Actor
Ken Burns
- Born: 29 July 1953, Brooklyn, New York, USA
- Estimated net worth: $5 million
Ken Burns is a renowned documentary filmmaker known for his distinctive storytelling style and use of archival footage. He is best recognized for his works such as 'The Civil War' and 'Baseball.' His career spans several decades, earning him numerous…
Ken Burns: best films and shows
About Ken Burns
Ken Burns is a renowned documentary filmmaker known for his distinctive storytelling style and use of archival footage. He is best recognized for his works such as 'The Civil War' and 'Baseball.' His career spans several decades, earning him numerous accolades and a reputation as a leading voice in American documentary filmmaking.
- Born
- 29 July 1953, Brooklyn, New York, USA
- Height
- 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
- Spouses
- Julie Burns (1982-present)
- Children
- 2 children: Sarah Burns, Ken Burns Jr.
- Parents
- Robert Burns, Lyla Burns
- Estimated net worth
- $5 million
Fun facts about Ken Burns
- Ken Burns has a passion for history and often incorporates personal narratives into his documentaries.
- He has received multiple Emmy Awards and has been nominated for an Academy Award.
Famous Ken Burns quotes
“In a democracy, you get the government you deserve.”
“History is not just about the past; it’s about the present.”
“The American story is not a story of perfection.”
Ken Burns filmography
Cast (42)
| Year | Title | Character | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Ken Burns: One Nation, Many Stories Movie | Unknown character | |
| 2024 | In the Know TV | Self | 6.5 |
| 2023 | Spirit of Golf Movie | Self | |
| 2022 | The Unmaking of a College Movie | Self | 8.0 |
| 2021 | The Problem with Jon Stewart TV | Self | 7.2 |
| 2021 | Back on the Record with Bob Costas TV | Self | 6.0 |
| 2020 | Ken Burns: Here & There Movie | Himself | |
| 2020 | Here For A Good Time Movie | Self | |
| 2019 | Very Ralph Movie | Self | 6.3 |
| 2019 | Henry Louis Gates Jr.: Uncovering America Movie | Self - Director and Producer |
Show 32 more creditsShow fewer
Crew (126)
| Year | Title | Role | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Crime and Punishment in America TV | Executive Producer · Production | |
| 2026 | Henry David Thoreau TV | Creator · Creator | 1.0 |
| 2026 | Henry David Thoreau TV | Producer · Production | 1.0 |
| 2026 | Henry David Thoreau TV | Writer · Writing | 1.0 |
| 2026 | Henry David Thoreau TV | Director · Directing | 1.0 |
Show 121 more creditsShow fewer
| Year | Title | Role | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Henry David Thoreau Movie | Producer · Production | 9.3 |
| 2025 | The American Revolution TV | Producer · Production | 5.9 |
| 2025 | The American Revolution TV | Creator · Creator | 5.9 |
| 2025 | The American Revolution TV | Director · Directing | 5.9 |
| 2024 | Leonardo da Vinci TV | Executive Producer · Production | 7.6 |
| 2024 | Leonardo da Vinci TV | Creator · Crew | 7.6 |
| 2024 | Leonardo da Vinci TV | Director · Directing | 7.6 |
| 2024 | Leonardo da Vinci TV | Creator · Creator | 7.6 |
| 2023 | Homecoming Movie | Executive Producer · Production | |
| 2023 | The American Buffalo TV | Executive Producer · Production | 7.4 |
| 2023 | The American Buffalo TV | Producer · Production | 7.4 |
| 2023 | The American Buffalo TV | Director · Directing | 7.4 |
| 2022 | The U.S. and the Holocaust TV | Director · Directing | 8.3 |
| 2022 | The U.S. and the Holocaust TV | Creator · Creator | 8.3 |
| 2022 | The U.S. and the Holocaust TV | Producer · Production | 8.3 |
| 2022 | Hiding in Plain Sight: Youth Mental Illness TV | Executive Producer · Production | |
| 2022 | Benjamin Franklin TV | Director · Directing | 7.7 |
| 2022 | Benjamin Franklin TV | Producer · Production | 7.7 |
| 2021 | Muhammad Ali TV | Writer · Writing | 8.0 |
| 2021 | Muhammad Ali TV | Executive Producer · Production | 8.0 |
| 2021 | Muhammad Ali TV | Director · Directing | 8.0 |
| 2021 | De la poussière et des hommes TV | Director · Directing | 8.0 |
| 2021 | Hemingway TV | Producer · Production | 7.6 |
| 2021 | Hemingway TV | Director · Directing | 7.6 |
| 2020 | The Gene: An Intimate History TV | Producer · Production | 8.0 |
