American Masters 1986
- Status
- Returning Series
- First Aired
- June 23, 1986
- Last Aired
- March 17, 2026
- Format
- 40 seasons · 311 eps
- Total Runtime
- ~466.5 hours (90 min/ep)
- Highest Rated Episode
- S3E2 "A Duke Named Ellington" (★ 10/10)
- Created By
- Susan Lacy
- Network
- PBS
- Where to Stream
- YouTube TV, PBS, Thirteen
What is American Masters?
American Masters is a PBS television series that explores the lives of influential figures in American culture. The show focuses on enduring writers, musicians, visual and performing artists, dramatists, filmmakers, and others who have made significant contributions to the United States' cultural landscape.
- Type
- TV series
- Year
- 1986
- Status
- Returning Series
- Episodes
- 311
- Runtime
- 90 minutes
- First aired
- Jun 23, 1986
- Last aired
- Mar 17, 2026
- Original language
- EN
- Origin
- US
- Networks
- PBS
- Genres
- Documentary
- Updated
At a glance
- Rating
- ★ TMDB users: 7.0/10 from 25 votes
- Format
- 40 seasons · 311 episodes
- Episode runtime
- ~90 minutes
- Status
- Returning Series
- Network
- PBS
Where to watch in United States
Stream
Free
With ads
Streaming availability data provided by JustWatch via TMDB. Availability changes by country and date; verify on the provider before subscribing or purchasing.
How long to binge?
Estimate the schedule using 311 episodes and an average 90-minute runtime.
Trailer
Overview
American Masters is a PBS television series that explores the lives of influential figures in American culture. The show focuses on enduring writers, musicians, visual and performing artists, dramatists, filmmakers, and others who have made significant contributions to the United States' cultural landscape. Produced by WNET in New York City, the series presents biographical documentaries that celebrate the achievements and lasting impact of its subjects. Through in-depth storytelling, American Masters provides insight into the personal and professional journeys of individuals whose work has shaped American arts and culture. The program has covered a wide range of notable personalities, reflecting the diversity and richness of creative expression in the country. Episodes are available through PBS platforms, offering audiences access to detailed explorations of cultural icons. The series continues to honor those who have left an indelible mark on American society through their artistic and creative contributions.
Should you watch it?
“This PBS series explores the lives and legacies of influential figures in American arts and culture.”
- in-depth artist profiles
- historical cultural context
- subject matter is academic
- pacing is deliberate
Watch it if you are interested in learning about the individuals who shaped the American cultural landscape.
The series features biographical content suitable for general audiences interested in the arts.
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Your verdict
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Cast
Episode guide
Spoiler-Safe Browsing Progress
Season 1 · 12 episodes
Open the complete Season 1 guide & lore primer →- E1 Private Conversations: On the Set of 'Death of a Salesman' Mytharc Jun 23, 1986
