MK

Michael Kantor

Producer, Director, Writer, Additional Credits
Michael Kantor is a writer, director, and producer whose work includes "Quincy Jones: In the Pocket" for American Masters, Cornerstone for HBO, and The West with Ken Burns. Prior to his work in television, Kantor was a freelance theater director and writer, published in Newsday, American Theater, and Interview. He is president of Ghost Light Films and Almo Inc., companies dedicated to bringing the arts to television.

Since 2001, Michael Kantor has produced 21 hours of television for national broadcast. In addition to winning the Peabody Award and the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Nonfiction Series, Mr. Kantor’s productions have been recognized with seven Primetime Emmy Award nominations, and one Writers Guild of America Award nomination.

Known For

  • American Masters
  • Janis: Little Girl Blue
  • Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am
  • Superheroes: A Never-Ending Battle
  • Broadway: The American Musical
  • The West
  • Sammy Davis, Jr.: I've Gotta Be Me
  • Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You
  • Bad Girl
  • Garry Winogrand: All Things are Photographable
  • Make 'Em Laugh: The Funny Business of America
  • Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It
  • Itzhak
  • The Rooster
  • Amy Tan: Unintended Memoir
  • Max Roach: The Drum Also Waltzes
  • Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore
  • Buddy Guy: The Blues Chase the Blues Away

Filmography

2025
Starring Dick Van Dyke · as Executive Producer
2025
Starring Dick Van Dyke · as Executive Producer
2025
Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore · as Executive Producer
2025
Hannah Arendt: Facing Tyranny · as Executive Producer
2024
Art Spiegelman: Disaster Is My Muse · as Executive Producer
2024
Marcella · as Executive Producer
2024
Janis Ian: Breaking Silence · as Executive Producer
2024
Elie Wiesel: Soul on Fire · as Executive Producer
2024
2023
The Rooster · as Executive Producer
2023
Floyd Abrams: Speaking Freely · as Executive Producer
2023
Dr. Tony Fauci · as Executive Producer
2023
Nam June Paik: Moon Is the Oldest TV · as Executive Producer
2023
Max Roach: The Drum Also Waltzes · as Executive Producer
2022
Groucho & Cavett · as Executive Producer
2022
Roberta · as Executive Producer
2022
Jerry Brown: The Disrupter · as Executive Producer
2022
2021
Becoming Helen Keller · as Executive Producer
2021
Song for Cesar · as Executive Producer
2021
2021
Renegades (TV Series) · as Executive Producer
2021
Ailey · as Executive Producer
2021
2021
Amy Tan: Unintended Memoir · as Executive Producer
2021
Mae West: Die verruchte Blonde · as Executive Producer
2020
Michael Tilson Thomas: Where Now Is · as Executive Producer
2020
In the Making (TV Series) · as Executive Producer
2020
Unladylike (TV Series) · as Executive Producer
2019
Raúl Juliá: The World’s a Stage · as Executive Producer
2019
Oliver Sacks: His Own Life · as Executive Producer
2019
Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool · as Executive Producer
2019
Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am · as Executive Producer
2019
Words from a Bear · as Executive Producer
2018
2017
Sighted Eyes/Feeling Heart · as Executive Producer
2017
Itzhak · as Executive Producer
2017
Sammy Davis, Jr.: I've Gotta Be Me · as Executive Producer
2017
Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story · as Executive Producer
2017
When Patsy Cline Was... Crazy · as Executive Producer
2016
2016
Maya Angelou and Still I Rise · as Executive Producer
2016
Bad Girl · as Executive Producer
2016
2015
Janis: Little Girl Blue · as Executive Producer
2015
By Sidney Lumet · as Executive Producer
2013
2013
2011
Give Me the Banjo · as Executive Producer
2009
2004
2001
The Impressionists (TV Series) · as Consulting Producer
1996
The West (TV Series)
1988
American Experience (TV Series) · as Associate Producer
1985
American Masters (TV Series) · as Executive Producer

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