Ken Burns Bio, Age, Wife, Documentaries, Jazz, Dust Bowl, Net Worth

Ken Burns Biography

What is Ken Burns famous for?

Ken Burns (born July 29, 1953) is a renowned American documentary filmmaker. He grew up in Brooklyn and Ann Arbor. Burns graduated from Hampshire College, where he studied film and design. In 1976, he co-founded Florentine Films, marking the start of his filmmaking career.

He gained national attention with Brooklyn Bridge (1981), which earned an Academy Award nomination. Later, he produced major PBS series like The Civil War (1990), Baseball (1994), and Jazz (2001). These works combined archival footage, narration, and interviews to tell powerful historical stories.

In 2009, he released The National Parks: America’s Best Idea, followed by The Vietnam War (2017) and Country Music (2019). His films have received Emmy Awards, Grammy wins, and Oscar nominations.

Burns also explores contemporary issues. In 2022, he executive produced Hiding in Plain Sight: Youth Mental Illness. Looking ahead, he will release The American Revolution, a six-part documentary, in November 2025.

Ken Burns continues to influence American culture through thoughtful, visually rich documentaries that educate and inspire audiences around the world.

Ken Burns Age

How old is Ken Burns?

Ken Burns turns 71 years old on July 29, 2024. He was born on July 29, 1953, in Brooklyn, New York. Throughout his seventy-one years, he’s shaped documentary filmmaking and history storytelling. Clearly, his age reflects decades of cultural impact .

Ken Burns Wife

Is Ken Burns married?

Ken Burns first married filmmaker Amy Georgeanne Stechler in 1982. She co-founded Florentine Films and worked on his early documentaries. They had two daughters together before divorcing in 1993. Later, in October 2003, Burns married Julie Deborah Brown. She is the founder of the non-profit organization Room to Grow, which supports low-income families. Together, they had two daughters and lived in New Hampshire. However, by 2017, the couple had separated. Despite the separation, they continue to co-parent their children. Throughout his life, Ken Burns has shared meaningful relationships with women who influenced his personal and professional journey.

Ken Burns Movies and Tv Shows

Ken Burns has directed many acclaimed historical documentaries and TV series. He uses storytelling, archival footage, and expert insights. His work spans topics like war, music, sports, and American culture. Over the years, he expanded his focus to include broader human stories. Below is a list of his most well-known films and series:

• The Civil War (1990) – A landmark documentary on the American Civil War
• Baseball (1994) – Chronicles the history of America’s national pastime
• Jazz (2001) – Explores the roots and rise of jazz music
• The War (2007) – Focuses on American experiences during World War II
• The National Parks: America’s Best Idea (2009) – Celebrates the U.S. park system
• Prohibition (2011) – Examines the rise and fall of the alcohol ban
• The Roosevelts: An Intimate History (2014) – Documents the lives of Theodore, Franklin, and Eleanor Roosevelt
• The Vietnam War (2017) – A detailed, ten-part documentary on the conflict
• Country Music (2019) – Traces the evolution of the genre
• Muhammad Ali (2021) – A four-part series on the legendary boxer
• The U.S. and the Holocaust (2022) – Investigates America’s response to the Holocaust
• Leonardo da Vinci (2024) – A two-part biography on the Renaissance icon
• The American Revolution (upcoming in 2025) – A six-part series on the birth of the United States

Burns continues shaping documentary filmmaking with compelling themes and historical depth.

Ken Burns’s Central Park 5

Ken directed The Central Park Five, a powerful 2012 documentary about wrongful conviction. He co-directed it with Sarah Burns and David McMahon. The film follows five Black and Latino teens falsely accused in 1989. It reveals coerced confessions, racial bias, and flawed media narratives. They spent six to thirteen years in prison before DNA evidence exonerated them in 2002. Furthermore, the documentary helped pressure New York City toward a $41 million settlement in 2014. Critics praised its detailed storytelling and social insight. Overall, it shines a light on systemic injustice and the resilience of the human spirit.

Ken Burns Documentaries

How many Ken Burns documentaries are there?

Ken Burns shapes historical narratives through landmark documentaries. He explores war, culture, and iconic figures. His work uses rich archival footage and expert interviews. Key documentaries include:

• The Civil War (1990)
• Baseball (1994)
• Jazz (2001)
• The War (2007)
• The National Parks (2009)
• Prohibition (2011)
• The Roosevelts (2014)
• The Vietnam War (2017)
• Country Music (2019)
• Muhammad Ali (2021)
• The U.S. and the Holocaust (2022)
• Benjamin Franklin (2022)
• Hemingway (2021)
• The American Buffalo (2023)
• Leonardo da Vinci (2024)
• The American Revolution (premiering November 16, 2025)

Burns continues challenging audiences with nuanced historical storytelling and expansive cultural documentation.

