Ken Burns

5 out of 5

Emmy & Oscar-Nominated Documentary Filmmaker & Historian; Founder of Florentine Films; Director of "The Civil War" & "The American Revolution"

Walpole, NH, USA

Ken Burns Biography

Ken Burns is a documentary filmmaker known for chronicling the experience through film. Burns founded Florentine Films and has directed and produced historical documentaries for several decades, developing a signature style that features rapid cuts between still images in a fluid, linear fashion. He made his feature debut with "Brooklyn Bridge," which earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary and aired on PBS. His subsequent film, "The Statue of Liberty," received a second Oscar nomination.

Burns gained national recognition with the 11-hour television series "The Civil War." A poll conducted by Real Screen Magazine ranked "The Civil War" as one of the most influential documentaries of all time. The New York Times described it as a masterpiece. Over the years, Burns has explored a range of topics in American culture, producing films about the Statue of Liberty, the Shakers, Prohibition, the Dust Bowl, early radio, jazz, national parks, the West, and baseball. His television documentaries include "Baseball," "Lewis and Clark," "Frank Lloyd Wright," "Jazz," "The War," "Prohibition," "The Dust Bowl," "The Vietnam War," and "Country Music."

Burns's films have examined the lives of figures such as Thomas Jefferson, Huey Long, Jack Johnson, Thomas Hart Benton, Frank Lloyd Wright, Susan B. Anthony, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. He frequently uses the voices of well-known actors for narration. His work has received numerous honors, including multiple Emmy Awards, Grammy Awards, and Oscar nominations. Burns has also received the Erik Barnouw Award from the Organization of American Historians and numerous honorary degrees. He was recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Historian Stephen Ambrose noted that more Americans get their history from Burns than any other source.

Burns's documentary "The American Revolution" is a six-part, twelve-hour series that premiered on PBS. Narrated by Peter Coyote, the film features the voices of more than 200 historical figures, read by a cast that includes Morgan Freeman, Paul Giamatti, Laura Linney, David Oyelowo, Jeff Daniels, Wendell Pierce, Liev Schreiber, and Meryl Streep. "The American Revolution" set PBS streaming records and brought the network into the Nielsen's Top Ten. Burns has received the Impact Award at the Critics Choice Documentary Awards and the David M. Rubenstein Prize for the Advancement of American History, presented by New York Historical museum, for his contributions to promoting knowledge and understanding of American history.

BOOK Ken Burns

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 10/29/2026.

Ken Burns Speaking Topics

  • On-Stage Conversation/Audience Q&A

    This is a less formal, Inside-the-Actors-Studio type of event. Ken Burns responds to questions from a moderator on all his films (or film-specific) and issues in history and contemporary American culture. Audience Q&A to conclude if requested.

  • Old Ghosts and Ancient Tones (Country Music)

    This powerful, moving speech digs deep into the history and meaning of country music: its greatest stars and the words and music that touch on universal human experiences. (Clip(s) optional.)

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Ken Burns Videos

Ken Burns, Tom Brokaw Talk About 'Mayo Clinic' Documentary

Ken Burns, Tom Brokaw Talk About 'Mayo Clinic' Documentary

Renowned documentary filmmaker Ken Burns and NBC's Tom Brokaw drop by to discuss Burns' newest documentary, “The Mayo Clinic: Faith, ...

Ken Burns Teaches Documentary Filmmaking | Official Trailer

Ken Burns Teaches Documentary Filmmaking | Official Trailer

Learn more about Ken Burns Teaches Documentary Filmmaking: www. masterclass.com/kb In Ken Burns's MasterClass, the documentary ...

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  • What topics does Ken Burns speak about?

  • Where does Ken Burns travel from?

    Ken Burns generally travels from Walpole, NH, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
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Ken Burns is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as On-Stage Conversation/Audience Q&A, Old Ghosts and Ancient Tones (Country Music), A History of the World (The Vietnam War), The Rising Road (The Roosevelts: An Intimate History), A Treasure House of Nature’s Superlatives (The National Parks: America’s Best Idea) and Sharing the American Experience (The Civil War, Baseball, Jazz). The estimated speaking fee range to book Ken Burns for your event is $100,000 - $200,000. Ken Burns generally travels from Walpole, NH, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Daymond John, Sean Astin, Van Jones, Dr. Michio Kaku and Doris Kearns Goodwin. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Ken Burns for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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