Michael Fitzgerald
Betty White Betty White
Georgia O'Keeffe Georgia O'Keeffe
Merce Cunningham Merce Cunningham
Bob Balaban Bob Balaban
Fred Astaire Fred Astaire
Afrika Bambaataa Afrika Bambaataa
Sarah Vaughan Sarah Vaughan
Rod Serling Rod Serling
David Brinkley David Brinkley
Cecil Beaton Cecil Beaton
Bette Davis Bette Davis
Charles Eames Charles Eames
Richard A. Dworsky Richard A. Dworsky
Harold Arlen Harold Arlen
Graydon Carter Graydon Carter
John Carter Cash John Carter Cash
Paul Keyes Paul Keyes
Jay Cocks Jay Cocks
Albert Einstein Albert Einstein
Treat Williams Treat Williams
Tom Hayden Tom Hayden
Christiane Amanpour Christiane Amanpour
Bill Flanagan Bill Flanagan
Bill Anderson Bill Anderson
Diahann Carroll Diahann Carroll
Charley Pride Charley Pride
Stephen Bourne Stephen Bourne
Michael Eisner Michael Eisner
Martin Bell Martin Bell
Desi Arnaz Jr. Desi Arnaz Jr.
Plácido Domingo Plácido Domingo
Isamu Noguchi Isamu Noguchi
Jimmy Smits Jimmy Smits
Henry Kissinger Henry Kissinger
Eli Wallach Eli Wallach
Lorraine Hansberry Lorraine Hansberry
Bonnie Raitt Bonnie Raitt
Cary Grant Cary Grant
Quincy Jones Quincy Jones
Veronique Peck Veronique Peck
Peter Falk Peter Falk
Ruth Brown Ruth Brown
Jack Lemmon Jack Lemmon
Colleen Dewhurst Colleen Dewhurst
Ben Bradlee Ben Bradlee
Kris Kristofferson Kris Kristofferson
Julie Harris Julie Harris
Deepak Chopra Deepak Chopra
Johnny Cash Johnny Cash
Noel Redding Noel Redding
Walter Bernstein Walter Bernstein
Margalo Gillmore Margalo Gillmore
Phoebe Brand Phoebe Brand
Marshall Brickman Marshall Brickman
Jasper Johns Jasper Johns
Bobby Bland Bobby Bland
Joel Cox Joel Cox
James Brown James Brown
Del Armstrong Del Armstrong
Preston Sturges Preston Sturges
Arthur Godfrey Arthur Godfrey
Dean Butler Dean Butler
John Barrymore John Barrymore
Francis Ford Coppola Francis Ford Coppola
José Andrés José Andrés
Joy Harjo Joy Harjo
Dizzy Gillespie Dizzy Gillespie
Leonard Bernstein Leonard Bernstein
Saul Bellow Saul Bellow
Kenny Solms Kenny Solms
Edward Steichen Edward Steichen
David Chasman David Chasman
Yoko Ono Yoko Ono
David Byrne David Byrne
Pearl Bailey Pearl Bailey
Christina Aguilera Christina Aguilera
Patricia Bosworth Patricia Bosworth
Rona Barrett Rona Barrett
August Wilson August Wilson
Samantha Eggar Samantha Eggar
Ray Eames Ray Eames
Jeff Beck Jeff Beck
Pat Boone Pat Boone
Robert Duvall Robert Duvall
Hal Gurnee Hal Gurnee
Candice Bergen Candice Bergen
Roger Corman Roger Corman
William S. Burroughs William S. Burroughs
David Crosby David Crosby
John Malkovich John Malkovich
Nancy Buirski Nancy Buirski
Christopher Hitchens Christopher Hitchens
Ann-Margret Ann-Margret
Johnny Carson Johnny Carson
Michael Apted Michael Apted
Barbara Cook Barbara Cook
Mike Nichols Mike Nichols
Luther Henderson Luther Henderson
Jerome Hellman Jerome Hellman
Jackson Browne Jackson Browne
Carmen De Lavallade Carmen De Lavallade
Hillary Clinton Hillary Clinton
Agnes de Mille Agnes de Mille
Adrienne Barbeau Adrienne Barbeau
Harry Carey Harry Carey
Ann Blyth Ann Blyth
Miriam Makeba Miriam Makeba
George Abbott George Abbott
Jack Bailey Jack Bailey
William Bakewell William Bakewell
Melvyn Bragg Melvyn Bragg
Keith Richards Keith Richards
Barbara Harris Barbara Harris
Colleen Sheehy Colleen Sheehy
John Hart John Hart
Bob Fosse Bob Fosse
Margaret Court Margaret Court
Ray Charles Ray Charles
Shirley MacLaine Shirley MacLaine
José Ferrer José Ferrer
Richard Lewis Richard Lewis
Karl Malden Karl Malden
Eve Ensler Eve Ensler
Jerry Lee Lewis Jerry Lee Lewis
Lillian Gish Lillian Gish
Herbert J. Biberman Herbert J. Biberman
Ruth Gordon Ruth Gordon
Mikhail Baryshnikov Mikhail Baryshnikov
Kitty Carlisle Kitty Carlisle
Lena Horne Lena Horne
Tom Brokaw Tom Brokaw
Josh Brolin Josh Brolin
Dani Crayne Dani Crayne
Joe Bonamassa Joe Bonamassa
Desi Arnaz Desi Arnaz
Priscilla Bonner Priscilla Bonner
Laird Hamilton Laird Hamilton
Franz Grundheber Franz Grundheber
I.M. Pei I.M. Pei
Wynton Marsalis Wynton Marsalis