| 2020 | East Lake Meadows: A Public Housing Story Movie | Executive Producer · Production | 7.0 |
| 2020 | East Lake Meadows: A Public Housing Story Movie | Producer · Production | 7.0 |
| 2019 | College Behind Bars TV | Executive Producer · Production | 6.5 |
| 2019 | Country Music TV | Director · Directing | 7.4 |
| 2019 | Country Music TV | Executive Producer · Production | 7.4 |
| 2018 | The Mayo Clinic Movie | Director · Directing | 7.0 |
| 2018 | The Mayo Clinic Movie | Writer · Writing | 7.0 |
| 2018 | The Mayo Clinic Movie | Executive Producer · Production | 7.0 |
| 2017 | Walden Movie | Executive Producer · Production | 9.0 |
| 2017 | The Vietnam War TV | Producer · Production | 8.2 |
| 2017 | The Vietnam War TV | Executive Producer · Production | 8.2 |
| 2017 | The Vietnam War TV | Director · Directing | 8.2 |
| 2016 | Defying the Nazis: The Sharps' War Movie | Director · Directing | 6.9 |
| 2016 | Defying the Nazis: The Sharps' War Movie | Executive Producer · Production | 6.9 |
| 2016 | Jackie Robinson TV | Director · Directing | 7.0 |
| 2015 | Cancer: The Emperor of All Maladies TV | Producer · Production | 7.7 |
| 2014 | Interstellar Movie | Thanks · Crew | 8.5 |
| 2014 | The Roosevelts: An Intimate History TV | Director · Directing | 7.8 |
| 2014 | The Roosevelts: An Intimate History TV | Creator · Creator | 7.8 |
| 2014 | The Roosevelts: An Intimate History TV | Writer · Writing | 7.8 |
| 2014 | The Address Movie | Director · Directing | 5.8 |
| 2013 | Yosemite - A Gathering of Spirit Movie | Executive Producer · Production | |
| 2013 | Yosemite - A Gathering of Spirit Movie | Director · Directing | |
| 2013 | Yosemite - A Gathering of Spirit Movie | Cinematography · Crew | |
| 2013 | After the Central Park Five Movie | Director · Directing | |
| 2013 | After the Central Park Five Movie | Writer · Writing | |
| 2012 | The Dust Bowl TV | Director · Directing | 7.9 |
| 2012 | The Dust Bowl TV | Producer · Production | 7.9 |
| 2012 | The Central Park Five Movie | Director · Directing | 7.0 |
| 2012 | The Central Park Five Movie | Writer · Writing | 7.0 |
| 2012 | The Central Park Five Movie | Producer · Production | 7.0 |
| 2011 | Prohibition TV | Creator · Creator | 7.8 |
| 2011 | Prohibition TV | Producer · Production | 7.8 |
| 2011 | Prohibition TV | Director · Directing | 7.8 |
| 2011 | Prohibition TV | Executive Producer · Production | 7.8 |
| 2010 | Baseball: The Tenth Inning TV | Executive Producer · Production | 10.0 |
| 2010 | Baseball: The Tenth Inning TV | Director of Photography · Camera | 10.0 |
| 2010 | Baseball: The Tenth Inning TV | Director · Directing | 10.0 |
| 2010 | Baseball: The Tenth Inning TV | Creator · Creator | 10.0 |
| 2010 | Baseball: The Tenth Inning TV | Writer · Writing | 10.0 |
| 2010 | Baseball: The Tenth Inning TV | Producer · Production | 10.0 |
| 2010 | Baseball: The Tenth Inning Movie | Director · Directing | 8.0 |
| 2010 | Baseball: The Tenth Inning Movie | Writer · Writing | 8.0 |
| 2010 | Seeing, Searching, Being: William Segal Movie | Director · Directing | |
| 2009 | The National Parks: America's Best Idea TV | Producer · Production | 7.9 |
| 2009 | The National Parks: America's Best Idea TV | Director · Directing | 7.9 |
| 2007 | The War TV | Director · Directing | 8.1 |
| 2007 | The War TV | Executive Producer · Production | 8.1 |
| 2005 | Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson TV | Director · Directing | |
| 2005 | Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson TV | Producer · Production | |
| 2004 | Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson Movie | Director · Directing | 7.2 |
| 2003 | Horatio's Drive: America's First Road Trip Movie | Director · Directing | 7.7 |
| 2002 | Mark Twain TV | Director · Directing | 8.0 |
| 2002 | Mark Twain Movie | Director of Photography · Camera | 7.1 |
| 2002 | Mark Twain Movie | Director · Directing | 7.1 |
| 2002 | Mark Twain Movie | Producer · Production | 7.1 |
| 2001 | Jazz TV | Producer · Production | 7.4 |
| 2001 | Jazz TV | Director · Directing | 7.4 |
| 1999 | Not for Ourselves Alone: The Story of Elizabeth Cady Stanton & Susan B. Anthony TV | Director · Directing | 7.5 |
| 1999 | Not for Ourselves Alone: The Story of Elizabeth Cady Stanton & Susan B. Anthony TV | Producer · Production | 7.5 |
