Biography Season 8 Episodes

Episode 1

Carol Burnett: Just to Have a Laugh

Tue, May 28, 199660 mins

Episode 2

Jeffrey Dahmer: The Monster Within

Mon, Jun 3, 199650 mins

The Life of Cannibal and Serial Killer Jeffrey Dahmer.

Episode 3

Crime Special: Abduction of Jaycee Dugard

Sun, Oct 7, 2012

Episode 4

Sir Isaac Newton: The Gravity of Genius

Wed, Aug 7, 199660 mins

Episode 6

Gary Gilmore: A Fight to Die

Wed, Dec 11, 1996

Episode 7

The Boston Strangler

Thu, Jun 6, 199650 mins

Episode 8

Alexander Graham Bell: Voice of Invention

Tue, Aug 6, 199644 mins

His drive to help his deaf mother communicate led to one of the most important inventions of the 20th century.

Episode 9

Stonewall Jackson

Thu, Jul 11, 199643 mins

Civil War General Stonewall Jackson is profiled.

Episode 10

Dwight D. Eisenhower: Supreme Commander-in-Chief

120 mins

From the beaches of Normandy to the White House, follow the incredible career of one of the towering figures of the 20th century

Episode 11

Admiral Chester Nimitz: Thunder of the Pacific

Tue, Oct 15, 199645 mins

Documentary on Admiral Chester Nimitz, commander of US Naval forces in the Pacific during WW2. Given command of a shattered fleet after Japan's devastating surprise attack on Pearl Harbour, with meagre forces Nimitz managed to halt Japan's advance, dealing a decisive blow at Midway, then went on the offensive. Eventually he would lead the largest fleet the world has ever known and have a huge hand in Japan's ultimate defeat.

Episode 12

Mark Twain: His Amazing Adventures

Mon, Nov 11, 1996

Episode 13

Adam & Eve: Lost Innocence

Mon, Feb 12, 199646 mins

Trace the story of the world's first people and search for the mythical Garden of Eden with extensive footage from the Holy Land and interviews with biblical experts.

Episode 14

Samson & Delilah: Love and Betrayal

Tue, Feb 13, 199647 mins

He was a warrior so mighty that vast armies fell helpless before him. His strength, however, was no match for the seduction of her embrace. The Hebrew judge Samson was a man of terrifying strength and barbaric fury. Renowned for killing thousands with the jawbone of an ass, he was tamed not by great armies, but by the blazing eyes of the Philistine courtesan Delilah. Who was this mysterious woman who learned the mysterious secret of Samson's strength? Samson & Delilah: Love and Betrayal offers a comprehensive investigation into their dramatic story of passion and treachery, complete with stunning location footage, rare paintings and artifacts, and interviews with experts and biblical scholars. Biography adeptly illuminates the smoldering love of Samson & Delilah, one of the Bible's most tragic couples.

Episode 15

Mary of Nazareth: A Mother's Life

Tue, Dec 24, 1996

Episode 16

Amelia Earhart: Queen of the Air

Tue, Sep 24, 1996

Episode 17

Abraham Lincoln: Preserving the Union

Tue, Nov 5, 199660 mins

Episode 18

John F. Kennedy: A Personal Story

Sun, Nov 3, 1996

Episode 19

Theodore Roosevelt: Roughrider to Rushmore

Tue, Feb 20, 1996

Episode 20

Richard Nixon: Man and President

Sun, Jan 7, 1996

Episode 21

Lucky Luciano: Chairman of the Mob

Mon, Apr 8, 199650 mins

He wrote his name in blood on the sidewalks of New York and made himself the Boss of all Bosses. Arriving in America at the age of nine and embarking upon a life of crime at age 14, Charles "Lucky" Luciano rose through the ranks of the New York Mafia like a pistol shot. By the age of 34, he was running the Sicilian mob like a U.S. corporation diversifying the rackets, organizing the gangs and running his own political candidates. Examine Lucky's 30-year career as CEO of Murder, Inc. through rare interviews and extensive archival footage. Mob insiders recall the history-making meetings held in Luciano's Waldorf-Astoria headquarters. And naval records reveal how his top-secret war efforts earned him parole from a 50-year sentence.Journey into the dangerous world of La Cosa Nostra for the definitive portrait of one of the most notorious criminals in history.

Episode 22

Gypsy Rose Lee: Naked Ambition

Mon, Jan 1, 199660 mins

Gypsy Rose Lee become the most famous stripper in the world and as known as the Queen of Striptease. Feature interview of her only son and home movie clip of her.

