Biography poster

TV series

Biography

1987TV-PG27 seasons6.7 / 10

Biography is a documentary television series. It was originally a half-hour filmed series produced for CBS by David Wolper from 1961 to 1964 and hosted by Mike Wallace. The A&E Network later re-ran it and has produced new episodes since 1987. The older version featured historical figures such as Helen Keller and Mark Twain, or long-dead entertainment figures such as Will Rogers or John Barrymore. The A&E series has placed the emphasis on such people as Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, Plácido Domingo, Freddie Mercury, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Eric Clapton, Pope John Paul II, Gene Tierney, Selena, Diego Rivera, Mao Zedong and Queen Elizabeth II, and fictional characters like The Phantom, Superman, Hamlet, Betty Boop, and Santa Claus. The program ended up profiling enough figures that in 1999, A&E spun it off into an entire network, The Biography Channel.

Availability

Not streaming in United States

Checked Jul 22, 2026

Biography premiered April 6, 1987. We don't have a confirmed streaming, rental or purchase option yet.

Synopsis

Biography is a documentary television series. It was originally a half-hour filmed series produced for CBS by David Wolper from 1961 to 1964 and hosted by Mike Wallace. The A&E Network later re-ran it and has produced new episodes since 1987. The older version featured historical figures such as Helen Keller and Mark Twain, or long-dead entertainment figures such as Will Rogers or John Barrymore. The A&E series has placed the emphasis on such people as Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, Plácido Domingo, Freddie Mercury, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Eric Clapton, Pope John Paul II, Gene Tierney, Selena, Diego Rivera, Mao Zedong and Queen Elizabeth II, and fictional characters like The Phantom, Superman, Hamlet, Betty Boop, and Santa Claus. The program ended up profiling enough figures that in 1999, A&E spun it off into an entire network, The Biography Channel.

Season 21 episodes

Choose an episode, then use the watch options above for the show.

← Season 20

Episode 1

Dave Chappelle

42m

A look at Dave Chappelles rise to a pinnacle in his career. A true comedic genius, in 2005 Chappelle was considered by many to be "the funniest man in Hollywood". This film covers the events surrounding Season 3 of "Chappelle's Show" which was scheduled to air on May 31, 2005. In that month, Chappelle stunned fans and the entertainment industry when he abruptly left during production of the third season of Chappelle's Show and took a trip to South Africa for two weeks. Essentially walking away from a deal with Comedy Central worth $50 Million Dollars We may never know the real reasons for this however this film gives great insight from people close to the event and several clips from Chappelle himself explaining things in his own words.

Episode credits

Guest stars Dave Chappelle, Ken Tucker, Tanika Ray, Chuck Nice, Dion Graham

Where to watch Biography

Episode information updated Jul 23, 2026

More about Biography

Cast

Scarlett JohanssonSelf
Aileen WuornosSelf (archive footage)
Dawn BotkinsSelf - Aileen's Childhood Friend
Arlene PralleSelf
Steve GlazerSelf - Defense Attorney
Tyria MooreSelf - Aileen's Girlfriend
Donna Jay FulksAileen Wuornos (voice)
Eva BraunSelf (archive footage)

Credits

Written by
Lucy Chase Williams, Daniel J. Golden, Peter Jones, Scott Lenz, Paul E. Gierucki, Andy Stevenson

Production details

Status
Ended
Series type
Scripted
Episodes
332
Original language
English

Production

  • Towers ProductionsUnited States
  • Departure FilmsUnited States
  • Atlas Media
  • Actuality Productions
  • Foxstar ProductionsUnited States
  • Working Dog ProductionsUnited States