- E2 Philip Johnson, Self Portrait Core Jun 30, 1986
- E3 Katherine Anne Porter: The Eye of Memory Core Jul 7, 1986
- E4 The Unknown Chaplin (1) Core Jul 14, 1986
- E5 The Unknown Chaplin (2) Core Jul 21, 1986
- E6 The Unknown Chaplin (3) Core Jul 28, 1986
- E7 Billie Holiday: The Long Night of Lady Day Core Aug 4, 1986
- E8 James Levine: A Life in Music Core Aug 11, 1986
- E9 Aaron Copland: A Self Portrait Core Aug 18, 1986
- E10 Thomas Eakins: A Motion Portrait Core Aug 25, 1986
- E11 Georgia O'Keeffe Mytharc Sep 1, 1986
- E12 Eugene O'Neill: A Glory of Ghosts Mytharc Sep 8, 1986
Season 2 · 10 episodes
Open the complete Season 2 guide & lore primer →- E1 Isaac in America: A Journey with Isaac Bashevis Singer Mytharc Jul 6, 1987
- E2 Directed by William Wyler Core Jul 13, 1987
- E3 Rubinstein Remembered Core Jul 20, 1987
- E4 Nik and Murray Core Jul 27, 1987
- E5 George Gershwin Remembered Core Aug 24, 1987
- E6 Maurice Sendak: Mon Cher Papa Core Aug 31, 1987
- E7 The Negro Ensemble Company Core Sep 14, 1987
- E8 Unanswered Prayers: The Life and Times of Truman Capote Core Sep 21, 1987
- E9 The Ten-Year Lunch: The Wit and Legend of the Algonquin Round Table Mytharc Sep 28, 1987
- E10 Buster Keaton: Hard Act to Follow Mytharc Nov 18, 1987
Season 3 · 8 episodes
Open the complete Season 3 guide & lore primer →- E1 Lillian Gish: The Actor's Life for Me Mytharc Jul 11, 1988
- E2 A Duke Named Ellington Core Jul 18, 1988
- E3 Andre Kertesz of the Cities Core Aug 8, 1988
- E4 Aretha Franklin: The Queen of Soul Core Aug 22, 1988
- E5 Rivera in America Core Aug 29, 1988
- E6 Saint-Gaudens: Masque of the Golden Bowl Core Sep 5, 1988
- E7 Neil Simon: Not Just for Laughs Mytharc Mar 8, 1989
- E8 Broadway's Dreamers: The Legacy of the Group Theatre Mytharc Jun 26, 1989
Season 4 · 10 episodes
Open the complete Season 4 guide & lore primer →- E1 Harold Clurman: A Life of Theatre Mytharc Jul 3, 1989
- E2 Stella Adler: Awake and Dream! Core Jul 10, 1989
- E3 Satchmo: The Life of Louis Armstrong Core Jul 31, 1989
- E4 James Baldwin: The Price of the Ticket Core Aug 14, 1989
- E5 Celebrating Bird: The Triumph of Charlie Parker Core Aug 17, 1989
- E6 Jasper Johns: Ideas in Paint Core Sep 11, 1989
- E7 Mort Sahl: The Loyal Opposition Core Sep 18, 1989
- E8 W. Eugene Smith: Photography Made Difficult Core Sep 25, 1989
- E9 Harold Lloyd: The Third Genius Mytharc Nov 15, 1989
- E10 Milos Forman: Portrait Mytharc Dec 20, 1989
Season 5 · 8 episodes
Open the complete Season 5 guide & lore primer →- E1 Preston Sturges: The Rise and Fall of an American Dreamer Mytharc Jul 2, 1990
- E2 John Cassavetes Core Jul 9, 1990
- E3 Martin Scorsese Directs Core Jul 16, 1990
- E4 You're the Top: The Cole Porter Story Core Jul 23, 1990
- E5 Edward R. Murrow: This Reporter Core Jul 30, 1990
- E6 John Hammond: From Bessie Smith to Bruce Springsteen Core Aug 20, 1990
- E7 Sanford Meisner: The American Theatre's Best Kept Secret Mytharc Aug 27, 1990
- E8 John Cage: I Have Nothing to Say and I Am Saying It Mytharc Sep 17, 1990
Season 6 · 9 episodes
Open the complete Season 6 guide & lore primer →- E1 Helen Hayes: First Lady of the American Theatre Mytharc Jul 1, 1991
