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Ken Burns Biography

Birth Name:

Kenneth Lauren Burns

Birth Place:

Brooklyn, New York, United States

Profession

Filmmaker, director, producer, writer

Fast Facts

Started his production company, Florentine Films, at age 22
Received an Oscar nomination for producing his first documentary, Brooklyn Bridge, in 1981
In 1990, was the director, producer and music director for the series The Civil War, which won more than 40 television and film awards
His 1994 documentary, Baseball, became, at the time, the most watched series in PBS history with more than 45 million viewers
Became co-owner of the Restaurant at L
A
Burdick Chocolate, which opened in 2000
Popularized a filming technique known as the Ken Burns Effect that involves zooming in on photographs and panning across the subjects in the still images
Has received more than 20 honorary degrees from institutions such as Penn State University and the University of Michigan

2018Emmy-Outstanding Directing for Nonfiction Programming: nominated
2018BAFTA Television Awards-Best International: nominated
2017Directors Guild of America Awards-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary: nominated
2015Emmy-Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series: nominated
2015Producers Guild Awards-David L. Wolper Award for Outstanding Producer of Long-Form Television: nominated
2013Writers Guild Awards-Documentary Screenplay: nominated
2013Independent Spirit Awards-Best Documentary: nominated
2010Emmy-Outstanding Nonfiction Series: winner
2007Directors Guild of America Awards-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary: nominated
2005Emmy-Outstanding Directing for Nonfiction Programming: nominated
2005Emmy-Outstanding Non-Fiction Special: winner
2001Emmy-Outstanding Cinematography for Non-Fiction Programming: nominated
2001Emmy-Outstanding Non-Fiction Series (Informational): nominated
1995Emmy-Outstanding Informational Series: winner
1995Emmy-Outstanding Individual Achievement - Informational Programming: nominated
1992Emmy-Outstanding Informational Special: nominated
1992Emmy-Outstanding Informational Special: nominated
1991Emmy-Outstanding Informational Series: winner
1991Emmy-Outstanding Individual Achievement - Informational Programming: winner
1986Emmy-Outstanding Informational Special: nominated
1985Oscar-Best Documentary (Feature): nominated
1981Oscar-Best Documentary (Feature): nominated