Bill Moyers Biography (1934-)

Full name, William Donald Moyers; born June 5, 1934, in Hugo, OK; son of JohnHenry (a laborer) and Ruby (maiden name, Johnson) Moyers; married Judith Suzanne Davidson (a producer), December 18, 1954; children: William Cope, AliceSuzanne, John Davidson. Addresses: Office: Public Affairs Television,Inc., 356 West 58th St., New York, NY 10019.

Nationality
American
Gender
Male
Occupation
Journalist, commentator, producer, editor, writer
Birth Details
June 5, 1934
Hugo, Oklahoma, United States

Famous Works

  • CREDITS
  • Film Appearances
  • Himself, Beyond Hate, 1991
  • (Uncredited) Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media, 1992
  • Television Appearances
  • Series
  • Host, This Week, PBS, 1970
  • Host, Bill Moyers' Journal, PBS, 1971-1976, 1978-1981
  • Bill Moyers' Journal: International Report, PBS, 1975
  • Chief correspondent, CBS Reports (includes "The Fire Next Door"),CBS, 1976-1980
  • Senior news analyst and commentator, CBS News, CBS, 1981-1986
  • CBS Evening News with Dan Rather, CBS, 1981-1986
  • Creativity with Bill Moyers, PBS, 1982
  • Our Times with Bill Moyers, CBS, 1983
  • Anchorman, The American Parade (also known as Crossroads),CBS, 1984
  • A Walk through the Twentieth Century with Bill Moyers, CBS Cable,then PBS, 1984
  • Host, Bill Moyers: In Search of the Constitution, PBS, 1987
  • Host, Moyers: God and Politics, PBS, 1987
  • Philadelphia Journal, PBS, 1987
  • The Presidency and the Constitution, 1987
  • Moyers: The Wisdom of Joseph Campbell, PBS, 1987
  • Bill Moyers' World of Ideas, PBS, 1988
  • Moyers: A Second Look, PBS, 1989
  • Host, Moyers: The Power of the Word, PBS, 1989
  • Host, A World of Ideas with Bill Moyers, PBS, 1990
  • Host, Moyers: Sports for Sale (also known as The Tarnished Trophy with Bill Moyers), PBS, 1991
  • Host, Moyers/The Arab World, PBS, 1991
  • Host, Listening to America with Bill Moyers, PBS, 1992
  • The Class of the Twentieth Century, Arts and Entertainment, 1992
  • Senior news analyst, The NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw, NBC, 1995
  • Host, Internight, MSNBC, 1996
  • Sounds of Poetry with Bill Moyers, PBS, 1999
  • Anchor, NOW with Bill Moyers, PBS, 2002
  • Miniseries
  • Vietnam: A Television History, 1983
  • Host, Moyers: Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth, PBS, 1987
  • Host, The Language of Life with Bill Moyers, 1995
  • Host, On Our Own Terms: Moyers on Dying, PBS, 2000
  • Specials
  • World Hunger! Who Will Survive?, PBS, 1975
  • Eliza, PBS, 1975
  • The Erie War, PBS, 1976
  • Jade Snow, PBS, 1976
  • The Devil's Work, PBS, 1976
  • The Edelin Conviction, PBS, 1978
  • A Portrait of Maya Angelou, PBS, 1982
  • Correspondent, Our Friends the Germans, 1982
  • Correspondent, Whose America Is It?, 1985
  • Desk Correspondent, Campaign '86: Election Night, 1986
  • Correspondent, The Vanishing Family: Crisis in Black America, CBS,1986
  • Correspondent, The Burger Years: A CBS News Special, CBS, 1986
  • Correspondent, Big Gamble in Atlantic City, 1986
  • Correspondent, One River, One Country--The U.S./Mexico Border, 1986
  • Correspondent, Big Gamble in Atlantic City, 1986
  • 48 Hours on Crack Street, 1986
  • Host and narrator, Moyers: The Secret Government ... The Constitutionin Crisis, 1987
  • Campaign: The Prime-Time President, 1988
  • The Hero's Journey, 1988
  • Campaign: The Last Word, 1988
  • The 46th Alfred I. DuPont-Columbia University Awards, 1988
  • Campaign: Promises! Promises!, PBS, 1988
  • The Secret Government, PBS, 1988
  • Host, Moyers: Facing Evil, PBS, 1988
  • Host and narrator, Moyers: The Public Mind, PBS, 1989
  • Host, The Power of the Past with Bill Moyers: Florence, PBS, 1990
  • Host, Moyers: A Gathering of Men, PBS, 1990