Episode 23

The Beatles' Women

Mon, Feb 2, 2026

Episode 28

James Brown: The Godfather of Soul

Mon, Feb 5, 1996

Episode 29

Annette Funicello

Thu, Feb 8, 199660 mins

Episode 31

Rudolph Valentino: The Great Lover

Wed, Feb 14, 199690 mins

In December 1913, an Italian immigrant arrived in New York City with a degree in Agriculture and dreams for a better life. Few who knew him then could have imagined that only six years later, Rodolfo Guglielmi would become Rudolph Valentino, Hollywood's first male sex symbol. A successful career as a dancer led to bit roles in the movies. But Hollywood wasn't ready for a dark lover, so Valentino was typecast as the villain in most of his early films. His powerful portrayal of an unscrupulous Italian count in EYES OF YOUTH earned him the coveted lead role of Julio in THE FOUR HOURSEMEN OF THE APOCALYPSE. His sultry tango and tormented love scenes led to THE SHEIK. Almost overnight, he changed the face of leading men in America with his smoldering gaze and passionate embrace. But Valentino was much more than a sex symbol. He had a talent for comedy, spoke at least four languages, and was an avid collector of European antiques, books, fine cars and dogs. He was a skilled horseman, expert mechanic and serious amateur boxer. To his friends he was Rudy, a man of simple yet refined tastes who adored children and worshipped the women he loved. His tragic death at 31 caused riots and motivated suicides. His funerals in New York and Hollywood drew hundreds of thousands of mourners. And his fans only increased, as The Great Lover became a legend. Eighty years after his death, people still pack the chapel at Hollywood Forever on August 23rd for his annual memorial service, making it the longest running event in Hollywood. From his birth in Castellaneta, Italy, to his untimely death in New York City, Rudolph Valentino led a fascinating life marked by scandal, controversy and heartbreak. Join us for an intimate look at the man behind the icon.

Episode 32

Ronald Reagan: Role of a Lifetime

Thu, Feb 22, 1996

Episode 33

George Bush: His World War II Years.

Tue, Nov 24, 199244 mins

The men who served alongside him help bring to life the perilous World War II experiences that molded America's 41st Commander-In-Chief.

Episode 34

The Great Ziegfeld

Mon, Feb 26, 199655 mins

Florenz Ziegfeld becomes famous in the early 20th century for his extravagant theater productions.

Episode 35

Mussolini: Italy's Nightmare

Wed, Mar 6, 199660 mins

The career and personal life of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini. He quickly became one of Italy's most intelligent and menacing young Socialists. He broke with Italian Socialist Party after advocating intervention in World War I. In 1922, he became prime minister, and by 1925, he had established himself as dictator. His rule saw an official totalitarian system; the establishment of the Vatican state; the annexation of Abyssinia and Albania; and the formation of the Axis with Germany. His declaration of war on Britain and France was followed by a series of defeats in Africa and in the Balkans. Following the Allied invasion of Sicily, his supporters deserted him, and he was overthrown and arrested. Rescued from imprisonment by German paratroopers, he was placed in charge of the puppet Italian Social Repbulic, but in 1945 he was captured by the Italian Resistance and executed.

Episode 36

Joseph Stalin: Red Terror

Thu, Mar 7, 1996

Episode 37

John F. Kennedy Jr.: Child of a Dream

Thu, Mar 14, 1996

Episode 38

Burt Lancaster: Daring to Reach

Fri, Mar 15, 199658 mins

Born November 2, 1913, he went from street-wise tough to art-collector liberal-activist, from circus-acrobat hunk to Academy Award winner. Burton Stephen Lancaster - later Burt Lancaster - was one of five children of a New York City postal worker. Burt recalled family life as warm and mutually supportive. At the Union Settlement House, he and boyhood friend Nick Cravat formed an acrobatic team. By eighteen, Burt was 6'2'' and blessed with the athletic physique and dynamic good looks that helped make him famous. A basketball scholarship was not enough to keep him in NYU beyond his sophomore year. That's when he and the 5'2'' Cravat joined a circus, earning $3 weekly between them. A stint in the Army introduced Burt to acting and led him to Hollywood where his first release, The Killers (1946), propelled him to stardom at age 32. He took control of his own career and seldom faltered. He was married three times and had five children. Upon his death in 1994, four-time Academy Award-nominated Burt Lancaster was acknowledged as one of the greatest stars in the Hollywood firmament.

Episode 39

St. Patrick: Man, Myth & Magic

Sun, Mar 17, 1996

Episode 40

Arnold Schwarzenegger: Flex Appeal

Mon, Mar 18, 1996

It is not surprising that a man with a physique like Arnold Schwarzenegger became a great bodybuilder. What is surprising is the determination it took to get him to where he is. This program follows the story of the Austrian who revolutionized bodybuilding. Archival film footage shows Schwarzenegger's amazing physical prowess. The program shows how Schwarzenneger used that same focus, intelligence, and drive to become a Hollywood star. Not a natural actor, and with a heavy accent that was difficult to understand, Schwarzenneger applied himself until he achieved the same results in film that he had in bodybuilding. This inspirational story is accompanied by interviews with family, friends, and colleagues, and the indomitable Schwarzenneger himself.