- E2 Miracle on 44th Street: A Portrait of the Actor's Studio Core Jul 8, 1991
- E3 A. Einstein: How I See the World Core Jul 22, 1991
- E4 Sarah Vaughan: The Divine One Core Jul 29, 1991
- E5 Frederic Remington: The Truth of Other Days Core Aug 5, 1991
- E6 Menuhin: A Family Portrait Core Aug 12, 1991
- E7 Robert Motherwell and the New York School Core Aug 26, 1991
- E8 Ray Charles: The Genius of Soul Mytharc Jan 3, 1992
- E9 Waldo Salt: A Screenwriter's Journey Mytharc May 1, 1992
Season 7 · 3 episodes
Open the complete Season 7 guide & lore primer →- E1 Paul Simon: Born at the Right Time Mytharc Mar 14, 1993
- E2 George Lucas: Heroes, Myths & Magic Core Mar 17, 1993
- E3 D.W. Griffith: Father of Film Mytharc Mar 24, 1993
Season 8 · 2 episodes
Open the complete Season 8 guide & lore primer →- E1 Benny Goodman: Adventures in the Kingdom of Swing Mytharc Dec 8, 1993
- E2 Martha Graham: The Dancer Revealed Mytharc May 13, 1994
Season 9 · 4 episodes
Open the complete Season 9 guide & lore primer →- E1 Rediscovering Will Rogers Mytharc Nov 30, 1994
- E2 Tennessee Williams: Orpheus of the American Stage Core Dec 19, 1994
- E3 Placido Domingo: A Musical Life Core Feb 15, 1995
- E4 Edgar Allan Poe: Terror of the Soul Mytharc Mar 22, 1995
Season 10 · 5 episodes
Open the complete Season 10 guide & lore primer →- E1 Rod Serling: Submitted for Your Approval Mytharc Nov 29, 1995
- E2 William Styron: The Way of the Writer Core Jan 22, 1996
- E3 Richard Avedon: Darkness and Light Core Jan 24, 1996
- E4 Buckminster Fuller: Thinking Out Loud Core Apr 10, 1996
- E5 Nichols and May: Take Two Mytharc May 22, 1996
Season 11 · 5 episodes
Open the complete Season 11 guide & lore primer →- E1 Lena Horne: In Her Own Voice Mytharc Nov 25, 1996
- E2 Danny Kaye: A Legacy of Laughter Core Dec 10, 1996
- E3 Man Ray: Prophet of the Avant-Garde Core Apr 9, 1997
- E4 Jack Paar: As I Was Saying Core May 7, 1997
- E5 Isamu Noguchi: Stones and Paper Mytharc Jun 25, 1997
Season 12 · 6 episodes
Open the complete Season 12 guide & lore primer →- E1 The Life and Times of Allen Ginsberg Mytharc Sep 17, 1997
- E2 Vaudeville Core Nov 26, 1997
- E3 Billy Wilder: the Human Comedy Core Feb 4, 1998
- E4 Lou Reed: Rock and Roll Heart Core Apr 29, 1998
- E5 Don Hewitt: 90 Minutes on 60 Minutes Mytharc May 1, 1998
- E6 Alexander Calder Mytharc Jun 17, 1998
Season 13 · 7 episodes
Open the complete Season 13 guide & lore primer →- E1 Leonard Bernstein: Reaching for the Note Mytharc Oct 28, 1998
- E2 The Line King: Al Hirschfeld Core Jan 6, 1999
- E3 Paul Robeson: Here I Stand Core Feb 24, 1999
- E4 Robert Rauschenberg: Inventive Genius Core Apr 7, 1999
- E5 The Lives of Lillian Hellman Core Jun 30, 1999
- E6 Dashiell Hammett: Detective, Writer Mytharc Jun 30, 1999
- E7 Yours for a Song: The Women of Tin Pan Alley Mytharc Aug 18, 1999
Season 14 · 7 episodes
Open the complete Season 14 guide & lore primer →- E1 Hitchcock, Selznick and the End of Hollywood Mytharc Nov 1, 1999
- E2 Norman Rockwell: Painting America Core Nov 24, 1999
- E3 Ella Fitzgerald: Something to Live For Core Dec 8, 1999
- E4 Paul Taylor: Dancemaker Core Jan 5, 2000
- E5 Sidney Poitier: One Bright Light Core Feb 2, 2000
- E6 Isaac Stern: Life's Virtuoso Mytharc Apr 13, 2000