  • Host, From D-Day to the Rhine with Bill Moyers, PBS, 1990
  • Host, Amazing Grace with Bill Moyers, PBS, 1990
  • The Man Who Beat the Blacklist ... John Henry Faulk, PBS, 1990
  • The Presidency, the Press, and the People, PBS, 1990
  • Living in America, 1991
  • Host, Moyers: Beyond Hate, PBS, 1991
  • Host, All Our Children with Bill Moyers, ABC, 1991
  • Songs Are Free with Bernice Reagon and Bill Moyers (also known asSongs Are Free), PBS, 1991
  • Host, Moyers: Spirit and Nature, PBS, 1991
  • Host, Moyers: Oren Lyons the Faithkeeper, PBS, 1991
  • Host, Moyers: Facing Hate with Elie Wiesel, PBS, 1991
  • Host, Moyers: Circle of Recovery, PBS, 1991
  • Host, Moyers: Twenty Years of Listening to America, PBS, 1991
  • Host, God in History, 1992
  • The Alistair Cooke Salute, 1992
  • Host, Moyers: Hate on Trial, PBS, 1992
  • Host, Moyers: Minimum Wages: The New Economy, PBS, 1992
  • Host, Families First with Bill Moyers (also known as Moyer/Families First), PBS, 1992
  • Host, Bill Moyers' Journal: The New Holy War, PBS, 1993
  • Host, Healing and the Mind with Bill Moyers, PBS, 1993
  • Host, Bill Moyers' Journal: Bullish on America, PBS, 1993
  • Host, Bill Moyers' Journal: Janet Reno, PBS, 1993
  • Host, Bill Moyers' Journal: A Life Together, PBS, 1993
  • The American Television Awards, ABC, 1993
  • Host, The 51st Alfred I. DuPont-Columbia University Awards, PBS, 1993
  • Host, The Great Health Care Debate with Bill Moyers, PBS, 1994
  • Host, Bill Moyers' Journal: Pure Pete Seeger, PBS, 1994
  • Host, Bill Moyers' Journal: Presenting Mr. Frederick Douglass, PBS, 1994
  • Host, Bill Moyers' Journal: Poet Laureate Rita Dove, PBS, 1994
  • Host, Bill Moyers' Journal: Money Talks (also known as Bill Moyers' Journal: The Price of Admission), PBS, 1994
  • Host, What Can We Do about Violence? A Bill Moyers Special, PBS, 1995
  • The Wisdom of Faith with Huston Smith: A Bill Moyers Special, PBS,1995
  • Genesis, PBS, 1996
  • The 11th Annual Academy of Television Arts & Sciences' Hall of Fame, CBS, 1996
  • Bill T. Jones: Still/Here with Bill Moyers, PBS, 1997
  • Host, Bill Moyers in Conversation with Sister Wendy, PBS, 1997
  • Washington's Other Scandal, PBS, 1998
  • Host, Moyers on Addiction: Close to Home, PBS, 1998
  • The Mythology of Star Wars with George Lucas and Bill Moyers, PBS,1999
  • Justice for Sale, PBS, 1999
  • Host/correspondent, Free Speech for Sale (documentary; also knownas Free Speech for Sale, a Bill Moyers Special), 1999
  • Host, Fooling with Words with Bill Moyers, PBS, 1999
  • Host, Facing the Truth with Bill Moyers, PBS, 1999
  • Host, Archbishop Desmond Tutu with Bill Moyers, PBS, 1999
  • Host, An American Love Story Update with Bill Moyers, PBS, 1999
  • Host, Surviving the Good Times: A Moyers Report, PBS, 2000
  • Narrator, Srebrenica: A Cry from the Grave, PBS, 2000
  • Alfred I. Dupont/Columbia University Awards in Television and Radio Journalism, PBS, 2000
  • Correspondent, Trade Secrets: A Moyers Report, PBS, 2001
  • Anchor, Looking for Answers, PBS, 2001
  • Host, Bill Moyers Reports: Earth on Edge, PBS, 2001
  • Correspondent, America Responds: A Special Report, PBS, 2001
  • Host (New York City), America Responds: A National Conversation, PBS, 2001
  • George Lucas: Creating an Empire, Arts and Entertainment, 2002
  • Host, Bill Moyers Reports: Trading Democracy, PBS, 2002
  • Episodic
  • "The Last Ballot," Ourstory, PBS, 1975
  • "The World Turned Upside Down," Ourstory, PBS, 1975
  • "The Peach Gang," Ourstory, PBS, 1975
  • "The Queen's Destiny," Ourstory, PBS, 1976
  • Sunday Morning, CBS, c. 1985
  • Correspondent, "Global Dumping Ground--A Frontline Special Report," Frontline, PBS, 1990
  • "Edward R. Murrow: This Reporter," American Masters, PBS, 1990
  • Panel moderator, "Does TV Kill?," Frontline, PBS, 1995
