A behind-the-scenes look at the filming of Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman for television.

Private Conversations: On the Set of 'Death of a Salesman'

One of America's best-known architects is profiled, with emphasis on his early career and his later movement away from minimalism.

Philip Johnson, Self Portrait

A biography of the well-known social critic and author Katherine Anne Porter.

Katherine Anne Porter: The Eye of Memory

An in-depth treatment of the life and sensibilities of the innovative silent film superstar Charlie Chaplin.

The Unknown Chaplin (1)

The Unknown Chaplin (2)

The Unknown Chaplin (3)

A biography of Billie Holiday, one of America's most unique and emotional jazz singers and the tragic end of her life at an early age.

Billie Holiday: The Long Night of Lady Day

The musical career of the long-time conductor of New York City's Metropolitan Opera as reflected by following his normal working day on camera.

James Levine: A Life in Music

One of America's signature classical composers and the unique elements he incorporated into his pieces.

Aaron Copland: A Self Portrait

The strikingly realistic and unsentimental paintings of the noted artist from Philadelphia.

Thomas Eakins: A Motion Portrait

A profile of the noted American artist originally produced to celebrate her 90th birthday.

Georgia O'Keeffe

Eugene O'Neill: A Glory of Ghosts

A profile of the literary work of Isaac Bashevis Singer and his influence on preserving Jewish culture and the Yiddish language.

Isaac in America: A Journey with Isaac Bashevis Singer

A retrospective on the rich legacy of cinema directed by Wyler with clips and commentary.

Directed by William Wyler

A trip through the life and works of the piano virtuoso Arthur Rubinstein conducted by his son John.

Rubinstein Remembered

A story of two talented personalities, Alwin Nikolais and Murray Louis, and their collaborations in the world of dance.

Nik and Murray

The music of the unique American master composer (as well as his brother Ira) with insights from his collaborators and friends.

George Gershwin Remembered

An installment that shows the author and illustrator at work staging a production of a Mozart opera.

Maurice Sendak: Mon Cher Papa

An ode to the work of the African American theater group founded in the late 60s and its impact on the performing arts.

The Negro Ensemble Company

The evolution of the novelist and his impact on other artists and American culture.

Unanswered Prayers: The Life and Times of Truman Capote

A history of the famed social gathering of leaders, intellectuals, writers, and artists.

The Ten-Year Lunch: The Wit and Legend of the Algonquin Round Table

The story of the silent-era star who brought brilliance and originality to physical comedy.

Buster Keaton: Hard Act to Follow

The famed career of the silent movie actress and an examination of the role of women in film during that era of American cinema.

Lillian Gish: The Actor's Life for Me

Detailed biography of the renowned jazz performer/conductor Duke Ellington and his band, including his easy-going grace and sophistication.

A Duke Named Ellington

A retrospective of the urban photography of Andre Kertesz, told by tracking him in the final years before his death.

Andre Kertesz of the Cities

Franklin's life - from gospel to Grammy Awards.

Aretha Franklin: The Queen of Soul

The murals and politics of the famed Mexican artist Diego Rivera.

Rivera in America

A dramatic recreation of the work and career of a renowned sculptor, Augustus Saint-Gaudens

Saint-Gaudens: Masque of the Golden Bowl

The whimsical work of the beloved playwright.

Neil Simon: Not Just for Laughs

Broadway's Dreamers: The Legacy of the Group Theatre

The life of the renowned Broadway director and arts critic, as well as co-founder of New York's Group Theatre.

Harold Clurman: A Life of Theatre

A retrospective on the career of one of America's finest teachers of acting technique.

Stella Adler: Awake and Dream!

The evolution and extraordinary musical creations of the nation's best-known jazz musician.

Satchmo: The Life of Louis Armstrong

The noted author, his battles against racism, and its expression in his books.

James Baldwin: The Price of the Ticket

A biographical documentary on the short-lived career of brilliant jazz musician Charlie Parker. Features his only television appearance and rare concert footage. Includes cameos by such greats as Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonius Monk, and Charles Mingus.

Celebrating Bird: The Triumph of Charlie Parker

The mind of a famed neo-abstractionist painter as it expresses itself on canvas.