| 1998 | Frank Lloyd Wright TV | Producer · Production | 7.4 |
| 1998 | Frank Lloyd Wright TV | Director · Directing | 7.4 |
| 1997 | Lewis & Clark - The Journey of the Corps of Discovery TV | Director · Directing | 7.6 |
| 1997 | Lewis & Clark - The Journey of the Corps of Discovery TV | Producer · Production | 7.6 |
| 1997 | Thomas Jefferson TV | Director · Directing | 7.5 |
| 1997 | Thomas Jefferson TV | Creator · Crew | 7.5 |
| 1996 | The West TV | Executive Producer · Production | 8.4 |
| 1994 | Baseball TV | Executive Producer · Production | 7.5 |
| 1994 | Baseball TV | Writer · Writing | 7.5 |
| 1994 | Baseball TV | Director of Photography · Camera | 7.5 |
| 1994 | Baseball TV | Producer · Production | 7.5 |
| 1994 | Baseball TV | Director · Directing | 7.5 |
| 1991 | Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio Movie | Music Director · Sound | 7.6 |
| 1991 | Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio Movie | Director of Photography · Camera | 7.6 |
| 1991 | Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio Movie | Director · Directing | 7.6 |
| 1991 | Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio Movie | Producer · Production | 7.6 |
| 1991 | Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio Movie | Executive Producer · Production | 7.6 |
| 1990 | Lindbergh Movie | Producer · Production | 7.0 |
| 1990 | The Civil War TV | Writer · Writing | 7.9 |
| 1990 | The Civil War TV | Director · Directing | 7.9 |
| 1990 | The Civil War TV | Executive Producer · Production | 7.9 |
| 1990 | The Civil War TV | Director of Photography · Camera | 7.9 |
| 1989 | Thomas Hart Benton Movie | Producer · Production | 7.8 |
| 1989 | Thomas Hart Benton Movie | Director · Directing | 7.8 |
| 1989 | The Congress Movie | Director · Directing | 7.6 |
| 1985 | The Statue of Liberty Movie | Cinematography · Crew | 6.9 |
| 1985 | The Statue of Liberty Movie | Producer · Production | 6.9 |
| 1985 | The Statue of Liberty Movie | Director · Directing | 6.9 |
| 1985 | Huey Long Movie | Producer · Production | 7.2 |
| 1985 | Huey Long Movie | Director · Directing | 7.2 |
| 1984 | The Shakers: Hands to Work, Hearts to God Movie | Director · Directing | 7.1 |
| 1984 | The Shakers: Hands to Work, Hearts to God Movie | Cinematography · Crew | 7.1 |
| 1984 | The Shakers: Hands to Work, Hearts to God Movie | Producer · Production | 7.1 |
| 1981 | Brooklyn Bridge Movie | Cinematography · Crew | 7.5 |
| 1981 | Brooklyn Bridge Movie | Director · Directing | 7.5 |
| 1981 | Brooklyn Bridge Movie | Director of Photography · Camera | 7.5 |
Latest releases
- Ken Burns: One Nation, Many Stories2024
- Spirit of Golf2023
- The Unmaking of a College2022 / TMDB 8.0
- Ken Burns: Here & There2020
- Here For A Good Time2020
- Very Ralph2019 / TMDB 6.3
Questions about Ken Burns
What are some of Ken Burns' most famous documentaries?
Ken Burns is famous for documentaries like 'The Civil War,' 'Baseball,' and 'The Vietnam War,' each acclaimed for its in-depth research and storytelling.
Has Ken Burns won any awards?
Yes, Ken Burns has won numerous awards including Emmy Awards and a Peabody Award for his exceptional work in documentary filmmaking.
What was Ken Burns' first documentary?
Ken Burns' first major documentary was 'Brooklyn Bridge' released in 1981, which helped establish his career in filmmaking.
What is Ken Burns' filmmaking style?
Ken Burns is known for his unique style that combines narration, interviews, and archival footage, often using the 'Ken Burns effect' for still images.
What themes are common in Ken Burns' work?
Common themes in Ken Burns' work include American history, culture, and the struggles of various social movements throughout the years.
What is Ken Burns' estimated net worth?
Ken Burns' estimated net worth is around $5 million, reflecting his successful career in documentary filmmaking.
How many children does Ken Burns have?
Ken Burns has two children, Sarah Burns and Ken Burns Jr., both of whom have been involved in the arts and storytelling.
What impact has Ken Burns had on documentary filmmaking?
Ken Burns has significantly influenced documentary filmmaking by popularizing the genre and setting a high standard for narrative and visual storytelling.