Ken Burns Da Vinci

Ken Burns directed Leonardo da Vinci, a two‑part, four‑hour PBS documentary. He co-directed it with Sarah Burns and David McMahon. The film explores Leonardo’s art, science, and inventions. It uses animations, split screens, and expert interviews. Keith David narrates the series. It airs on PBS in November 2024. Notably, Caroline Shaw composed the original score. Critics praised its depth and visual storytelling. Essential features include:

• Renaissance genius focus
• Innovative visual techniques
• Strong original musical score
• Expert-led commentary

Burns breaks new ground by exploring a global historical subject.

Ken Burns’s Jazz

Burns created Jazz, a ten-part, nineteen-hour PBS documentary that premiered in January 2001. He narrated it through Keith David’s voice. The series follows jazz’s evolution from New Orleans to modern styles, exploring swing, bebop, and more. It blends 500 recordings, 2,400 photos, and rare film archives. Additionally, Burns includes interviews with experts such as Wynton Marsalis, Samuel L. Jackson, and Stanley Crouch. Moreover, he teaches listeners musical concepts while maintaining narrative clarity. Critics praised its immersive storytelling, though some noted limited coverage of post-1960 jazz. Overall, Jazz remains a seminal music documentary and cultural history.

Ken Burns The War

Ken Burns co-directed The War, a seven-part, fourteen-hour PBS documentary that premiered September 23, 2007. It explores World War II through personal stories from four U.S. towns. Moreover, it includes rare battle footage alongside powerful veteran testimonies. It also highlights Japanese internment and African-American experiences. Additionally, Hispanic groups prompted inclusion of Latino stories in later cuts. Although some critics cite its emotional tone and U.S.-centric view, they still praise its moving storytelling and historic scope. Ultimately, The War stands as a monumental documentary shaping American memory of WWII.

Ken Burns Dust Bowl

Ken Burns directed The Dust Bowl, a two-part, four-hour PBS documentary that aired in November 2012. It depicts the 1930s ecological crisis across the Great Plains. Moreover, it combines survivor interviews with rare archival footage and historic photographs. Additionally, the documentary explores the causes, including the wheat boom, drought, and mechanized farming. Furthermore, it highlights human suffering and resilience amid dust storms and the Great Depression. Ultimately, The Dust Bowl remains a vital environmental and cultural history, prompting reflection on sustainable land use.

Ken Burns’s Vietnam War

Ken Burns co-directed The Vietnam War, a ten-part, 18-hour PBS documentary that premiered in September 2017. The series presents a multi-perspective narrative featuring nearly one hundred eyewitnesses. It includes voices from American and Vietnamese combatants, diplomats, and civilians. Moreover, it uses rare archival footage, historic broadcasts, and more than 120 period songs. Additionally, expert interviews and Peter Coyote’s narration deepen its impact. Although some critics noted its U.S.-centric view, many praised its honesty. Ultimately, it reshaped public understanding of the Vietnam War.

Ken Burns The West

Ken Burns served as executive producer of The West, an eight-part PBS documentary that aired in September 1996. The series explores American westward expansion, beginning with Native American cultures and ending in the early 20th century. Moreover, it includes archival photographs, dramatic first-person accounts, and expert commentary. In addition, the series covers major events like the Gold Rush, railroad expansion, and conflicts at Sand Creek and Wounded Knee. Furthermore, Peter Coyote’s narration adds depth. Ultimately, The West reshaped how audiences view frontier history and American cultural development.

Ken Burns’s Baseball

Ken Burns created Baseball, a nine-part, 18-hour PBS documentary that premiered in September 1994. It chronicles nearly 200 years of American history through the lens of baseball. Moreover, the series blends archival footage, interviews, and period music to illustrate the sport’s cultural impact. Furthermore, it highlights legendary players like Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson, and Hank Aaron. In addition, it explores key moments like integration, labor disputes, and the Steroid Era. Ultimately, Baseball remains a powerful reflection of America’s evolving identity.

Ken Burns Thomas Jefferson

Ken Burns directed Thomas Jefferson, a two-part, three-hour PBS documentary that aired in February 1997. It explores Jefferson’s brilliance, contradictions, and his identity as a Renaissance man. Moreover, the film highlights his Enlightenment ideals, the Louisiana Purchase, and the founding of the University of Virginia. Additionally, it addresses his ownership of enslaved people and his silence on emancipation. Furthermore, it features narration from Ossie Davis and Sam Waterston. Ultimately, the documentary presents a balanced portrait of Jefferson’s legacy and complexity.

Ken Burns Net Worth

How much does Ken Burns make a year?

Ken Burns’s estimated net worth in 2025 is $3.5 million. He earns consistently through directing, producing, and editing. Moreover, his wealth reflects decades of influential documentary work. Although modest, his success highlights dedication to historical storytelling and education.