Jasper Johns: Ideas in Paint

The biting comedic satire of Mort Sahl and his rise to prominence in the 1960s.

Mort Sahl: The Loyal Opposition

The work of the provacative photographer for Life magazine.

W. Eugene Smith: Photography Made Difficult

Profile of the comedy standout from the silent era who is often mentioned third behind Chaplin and Keaton.

Harold Lloyd: The Third Genius

The movies of the Academy Award-winning motion picture maker.

Milos Forman: Portrait

The life of the famous director and scriptwriter, from his writings for the stage to his Hollywood acclaim.

Preston Sturges: The Rise and Fall of an American Dreamer

A documentary that follows the varied career of the noted film director.

John Cassavetes

Interviews and film clips document the hard-hitting film work of Scorsese.

Martin Scorsese Directs

The career of Porter as seen through filmed versions of his work and commentary from performance stars.

You're the Top: The Cole Porter Story

The fascinating life of the model for the "hard-boiled" radio and television journalist.

Edward R. Murrow: This Reporter

A documentary on the 50 year career of a legendary producer of recording artists and musicians.

John Hammond: From Bessie Smith to Bruce Springsteen

The work of an acting coach and instructor who had a profound impact on the American stage.

Sanford Meisner: The American Theatre's Best Kept Secret

The outrageously odd and original compositions of an avant-garde musician.

John Cage: I Have Nothing to Say and I Am Saying It

A chronicle of the extraordinary actress and those who were influenced by her universally-respected work.

Helen Hayes: First Lady of the American Theatre

Inside the workings of the mecca of "method acting" techniques.

Miracle on 44th Street: A Portrait of the Actor's Studio

The life of the creative and imaginative physicist and his thoughts and writings after coming to the United States.

A. Einstein: How I See the World

A look at the soulful interpretations of the remarkable singer, mostly through filmed performances.

Sarah Vaughan: The Divine One

The artistic career of a painter and sculptor who defined western art and influenced America's ideas of the west.

Frederic Remington: The Truth of Other Days

The story of an American violin virtuoso, Yehudi Menuhin.

Menuhin: A Family Portrait

A biography of the artist Motherwell and the growth of abstract expressionism in New York City.

Robert Motherwell and the New York School

The obstacles overcome in the magnificent career of the famed musician.

Ray Charles: The Genius of Soul

Documentary on the writer who made his way back from the entertainment industry "blacklist" and became an acclaimed success.

Waldo Salt: A Screenwriter's Journey

The career and collaborations of Simon's 30 years in the music business.

Paul Simon: Born at the Right Time

An examination of the thinking and techniques used by one of America's most-celebrated movie makers.

George Lucas: Heroes, Myths & Magic

A look at the innovator of primary motion picture techniques that are still important today and the controversy surrounding his beliefs.

D.W. Griffith: Father of Film

The life of the clarinetist and band leader known as the "King of Swing".

Benny Goodman: Adventures in the Kingdom of Swing

A documentary of the masterful American dancer.

Martha Graham: The Dancer Revealed

The life of the famed commentator on the American condition and his style of humor.

Rediscovering Will Rogers

The plays of a master of portraying human relations and the shades of love and hate.

Tennessee Williams: Orpheus of the American Stage

The rise of one of the world's most powerful and accomplished tenors and his great performances.

Placido Domingo: A Musical Life

An examination of the author's life and a look at the specifics of some of his written works.

Edgar Allan Poe: Terror of the Soul

A documentary on the man who pioneered the use of early television for dramatic storytelling.

Rod Serling: Submitted for Your Approval

A retrospective on the author's writings including commentary from his professional associates.

William Styron: The Way of the Writer

“All photographs are accurate. None of them is the truth.”

–Richard Avedon

The notable images of one of the nation's most famous fashion photographers.

Richard Avedon: Darkness and Light

An examination of the visionary and thinker and his most famous ideas.

Buckminster Fuller: Thinking Out Loud

A chronicle of the 1950s comedy team and the short-lived but memorable career of the duo.

Nichols and May: Take Two

A biography of the famed singer including her first big breaks in show business.

Lena Horne: In Her Own Voice

A portrait of a masterful and versatile member of the entertainment industry for decades.

Danny Kaye: A Legacy of Laughter

Biography of a multi-media artist and his ground-breaking works of artistic expression.

