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Theatre, Film, and Television Biographies
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Brian Klugman to Michael Lantieri
Bill Kurtis Biography (1940-)
Full name, William Horton Kurtis; born September 21, 1940, in Pensacola, FL;raised in Independence, KS; son of William A. and Wilma Mary (maiden name, Horton) Kurtis; married Helen M., July 7, 1963 (died, 1977); children: Mary Kristin, Scott Erik. Addresses: Office: Kurtis Productions, 400 West ErieSt., Suite 500, Chicago, IL 60610.
- Nationality
- American
- Gender
- Male
- Occupation
- Television anchor, broadcast journalist, producer, television executive
- Birth Details
- September 21, 1940
- Pensacola, Florida, United States
Famous Works
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CREDITS
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Television Appearances
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Series
- Coanchor, CBS Morning News (also known as Morning), 1982-1985
- Correspondent, The American Parade (also known as Crossroads), CBS, 1984
- Host, World in Action, Arts and Entertainment, 1990
- Host and narrator, The New Explorers (series of specials; also known as The New Explorers with Bill Kurtis), PBS, 1991-1997, then Arts and Entertainment, beginning 1997
- Host and narrator, Investigative Reports (series of specials), Arts and Entertainment, beginning 1991
- Host, DEA, Arts and Entertainment, 1992
- Host and narrator, American Justice (series of specials), Arts andEntertainment, beginning 1993
- Host and narrator, L.A. Detectives, Arts and Entertainment, 1997-1999
- Host and narrator, Inside Story (series of specials), Arts and Entertainment, beginning 1998
- Host and narrator, Unexplained (series of specials), Arts and Entertainment, beginning 1998
- Host, The Real Story, Arts and Entertainment, 2002
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Miniseries
- Host and narrator, The Miracle Planet, PBS, 1990
- Host, "The Men Who Killed Kennedy," Investigative Reports, Arts and Entertainment, 1991
- Host, "Target Mafia," American Justice, Arts and Entertainment, 1993
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Specials
- Host, Fighting Terrorism: A National Security View, PBS, 1986
- Host, On Trial: Lee Harvey Oswald, Showtime, 1986
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Dilemmas of Disarmament, PBS, 1988
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Inside Television, PBS, 1988
- Host, Secret Intelligence, PBS, 1989
- Narrator, Fire on the Rim, PBS, 1990
- Narrator, The Rain Forest Imperative, Arts and Entertainment, 1990
- Host and narrator, Ozone: The Hole Story, PBS, 1992
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The American Revolution, Arts and Entertainment, 1994
- Host, In the Footsteps of Dr. Livingstone, PBS, 1994
- Host, On the Trail of a Killer Virus, PBS, 1994
- Host, Secrets of Underwater Volcanoes, PBS, 1994
- Host, Skeletons in the Sand, PBS, 1994
- Host, "The Million Dollar Spy," Biography, Arts and Entertainment,1995
- Host, The Science of Star Trek, PBS, 1995
- Host, The Crystal Laboratory, PBS, 1995
- Host, Environmental S.W.A.T. Team, PBS, 1995
- Host, Expedition Inspiration, PBS, 1995
- Host, Secrets of an Ancient Culture, PBS, 1995
- Host, The Sounds of Discovery, PBS, 1995
- Host, Taxbreak '96, PBS, 1996
- Host, Police, Arts and Entertainment, 1997
- Host, Empire of Crime: A Century of the New York Mob, Arts and Entertainment, 1997
- Narrator, UFOs vs. the Government, Arts and Entertainment, 1997
- Host, Polluting the Fountain of Youth, 1998
- Host, Endeavor, Arts and Entertainment, 1998
- Host and narrator, The Real Full Monty, Arts and Entertainment, 1998
- Host, Road Warriors: The Biker Brotherhood, Arts and Entertainment, 1998
- Narrator, 666, the Sign of Evil, 1999
- Host, Buried Alive, Arts and Entertainment, 1999
- Host, The Real Cowboy: Portrait of an American Icon, History Channel, 2000
- Host and narrator, Lessons of a Forgotten War, History Channel, 2000
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The 2001 Genesis Awards, Animal Planet, 2001
- Narrator, Medicine on the Kansas Prairie, PBS, 2002
- Narrator, UFOs: Testing the Evidence, History Channel, 2002
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Television Executive Producer
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Series
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The New Explorers (series of specials; also known as The New Explorers with Bill Kurtis), PBS, 1991-1997, then Arts and Entertainment, beginning 1997
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Investigative Reports (series of specials), Arts and Entertainment, beginning 1992
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American Justice (series of specials), Arts and Entertainment, beginning 1993
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Miniseries
- "Target Mafia," American Justice, Arts and Entertainment, 1993
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Specials
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The Rain Forest Imperative, Arts and Entertainment, 1990
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The River of Doubt, PBS, 1992
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Ozone: The Hole Story, PBS, 1992
- Co-executive producer, Declassified: U.S. Navy Dolphins, PBS, 1993
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Skeletons in the Sand, PBS, 1994
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Secrets of Underwater Volcanoes, PBS, 1994
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On the Trail of a Killer Virus, PBS, 1994
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In the Footsteps of Dr. Livingstone, PBS, 1994
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The Sounds of Discovery, PBS, 1995
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Secrets of an Ancient Culture, PBS, 1995
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The Science of Star Trek, PBS, 1995
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Expedition Inspiration, PBS, 1995
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Environmental S.W.A.T. Team, PBS, 1995
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The Crystal Laboratory, PBS, 1995
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Empire of Crime: A Century of the New York Mob, Arts and Entertainment, 1997
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The Real Cowboy: Portrait of an American Icon, History Channel, 2000
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Film Appearances
- Narrator, Eyewitness, 1999
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Film Executive Producer
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The Farm: Angola, USA (documentary; also known as The Farm), Seventh Art Releasing, 1998
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RECORDINGS
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Videos
- Host, The Best of American Justice: The Mob, Arts and Entertainment Home Video, 1996
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WRITINGS
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Films
- (With George Casey) The Great Barrier Reef (documentary), 1990
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Television Specials
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The Rain Forest Imperative, Arts and Entertainment, 1990
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Other
- (And photographer) Bill Kurtis on Assignment (memoir), Rand McNally, 1983
- Contributor to numerous periodicals, including New York Times Magazine.
Further Reference
OTHER SOURCES
Books
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Contemporary Authors, Volume 133, Gale, 1991, pp. 218-21
Periodicals
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Booklist, November 1, 1994, p. 515
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Entertainment Weekly, January 20, 1995, p. 41
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