- E7 The Source: The Story of the Beats and the Beat Generation Mytharc May 31, 2000
Season 15 · 8 episodes
Open the complete Season 15 guide & lore primer →- E1 Clint Eastwood: Out of the Shadows Mytharc Sep 27, 2000
- E2 Mailer On Mailer Core Oct 4, 2000
- E3 On Cukor Core Nov 22, 2000
- E4 Lucille Ball: Finding Lucy Core Dec 3, 2000
- E5 Bob Marley: Rebel Music Core Feb 14, 2001
- E6 A Conversation with Gregory Peck Core Apr 9, 2001
- E7 Alfred Stieglitz: The Eloquent Eye Mytharc Apr 16, 2001
- E8 Coming to Light: Edward S. Curtis and the North American Indians Mytharc Apr 23, 2001
Season 16 · 8 episodes
Open the complete Season 16 guide & lore primer →- E1 Goldwyn: The Man and His Movies Mytharc Oct 7, 2001
- E2 F. Scott Fitzgerald: Winter Dreams Core Oct 14, 2001
- E3 Richard Rodgers: The Sweetest Sounds Core Oct 21, 2001
- E4 Quincy Jones: In the Pocket Core Nov 18, 2001
- E5 Good Rockin' Tonight: The Legacy of Sun Records Core Nov 28, 2001
- E6 Merce Cunningham: A Lifetime of Dance Core Dec 16, 2001
- E7 Ralph Ellison: An American Journey Mytharc Feb 19, 2002
- E8 Gene Kelly: Anatomy of a Dancer Mytharc Mar 1, 2002
Season 17 · 8 episodes
Open the complete Season 17 guide & lore primer →- E1 Willie Nelson: Still Is Still Moving Mytharc Oct 2, 2002
- E2 Lon Chaney: A Thousand Faces Core Oct 30, 2002
- E3 Juilliard Core Jan 29, 2003
- E4 Alice Waters and her Delicious Revolution Core Mar 19, 2003
- E5 Joni Mitchell: A Woman of Heart and Mind Core Apr 2, 2003
- E6 Muddy Waters: Can't Be Satisfied Core Apr 23, 2003
- E7 Robert Capa: In Love and War Mytharc May 28, 2003
- E8 The Education of Gore Vidal Mytharc Jul 30, 2003
Season 18 · 8 episodes
Open the complete Season 18 guide & lore primer →- E1 Arthur Miller, Elia Kazan and the Blacklist Mytharc Sep 3, 2003
- E2 James Brown: Soul Survivor Core Oct 29, 2003
- E3 Cary Grant: A Class Apart Core Jan 7, 2004
- E4 Balanchine Core Jan 14, 2004
- E5 Judy Garland: By Myself Core Feb 25, 2004
- E6 Henry Luce and Time-Life's America: A Vision of Empire Core Apr 28, 2004
- E7 Hank Williams: Honky Tonk Blues Mytharc Jun 23, 2004
- E8 Julia! America's Favorite Chef Mytharc Aug 18, 2004
Season 19 · 8 episodes
Open the complete Season 19 guide & lore primer →- E1 James Dean: Sense Memories Mytharc May 11, 2005
- E2 Sweet Honey in the Rock: Raise Your Voice Core Jun 29, 2005
- E3 George Stevens: A Filmmaker's Journey Core Jul 13, 2005
- E4 Bob Newhart: Unbuttoned Core Jul 20, 2005
- E5 Willa Cather: The Road is All Core Sep 7, 2005
- E6 Ernest Hemingway: Rivers to the Sea Core Sep 14, 2005
- E7 Bob Dylan: No Direction Home (1) Mytharc Sep 26, 2005
- E8 Bob Dylan: No Direction Home (2) Mytharc Sep 27, 2005
Season 20 · 9 episodes
Open the complete Season 20 guide & lore primer →- E1 John Ford/John Wayne: The Filmmaker and the Legend Mytharc May 10, 2006
- E2 The World of Nat King Cole Core May 17, 2006
- E3 Woodie Guthrie: Ain't Got No Home Core Jul 12, 2006
- E4 Marilyn Monroe: Still Life Core Jul 19, 2006
- E5 Walter Cronkite: Witness to History Core Jul 26, 2006
- E6 Andy Warhol: A Documentary (Part 1) Mytharc Sep 20, 2006
- E7 Andy Warhol: A Documentary (Part 2) Mytharc Sep 21, 2006
- E8 Sketches of Frank Gehry Mytharc Sep 27, 2006