  • "Faith," On Values: Talking with Peggy Noonan, PBS, 1995
  • Host and narrator, "Living on the Edge," Frontline, PBS, 1995
  • Television Work
  • Series
  • Editor, CBS Reports, CBS, 1976-1978
  • Producer, A Walk through the Twentieth Century with Bill Moyers, CBS Cable, then PBS, 1984
  • Producer, Bill Moyers: In Search of the Constitution, PBS, 1987
  • Executive editor, Moyers: God and Politics, PBS, 1987
  • Executive editor, Bill Moyers' World of Ideas, PBS, 1988
  • Executive editor, Moyers: The Power of the Word, PBS, 1989
  • Executive producer and executive editor, A World of Ideas with Bill Moyers, PBS, 1990
  • Executive producer and executive editor, Moyers: Sports for Sale (also known as The Tarnished Trophy with Bill Moyers), PBS, 1991
  • Executive editor, Moyers: The Arab World, PBS, 1991
  • Executive editor, Listening to America with Bill Moyers, PBS, 1992
  • Executive editor, Genesis: A Living Conversation, PBS, 1996
  • Executive editor, Sounds of Poetry with Bill Moyers, PBS, 1999
  • Executive editor, NOW with Bill Moyers, PBS, 2002
  • Television Executive Editor
  • Miniseries
  • Moyers: Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth, PBS, 1987
  • The Language of Life with Bill Moyers, PBS, 1995
  • On Our Owns Terms: Moyers on Dying in America, PBS, 2000
  • Specials
  • Whose America Is It?, 1985
  • The Vanishing Family: Crisis in Black America, CBS, 1986
  • Campaign: Promises! Promises!, PBS, 1988
  • Moyers: Facing Evil, PBS, 1988
  • Campaign: The Prime-Time President, 1988
  • Moyers: The Public Mind, PBS, 1989
  • The Power of the Past with Bill Moyers: Florence, PBS, 1990
  • (And executive producer) Moyers: A Gathering of Men, PBS, 1990
  • (And executive producer) From D-Day to the Rhine with Bill Moyers,PBS, 1990
  • (And executive producer) Amazing Grace with Bill Moyers, PBS, 1990
  • The Man Who Beat the Blacklist ... John Henry Faulk, PBS, 1990
  • Moyers: Beyond Hate, PBS, 1991
  • All Our Children with Bill Moyers, ABC, 1991
  • Songs Are Free with Bernice Reagon and Bill Moyers, PBS, 1991
  • Moyers: Spirit and Nature, PBS, 1991
  • Moyers: Oren Lyons the Faithkeeper, PBS, 1991
  • Moyers: Facing Hate with Elie Wiesel, PBS, 1991
  • Moyers: Circle of Recovery, PBS, 1991
  • Moyers: Twenty Years of Listening to America, PBS, 1991
  • Moyers: Hate on Trial, PBS, 1992
  • Moyers: Minimum Wages, PBS, 1992
  • Families First with Bill Moyers (also known as Moyers: FamiliesFirst), PBS, 1992
  • Bill Moyers' Journal: The New Holy War, PBS, 1993
  • Healing and the Mind with Bill Moyers, PBS, 1993
  • Bill Moyers' Journal: Bullish on America, PBS, 1993
  • Bill Moyers' Journal: Janet Reno, PBS, 1993
  • Bill Moyers' Journal: A Life Together, PBS, 1993
  • The Great Health Care Debate with Bill Moyers, PBS, 1994
  • Bill Moyers' Journal: Pure Pete Seeger, PBS, 1994
  • Bill Moyers' Journal: Presenting Mr. Frederick Douglass, PBS, 1994
  • Bill Moyers' Journal: Poet Laureate Rita Dove, PBS, 1994
  • Bill Moyers' Journal: Money Talks (also known as Bill Moyers' Journal: The Price of Admission), PBS, 1994
  • What Can We Do about Violence? A Bill Moyers Special, PBS, 1994
  • The Wisdom of Faith with Huston Smith: A Bill Moyers Special, PBS,1996
  • Bill T. Jones: Still/Here with Bill Moyers, PBS, 1997
  • Moyers on Addiction: Close to Home, PBS, 1998
  • The Mythology of Star Wars with George Lucas and Bill Moyers, PBS,1999
  • Free Speech for Sale: A Bill Moyers Special, 1999
  • Fooling with Words with Bill Moyers, PBS, 1999
  • Archbishop Desmond Tutu with Bill Moyers, PBS, 1999
  • Surviving the Good Times: A Moyers Report, PBS, 2000
  • Bill Moyers Reports: Earth on Edge, PBS, 2001
  • Bill Moyers Reports: Trading Democracy, PBS, 2002
  • Television Editor
  • Specials
  • Fooling with Words, PBS, 1999
  • Television Work