Man Ray: Prophet of the Avant-Garde

A feature on the career of the famed television host and how he entered and left the TV industry.

Jack Paar: As I Was Saying

The free-flowing design and sculpture of a man influenced by Asian sensibilities.

Isamu Noguchi: Stones and Paper

The poetry of the noted "beat generation" poet and the post World War II lifestyle and values reflected within his works.

The Life and Times of Allen Ginsberg

The origins and growth of a unique form of live entertainment in the 20th century.

Vaudeville

A profile of writer-director Billy Wilder.

Billy Wilder: the Human Comedy

Profile of one of the major leaders of new directions in rock music.

Lou Reed: Rock and Roll Heart

The work of Don Hewitt in the CBS news department and the story of the long-running new magazine 60 Minutes.

Don Hewitt: 90 Minutes on 60 Minutes

A biography of the acclaimed sculptor known for his mobiles and large public art pieces.

Alexander Calder

Chronicle of the achievements of the noted composer and conductor of popular and classical music.

Leonard Bernstein: Reaching for the Note

An in-depth look at the famous art and caricatures of Al Hirschfeld.

The Line King: Al Hirschfeld

Documentary about the life of Paul Robeson: actor, scholar, and rights activist.

Paul Robeson: Here I Stand

The boundaries broken by the innovative experimental artist.

Robert Rauschenberg: Inventive Genius

The politics and writings of the noted 20th century woman.

The Lives of Lillian Hellman

A profile of an author as mysterious as some of his well-known detective stories.

Dashiell Hammett: Detective, Writer

A story of the women who created some of Broadway's most memorable songs.

Yours for a Song: The Women of Tin Pan Alley

A chronicle of the clash between two film-making legends when they tried to work together in the 1940s.

Hitchcock, Selznick and the End of Hollywood

A presentation of the award-winning PBS series American Masters, Norman Rockwell: Painting America etches a warm and indelible portrait of one of America's most beloved artists.

Norman Rockwell: Painting America

Profile of the well-known jazz singer, from early band performances and "scat" to her solo career.

Ella Fitzgerald: Something to Live For

The story of a choreographer who contributed much to the style of American performance dance in the modern era.

Paul Taylor: Dancemaker

A biography of one of the first African-American actors to regularly star in mainstream movies.

Sidney Poitier: One Bright Light

An installment on the violin master with comments from his musical colleagues.

Isaac Stern: Life's Virtuoso

A chronicle of the artistic expression of the counter-culture movement.

The Source: The Story of the Beats and the Beat Generation

Profile of the actor who rose from niche westerns to movie industry fame and influence.

Clint Eastwood: Out of the Shadows

The American writer Norman Mailer and his bristling personality - in his own words.

Mailer On Mailer

A profile of the half-century career of George Cukor, one of the most beloved motion picture directors and producers, and the impact he had on those in the industry.

On Cukor

The incredible career of Lucille Ball, from youth through the movies, from television star to media mogul. Some of the personalities that comment in this film include Fran Drescher, Van Johnson, Dick Martin, Edie Adams, and Carol Burnett. This episode won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Non-Fiction Program.

Lucille Ball: Finding Lucy

American Masters is a PBS television series which produces biographies on enduring writers, musicians, visual and performing artists, dramatists, filmmakers, and others who have left an indelible impression on the cultural landscape of the United States.

All Episodes of American Masters

Browse all episodes of American Masters

Season 1

Private Conversations: On the Set of 'Death of a Salesman'

Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 6/23/1986

Philip Johnson, Self Portrait

Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 6/30/1986

Katherine Anne Porter: The Eye of Memory

Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 7/7/1986

The Unknown Chaplin (1)

Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 7/14/1986

The Unknown Chaplin (2)

Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 7/21/1986

The Unknown Chaplin (3)

Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 7/28/1986

Billie Holiday: The Long Night of Lady Day

Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 8/4/1986

James Levine: A Life in Music

Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 8/11/1986

Aaron Copland: A Self Portrait

Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 8/18/1986

Thomas Eakins: A Motion Portrait

Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 8/25/1986

Georgia O'Keeffe

Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 9/1/1986

Eugene O'Neill: A Glory of Ghosts

Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 9/8/1986