Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos

Ken Burns: Quick Facts

Written and fact-checked by
The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

The Information Architects maintain a master list of the topics included in the corpus of  Encyclopædia Britannica, and create and manage the relationships between them.
The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Last updated
Ken Burns wins a $250,000 prize for bringing American history to life • Oct. 28, 2026, 11:04 AM ET (AP)

Facts

Also Known As Kenneth Lauren Burns
Born July 29, 1953 (age 73) • New York City • New York
Founder Florentine Films
Awards And Honors Grammy Award (1991)
Notable Works “Muhammad Ali” • “The Civil War” • “The Vietnam War”

Photos and Videos

Ken Burns
Exploring a theme
Black-and-white photo of a bearded Civil War–era Union soldier wearing a kepi and uniform, standing before a blurred background with a horse and a tent marked “U.S.” Bold blue arrows radiate outward from the soldier in multiple directions, drawing focus to him and suggesting movement or spreading influence. The blend of historical imagery and modern graphic elements gives the image an analytical, interpretive feel—connecting past events with broader themes or impacts.
See All Videos and Images →
Martin Scorsese smiling in a tuxedo and bow tie, holding an Oscar statuette at the Academy Awards, with a gold Oscar statue in the background.
Martin Scorsese
American filmmaker
Oliver Stone
Oliver Stone
American director, producer, and screenwriter
Mel Brooks in a tuxedo smiles widely and points at his Emmy Award trophy while posing in front of a blue Emmy Awards backdrop.
Mel Brooks
American director, producer, screenwriter, and actor
Louis C.K.
Louis C.K.
American comedian and writer
The multitalented Donald Glover, 2019
Donald Glover
American writer, actor, and musician
Steven Spielberg wearing a tuxedo and bow tie, smiling at the camera on the red carpet at the Cannes International Film Festival.
Steven Spielberg
American film director and producer
Barbara Kopple
Barbara Kopple
American director
Ben Affleck wearing a dark suit, blue shirt, and navy tie, posing for a photo at the premiere of the film AIR with a blurred event backdrop behind him.
Ben Affleck
American actor, writer, and director
Ryan Murphy in a patterned green tuxedo holds an Emmy Award trophy while standing in front of a black backdrop with the word Emmy visible.
Ryan Murphy
American producer, director, and writer
Peter Bogdanovich
Peter Bogdanovich
American director, critic, and actor
Film director Darren Aronofsky wearing a green sweater, blue cap, glasses, and headphones around his neck on a city street set in New York City.
Darren Aronofsky
American director, screenwriter, and producer
Mike White
Mike White
American screenwriter, producer, and actor
Tyler Perry wearing a black suit and white shirt, holding an award and posing in front of a step and repeat backdrop at CinemaCon in Las Vegas.
Tyler Perry
American playwright, actor, screenwriter, producer, and director
Lena Dunham
Lena Dunham
American actress, writer, director, and producer
Aaron Sorkin
Aaron Sorkin
American writer and producer
Michael Schur in a dark suit and light blue shirt smiles at the Netflix premiere of A Man on the Inside, with a Netflix logo visible behind him.
Michael Schur
American television writer, producer, and director
Sylvester Stallone poses in a dark suit on the red carpet in front of a backdrop with TIFF, Visa, and Royal Bank logos at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Sylvester Stallone
American actor, screenwriter, director, and producer
Garry Marshall
Garry Marshall
American producer and director
Joss Whedon wearing a suit and patterned tie, smiling at the camera on the red carpet at the Avengers premiere in Hollywood.
Joss Whedon
American screenwriter, producer, and director
Judd Apatow, wearing a brown polo shirt and headphones around his neck, sits thoughtfully on set during the filming of Funny People.
Judd Apatow
American writer, director, and producer