Episode 41

Jamie Lee Curtis: Hollywood's Girl Next Door

Tue, Mar 19, 1996

Profiling actress Jamie Lee Curtis who was best known as the "Scream Queen" from the 1978 hit "Halloween".

Episode 42

Jim Carrey: The Joker's Wild

Thu, Mar 21, 1996

Episode 45

Moses and the Ten Commandments

Sun, Mar 31, 1996

Trace the story of the reluctant prophet who delivered his people from 2,000 years of bondage, and explore his very human frailties and failings.

Episode 46

Meyer Lansky: Mob Tycoon

Tue, Apr 9, 1996

Part of the documentary series examining the lives and careers of some of the most notorious gangsters in history. This volume looks at the life of Meyer Lansky, the financial brains behind Lucky Luciano's outfit. Lansky was responsible for creating the syndicated structures of modern organised crime, and this documentary includes rare archive footage and interviews to illuminate his shadowy career.

Episode 47

Hatfields & the McCoys: An American Feud

Mon, Apr 15, 1996

The story of the notorious American family blood feud.

Episode 49

Conrad Hilton: Innkeeper to the World

Mon, Apr 22, 199645 mins

Explore the rags-to-riches life of the Texas shopkeeper's son who built a billion-dollar hotel empire from the ground up, and became a high-society fixture.

Episode 50

Du Ponts: America's Wealthiest Family

Tue, Apr 23, 199660 mins

Episode 51

George Burns: One Hundred Years of Laughter

Mon, Apr 29, 1996

Episode 52

Bud Abbott & Lou Costello: Abbott & Costello Meet Biography

Mon, Apr 29, 1996

Episode 53

Mata Hari

Wed, Feb 2, 1994

Episode 54

Captain Bligh: Mutiny on the Bounty

Mon, May 6, 199650 mins

The famous commander of the Bounty has been immortalized in literature and film as the leader who was so onerous that his crew deposed him on the high seas. This documentary checks into the facts, and the factual Bligh is seen as much different person than the fictitious one. Journals, diaries, and the insights of scholars provide the facts of the actual mutiny.

Episode 55

John Paul Jones: Captain of the High Seas

Tue, May 7, 1996

During the American Revolutionary War, John Paul Jones becomes America's first naval hero.

Episode 56

Hugh Hefner: American Playboy

Sun, May 19, 1996

Episode 57

Jean Harlow: Platinum Bombshell

Mon, May 20, 1996

Jean Harlow never wanted to be a movie star, and died at 26 just as she was starting to enjoy it.

Episode 58

Fabulous World of Fabergé

Jeweller Peter Carl Faberge becomes famous for his jeweled Easter eggs commissioned by the Czar of Russia and prized by collectors.

Episode 59

The Phantom: Comic Strip Crusader

Fri, May 31, 1996

Episode 60

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Mon, Jun 10, 1996

Explores the life of Quasimodo, better known as the Hunchback of Notre Dame. The Hunchback was introduced to the world in French author Victor Hugo's 1831 novel, Notre-Dame de Paris (The Hunchback of Notre Dame). This novel, which portrays Paris life during Louis XI's reign, was a thinly-veiled criticism of French society: a society that, symbolized by the evil archdeacon Frollo and soldier Phoebus, is constantly tormenting the already downtrodden Quasimondo and his gypsy friend Esmerelda.

Episode 61

Henry VIII: Scandals of a King

Sun, Jun 16, 1996

Episode 62

Marie Antoinette: Tragic Queen

Mon, Jun 17, 1996

Episode 63

Richard the Lionheart

Wed, Jun 19, 1996

Episode 65

Zorro: Mark of the Z

Tue, Jun 25, 1996

Episode 66

Audie Murphy: Great American Hero

Mon, Jul 1, 199660 mins

This medal of Honor winner is profiled, describing events where this war hero held off 250 Germans and 6 tanks. This installment also describes his post-war stardom as an actor and writer.

Episode 67

Edward VIII: The Traitor King

Sun, Jul 14, 199698 mins

The man who may have given Hitler his first taste of appeasement.

Episode 68

William Shakespeare: A Life of Drama

Mon, Aug 26, 1996

Episode 69

Betty Boop: Queen of the Cartoons

Mon, Feb 2, 198746 mins

She first appeared on screen with the body of a woman and the head of a dog! Re-invented as 100% woman, the racy cartoon star became an American icon.