  • Episodic
  • Executive editor, "Global Dumping Ground--A Frontline Special Report," Frontline, PBS, 1990
  • Also worked as editorial producer, "The Mystery of Chi," Healing and the Mind with Bill Moyers, PBS.
  • WRITINGS
  • Television Series
  • Creativity with Bill Moyers, PBS, 1982
  • A Walk through the Twentieth Century with Bill Moyers, CBS Cable,then PBS, 1984
  • Bill Moyers: In Search of the Constitution, PBS, 1987
  • Moyers: The Power of the Word, PBS, 1989
  • Moyers: Sports for Sale (also known as The Tarnished Trophy with Bill Moyers), PBS, 1991
  • Television Miniseries
  • Moyers: Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth, PBS, 1987
  • "Living with Dying" and "A Time to Change," On Our Own Terms: Moyers on Dying in America, PBS, 2000
  • Television Specials
  • Big Gamble in Atlantic City, 1986
  • Campaign: Promises! Promises!, PBS, 1988
  • Moyers: Facing Evil, PBS, 1988
  • The Power of the Past with Bill Moyers: Florence, PBS, 1990
  • Moyers: Beyond Hate, PBS, 1991
  • All Our Children with Bill Moyers, ABC, 1991
  • Moyers: Hate on Trial, PBS, 1992
  • Moyers: Minimum Wages: The New Economy, PBS, 1992
  • Families First with Bill Moyers (also known as Moyers/FamiliesFirst), PBS, 1992
  • What Can We Do about Violence?, 1994
  • Genesis, PBS, 1996
  • Washington's Other Scandal, PBS, 1998
  • Justice for Sale, PBS, 1999
  • Surviving the Good Times: A Moyers Report, PBS, 2000
  • Trade Secrets: A Moyers Report, PBS, 2001
  • Bill Moyers Reports: Earth on Edge, PBS, 2001
  • Bill Moyers Reports: Trading Democracy, PBS, 2002
  • Television Episodes
  • (With Tom Spain) "The Aliens," CBS Reports, CBS, 1977
  • (With Spain) "The Fire Next Door," CBS Reports, CBS, 1977, updatedand rebroadcast, 1978
  • (With Janet Roach) "Into the Mouths of Babes," CBS Reports, CBS, 1978
  • Marshall, Texas, Marshall, Texas, PBS, 1984
  • Other
  • Listening to America: A Traveler Rediscovers His Country, HarpersMagazine Press (New York), 1971
  • Moyers: Report from Philadelphia; The Constitutional Convention of 1787, Ballantine (New York), 1987
  • The Secret Government: The Constitution in Crisis, Seven Locks (Cabin John, MD), 1988
  • (With Joseph Campbell) The Power of Myth, Doubleday (New York), 1988
  • The World of Ideas: Conversations with Thoughtful Men and Women aboutAmerican Life Today and the Ideas Shaping Our Future, Doubleday, 1989
  • Global Dumping Ground: The International Traffic in Hazardous Waste, Seven Locks, 1990
  • A World of Ideas II: Public Opinions from Private Citizens, Doubleday, 1990
  • Healing and the Mind, Doubleday, 1993
  • Fooling with Words: A Celebration of Poets and Their Craft, Morrow, 1999

Further Reference

OTHER SOURCES

    Books
    • Contemporary Heroes and Heroines, Book IV, Gale Group, 2000
    • Encyclopedia of World Biography, Gale Research, 1998
    • Newsmakers 1991, Issue Cumulation, Gale Research, 1991
    Periodicals
    • American Film, June, 1990, p. 17
    • American Heritage, December, 1983
    • Broadcasting, November 19, 1984
    • Chicago Tribune, March 28, 1988
    • Christian Science Monitor, February 20, 1981
    • Columbia Journalism Review, November/December 2001, p. 76
    • Daily News (New York), May 13, 1974; June 26, 1981
    • Los Angeles Times, April 20, 1987
    • Modern Maturity, October/November, 1993, p. 68
    • Newsweek, March 1, 1965; April 15, 1974; October 21, 1974; July 4,1983
    • New York Times, June 25, 1983; January 8, 1984; August 14, 1985; September 9, 1986; January 14, 1987; May 5, 1987; September 12, 1988; October31, 1988; May 14, 1989
    • People Weekly, January 26, 1976; February 22, 1982; August 1, 1983
    • Saturday Review, February, 1982
    • Time, October 28, 1996, p. 31
    • Variety, January 21, 1987
    • Village Voice, January 20, 1982