- E9 Annie Leibovitz: Life Through a Lens Mytharc Jan 3, 2007
Season 21 · 9 episodes
Open the complete Season 21 guide & lore primer →- E1 Novel Reflections on the American Dream Mytharc Apr 4, 2007
- E2 Atlantic Records: The House That Ahmet Built Core Apr 11, 2007
- E3 Les Paul: Chasing Sound Core Jul 11, 2007
- E4 David Hockney: The Colors of Music Core Jul 18, 2007
- E5 John James Audubon: Drawn From Nature Core Jul 25, 2007
- E6 Tony Bennett: The Music Never Ends Core Sep 12, 2007
- E7 Orozco: Man of Fire Core Sep 19, 2007
- E8 Good Ol' Charles Schulz Mytharc Oct 29, 2007
- E9 Carol Burnett: A Woman of Character Mytharc Nov 5, 2007
Season 22 · 9 episodes
Open the complete Season 22 guide & lore primer →- E1 Pete Seeger: The Power of Song Mytharc Feb 27, 2008
- E2 Zora Neale Hurston: Jump at the Sun Core Apr 9, 2008
- E3 Marvin Gaye: What's Going On Core May 7, 2008
- E4 You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story: You Ain't Heard Nothin' Yet (1923-1935) Core Sep 23, 2008
- E5 You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story: Good War, Uneasy Peace (1935-1950) Core Sep 23, 2008
- E6 You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story: A New Reality (1950-1970) Core Sep 24, 2008
- E7 You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story: Woodstock Notions (1970-1989) Core Sep 24, 2008
- E8 You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story: The Big Tent (1980-Present) Mytharc Sep 25, 2008
- E9 The Brothers Warner Mytharc Sep 25, 2008
Season 23 · 8 episodes
Open the complete Season 23 guide & lore primer →- E1 Jerome Robbins: Something to Dance About Mytharc Feb 18, 2009
- E2 Glass: A Portrait of Philip in Twelve Parts Core Apr 8, 2009
- E3 Hollywood Chinese Core May 27, 2009
- E4 Neil Young: Don't Be Denied Core Jun 10, 2009
- E5 Garrison Keillor: The Man on the Radio in the Red Shoes Core Jul 1, 2009
- E6 Trumbo Core Sep 2, 2009
- E7 Joan Baez: How Sweet the Sound Mytharc Oct 14, 2009
- E8 Louisa May Alcott: the Woman Behind 'Little Women' Mytharc Dec 28, 2009
Season 24 · 8 episodes
Open the complete Season 24 guide & lore primer →- E1 Sam Cooke: Crossing Over Mytharc Jan 11, 2010
- E2 I.M. Pei: Building China Modern Core Mar 31, 2010
- E3 The Doors: When You're Strange Core May 12, 2010
- E4 Merle Haggard: Learning to Live with Myself Core Jun 21, 2010
- E5 Cachao: Uno Más Core Sep 20, 2010
- E6 A Letter to Elia Core Oct 4, 2010
- E7 Lennon NYC Mytharc Nov 22, 2010
- E8 Genius Within: The Inner Life of Glenn Gould Mytharc Dec 27, 2010
Season 25 · 9 episodes
Open the complete Season 25 guide & lore primer →- E1 Jeff Bridges: The Dude Abides Mytharc Jan 12, 2011
- E2 Troubadors: Carole King/James Taylor & the Rise of the Singer-Songwriter Mytharc Mar 2, 2011
- E3 John Muir in the New World Core Apr 18, 2011
- E4 James Levine: America's Maestro Core Jun 1, 2011
- E5 Pearl Jam Twenty Core Oct 21, 2011
- E6 Bill T. Jones: A Good Man Core Nov 11, 2011
- E7 Woody Allen: A Documentary (1) Core Nov 20, 2011
- E8 Woody Allen: A Documentary (2) Mytharc Nov 21, 2011
- E9 Charles & Ray Eames: The Architect and the Painter Mytharc Dec 29, 2011
Season 26 · 8 episodes