Episode 70

Solomon & Sheba: An Epic Love Story

Fri, Feb 14, 199745 mins

From his ascension to the throne at age 12 to the beautiful queen who finally won his heart, this is a richly detailed look at one of the towering figures of the Bible.

Episode 71

J. Pierpont Morgan: Emperor of Wall Street

Mon, Sep 9, 199650 mins

From his rise to power to his legendary battles with Theodore Roosevelt, this is the complete story of the legendary financier who twice saved the nation.

Episode 72

The Astors: High Society

Tue, Sep 10, 199647 mins

Their name is synonymous with wealth and glamour. Their saga is marked by five generations of tragedy, family feuds and philanthropy.

Episode 73

David and Goliath: A Biblical Battle

Mon, Sep 23, 199645 mins

Did David really slay Goliath? Who were the Philistines, ancient Israel's great enemy? Was Goliath really a giant? We'll travel back to Biblical times to answer these questions.

Episode 75

Tyrone Power: The Last Idol

Tue, Oct 1, 199645 mins

Ty Power wowed his leading ladies and his audiences, but rarely got the chance to show he was a serious actor rather than just a handsome face.

Episode 76

Edward G. Robinson: Little Big Man

Wed, Oct 2, 1996

Episode 77

Katharine Hepburn: On Her Own Terms

Fri, Oct 4, 199644 mins

Episode 78

Michael Douglas: Son of Spartacus

Mon, Oct 7, 1996

Episode 79

Robert E. Lee

Mon, Oct 14, 1996

Episode 81

Alice Faye: The Star Next Door

Thu, Oct 24, 199645 mins

Episode 82

Peter Lorre: The Master of Menace

Fri, Nov 1, 199650 mins

A&E examines the life of actor Peter Lorre, from a bohemian lifestyle in 1920s Berlin to studio contract player in 1930s Hollywood, his happiest years spent at Warners with comrades Humphrey Bogart and Sidney Greenstreet.

Episode 86

Frederick Douglass

Sat, Nov 16, 1996

The life, times, and accomplishments of American abolitionist leader Frederick Douglass.

Episode 87

Tarzan: The Legacy of Edgar Rice Burroughs

Mon, Nov 18, 199646 mins

The time: the nineteen teens. The problem: America's complacency. In All-Story weekly, complete in one issue, a new hero for all - the jungle lord Tarzan made his debut. This was only the second published story by Edgar Rice Burroughs, but was the beginning of an empire - of books, of things, and of the movies. This documentary looks at the creator through the eyes of friends and family, and follows his most famous creation from pulp fiction to comics to America's heart on the silver screen. From the silent era with Elmo Lincoln in Tarzan of the Apes (1918) to a Hayes office scandalized by the minimalist costume of 'Maureen O'Sullivan' in Tarzan and His Mate (1934) to Bo Derek as Jane in an R-rated jungle epic, Tarzan is a part of film heritage. And he continues today on television, with 'Joe Lara' as the hero and morphing monsters in a digitally-augmented setting.

Episode 88

Fidel Castro: El Comandante

Sat, Nov 23, 1996

Episode 89

Leonard Nimoy: Spock and Beyond

Fri, Nov 29, 1996

Biography of actor and director Leonard Nimoy, best known for his portrayal of Mr. Spock in the "Star Trek" series and movies.

Episode 90

Shirley Temple: The Biggest Little Star

Sun, Dec 8, 199690 mins

She debuted at age three and became a star at six when her mother landed her the lead role in Little Miss Marker, the box-office sensation of 1934. As America's princess, Shirley Temple captured the hearts of millions with her charm, youth, and talent.

Episode 91

Kathie Lee Gifford: Having It All

Mon, Dec 16, 199660 mins

Episode 93

Evita Peròn: The Woman Behind the Myth

Thu, Dec 26, 199660 mins

Episode 94

Arthur Godfrey: Broadcasting's Forgotten Giant

Mon, Dec 30, 199660 mins

Episode 96

Howard Stern 'Exposed'

Mon, Jul 29, 199660 mins

A look at Howard Stern's life and career from growing in Long Island to the making of his movie "Private Parts."

Episode 97

Earp Brothers: Lawmen of the West

Mon, Jul 22, 199645 mins

Ride along with the legendary lawmen and investigate the controversy that clouds the Earp's legacy--were they really a force for law and order in the Old West?

Episode 98

Christa McAuliffe: Teacher in Space

Mon, Jul 11, 1994

Episode 99

Buffalo Bill: Showman of the West

Fri, Jul 26, 199644 mins

Uncover the complete story of Buffalo Bill, whose life was as thrilling as the Wild West show that made him an American legend.