Jack Warner Jr. Jack Warner Jr.
Carrie Fisher Carrie Fisher
Lionel Hampton Lionel Hampton
Tim Conway Tim Conway
John Cale John Cale
José Díaz-Balart José Díaz-Balart
Anne Jackson Anne Jackson
Tony Bennett Tony Bennett
Henry Louis Gates Jr. Henry Louis Gates Jr.
Alec Baldwin Alec Baldwin
John Frankenheimer John Frankenheimer
Wade Boggs Wade Boggs
Buck Henry Buck Henry
Greer Garson Greer Garson
Marlon Brando Marlon Brando
Martina Arroyo Martina Arroyo
Joel Zwick Joel Zwick
Matthew Broderick Matthew Broderick
Robert De Niro Robert De Niro
Allen Ginsberg Allen Ginsberg
Eric Andersen Eric Andersen
Volker Schlöndorff Volker Schlöndorff
Walter Cronkite Walter Cronkite
Tracey Ullman Tracey Ullman
Larry Adler Larry Adler
Garth Brooks Garth Brooks
Sheldon Harnick Sheldon Harnick
James Leo Herlihy James Leo Herlihy
Cher Cher
George Faison George Faison
Mia Farrow Mia Farrow
Garrison Keillor Garrison Keillor
Glen Tetley Glen Tetley
George Clooney George Clooney
Valerie Bertinelli Valerie Bertinelli
William H. Clothier William H. Clothier
Andrew Rooney Andrew Rooney
Roseanne Barr Roseanne Barr
Evelyn Baldwin Evelyn Baldwin
Ossie Davis Ossie Davis
Peter Bogdanovich Peter Bogdanovich
Benicio Del Toro Benicio Del Toro
Yo-Yo Ma Yo-Yo Ma
William Bast William Bast
Betsy Blair Betsy Blair
Frances Foster Frances Foster
Alan King Alan King
William F. Buckley William F. Buckley
Dick Cavett Dick Cavett
Bono Bono
Lauren Bacall Lauren Bacall
Averell Harriman Averell Harriman
David Hockney David Hockney
George Avakian George Avakian
Alfred Hitchcock Alfred Hitchcock
Harrison Ford Harrison Ford
George Burns George Burns
Mel Carter Mel Carter
Richard DeNeut Richard DeNeut
Harvey Keitel Harvey Keitel
Joe Dallesandro Joe Dallesandro
Amiri Baraka Amiri Baraka
David Bowie David Bowie
James Earl Jones James Earl Jones
Anthony Bourdain Anthony Bourdain
Harry Belafonte Harry Belafonte
Jack Klugman Jack Klugman
Ben Bradlee Jr. Ben Bradlee Jr.
John Corigliano John Corigliano
Bob Newhart Bob Newhart
Bob Colacello Bob Colacello
Rosemary Clooney Rosemary Clooney
Lillian Hellman Lillian Hellman
Douglas McGrath Douglas McGrath
Roger McGuinn Roger McGuinn
Abbie Hoffman Abbie Hoffman
James L. Brooks James L. Brooks
Will Rogers Will Rogers
Barbara Hershey Barbara Hershey
James Taylor James Taylor
Kate Reid Kate Reid
Whitney Houston Whitney Houston
Fred W. Friendly Fred W. Friendly
Carl Reiner Carl Reiner
Tommy Lee Jones Tommy Lee Jones
Celeste Holm Celeste Holm
Clive Davis Clive Davis
Angela Lansbury Angela Lansbury
Timuel Black Timuel Black
Tom Keith Tom Keith
Big Freedia Big Freedia
Bertram Ross Bertram Ross
Robert Downey Jr. Robert Downey Jr.
John Fogerty John Fogerty
Todd Bridges Todd Bridges
Scott Eyman Scott Eyman
Muhammad Ali Muhammad Ali
Lucille Ball Lucille Ball
Chuck D Chuck D
Sean Penn Sean Penn
Lesley Stahl Lesley Stahl
Carol Maillard Carol Maillard
Michael Barrie Michael Barrie
Richard Barthelmess Richard Barthelmess
Chris Evert Chris Evert
Beau Bridges Beau Bridges
Eddie Cantor Eddie Cantor
Joe Buck Joe Buck
Sonia Braga Sonia Braga
Hadji Ali Hadji Ali
Zubin Mehta Zubin Mehta
Eartha Kitt Eartha Kitt
Maria Britneva Maria Britneva
Meagan Good Meagan Good
Leslie Caron Leslie Caron
Farah Griffin Farah Griffin
Muddy Waters Muddy Waters
Jeanine Basinger Jeanine Basinger
Ruby Dee Ruby Dee
Don Peck Don Peck
Eric Clapton Eric Clapton
Walter Matthau Walter Matthau
Al Hirschfeld Al Hirschfeld
Tommy Hilfiger Tommy Hilfiger
Steve Martin Steve Martin
Humphrey Burton Humphrey Burton
Roy Scheider Roy Scheider
Betty Buckley Betty Buckley
Lucie Arnaz Lucie Arnaz
Sam Phillips Sam Phillips
James Levine James Levine
Saul Chaplin Saul Chaplin

Creators

Susan Lacy Susan Lacy Creator

American Masters Videos

Official Trailer | Flannery | American Masters | PBS

Info about American Masters

Current Status: Returning Series

Network: PBS

Genres: Documentary, Music, History, Biography

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