Open the complete Season 26 guide & lore primer →- E1 Phil Ochs: There But for Fortune Mytharc Jan 23, 2012
- E2 Cab Calloway: Sketches Core Feb 27, 2012
- E3 Margaret Mitchell: American Rebel Core Apr 2, 2012
- E4 Harper Lee: Hey, Boo Core Apr 2, 2012
- E5 Johnny Carson: King of Late Night Core May 14, 2012
- E6 The Day Carl Sandburg Died Core Sep 24, 2012
- E7 Inventing David Geffen Mytharc Nov 20, 2012
- E8 Joffrey: Mavericks of American Dance Mytharc Dec 28, 2012
Season 27 · 5 episodes
Open the complete Season 27 guide & lore primer →- E1 Sister Rosetta Tharpe: The Godmother of Rock & Roll Mytharc Feb 22, 2013
- E2 Philip Roth: Unmasked Core Mar 29, 2013
- E3 Mel Brooks: Make a Noise Mytharc May 20, 2013
- E4 Billie Jean King Core Sep 10, 2013
- E5 Jimi Hendrix: Hear My Train a Comin' Mytharc Nov 5, 2013
Season 28 · 10 episodes
Open the complete Season 28 guide & lore primer →- E1 Marvin Hamlisch: What He Did for Love Mytharc Dec 27, 2013
- E2 Salinger Core Jan 21, 2014
- E3 Alice Walker: Beauty in Truth Core Feb 7, 2014
- E4 A Fierce Green Fire Core Apr 22, 2014
- E5 Plimpton! Starring George Plimpton as Himself Core May 16, 2014
- E6 Tanaquil Le Clercq: Afternoon of a Faun Core Jun 20, 2014
- E7 Dorothea Lange: Grab a Hunk of Lightning Core Aug 29, 2014
- E8 Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work Core Sep 23, 2014
- E9 The Boomer List Mytharc Sep 23, 2014
- E10 Bing Crosby Rediscovered Mytharc Dec 2, 2014
Season 29 · 8 episodes
Open the complete Season 29 guide & lore primer →- E1 Ricky Jay: Deceptive Practice Mytharc Jan 23, 2015
- E2 August Wilson: The Ground on Which I Stand Core Feb 20, 2015
- E3 Jascha Heifetz: God's Fiddler Core Apr 16, 2015
- E4 American Ballet Theatre: A History Core May 15, 2015
- E5 Harper Lee Core Jul 10, 2015
- E6 Althea Core Sep 4, 2015
- E7 Pedro E. Guerrero: A Photographer's Journey Mytharc Sep 18, 2015
- E8 The Women's List Mytharc Sep 25, 2015
Season 30 · 9 episodes
Open the complete Season 30 guide & lore primer →- E1 Mike Nichols Mytharc Jan 29, 2016
- E2 B.B. King: The Life of Riley Core Feb 12, 2016
- E3 Carole King: Natural Woman Core Feb 19, 2016
- E4 Fats Domino and the Birth of Rock 'n' Roll Core Feb 26, 2016
- E5 Loretta Lynn: Still a Mountain Girl Core Mar 4, 2016
- E6 Janis: Little Girl Blue Core May 3, 2016
- E7 The Highwaymen: Friends Till the End Core May 27, 2016
- E8 Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You Mytharc Oct 25, 2016
- E9 Eero Saarinen: The Architect Who Saw the Future Mytharc Dec 27, 2016
Frequently asked questions
What is American Masters?
It is a PBS television series that produces biographies on significant contributors to American culture.
Who is featured in the series?
The series profiles writers, musicians, visual and performing artists, dramatists, and filmmakers.
What is the focus of the biographies?
Each episode focuses on individuals who have left an indelible impression on the cultural landscape of the United States.
Is this a documentary series?
Yes, the series produces biographies documenting the lives and work of enduring creative figures.
Where can I watch this series?
The series is broadcast on PBS.
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