Actor Martin Sheen Narrates New Special On Older Adults' Health and Longevity In AGING IN AMERICA: SURVIVE OR THRIVE Presented by PBS SoCal and Airing on PBS Stations Nationwide in May
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Los Angeles, Calif. – April 9, 2025 – PBS SoCal, Southern California’s flagship PBS station, presents the new one-hour special AGING IN AMERICA: SURVIVE OR THRIVE. In collaboration with The John A. Hartford Foundation, filmmakers Neil Steinberg and Academy Award® winner Mark Jonathan Harris examine some of the most pressing issues facing aging adults in the U.S. today. Narrated by Emmy® Award winning actor Martin Sheen, the program takes an in-depth look at the opportunities of increased longevity while addressing the social policy challenges of an aging society. PBS SoCal serves as the presenting station of AGING IN AMERICA: SURVIVE OR THRIVE with the Southern California premiere on Mon. May 5 at 11 p.m. on PBS SoCal and encore airing on Sat., May 10 at 9 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus. The special will be available to stream on pbssocal.org and the free PBS app and will air on PBS stations nationwide (check local listings) in the month of May.
The film features leading experts in gerontology and healthcare, as well as public officials specializing in aging populations including Age Wave Founder and CEO Ken Dychtwald, Ph.D., Serving Seniors President and CEO Paul Downey and National Institute of Aging Director Richard J. Hodes, M.D. The special identifies key issues, highlights innovative multidisciplinary approaches and uses Dr. Robert N. Butler’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book “Why Survive? Being Old in America” as a guide to address critical topics such as ageism, healthcare, economic insecurity and chronic conditions like Alzheimer’s disease. The program explores how society can not only support the rapidly growing aging population but also build a long-term, successful future for all.
“I first met Dr. Robert Butler in 1986 while producing a 20-part video series titled Caring for an Aging Society,” said Neil Steinberg, director of AGING IN AMERICA: SURVIVE OR THRIVE. “He was a visionary whose insights changed the national conversation on growing old. But since then, many books and television programs focus on how individuals might navigate aging. This film takes a different approach, one not about personal strategies, but rather, what society must do to create a more equitable and compassionate world for older adults.”
“The rise in longevity is one of humanity’s greatest success stories and presents unparalleled opportunities for our nation, if we can build an age-friendly society that supports the health and vital contributions of all older adults,” said Terry Fulmer, PhD, RN, FAAN, president of The John A. Hartford Foundation. “Fifty years ago, Dr. Robert Butler gave us both a dire warning and an inspiring vision about aging in America, and today, this film shows us how far we’ve advanced and the critical work that remains to help us all not just survive, but thrive, as we get older.”
Neil Steinberg has worked extensively as producer/ director in nearly all forms of media. His documentary work includes directing Kisses for the TNT Network and writing and producing a one-hour documentary on the life of Bishop TD Jakes for Lionsgate Television. Neil was the producer and director for the highly acclaimed PBS documentary, Boomer Century 1946-2046.
Mark Jonathan Harris is a three-time Academy Award® winning documentary filmmaker and Emeritus Distinguished Professor in the School of Cinematic Arts at the University of Southern California, where he ran the documentary program for many years. In 2021, Asian Americans, a 5-part series for PBS for which he was Consulting Producer, received a Peabody Award.®
Major funding provided by The John A. Hartford Foundation.
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About PBS SoCal
PBS SoCaluses the power of public media for good, strengthening the civic fabric of Southern California and providing our community with an essential connection to a wider world. As a local, donor/member-supported non-profit organization, PBS SoCal programming is available to viewers on all key streaming platforms via the free PBS App and PBS KIDS App as well as over-the-air, via seven channels — including 2 primary broadcast channels, PBS SoCal and PBS SoCal Plus. With a commitment to make content available anytime and anywhere for free, PBS SoCal reaches nearly 19M viewers in the region with programming that reflects the diversity of Southern California and showcases the full schedule of beloved and trusted PBS content spanning Education, News, Environment and Arts & Culture. PBS SoCal also sparks the sharing of ideas at in-person cultural events and community conversations as well as prepares children for kindergarten and beyond by bringing bilingual, hands-on learning experiences to the community for free.
About The John A. Hartford Foundation
The John A. Hartford Foundation, based in New York City, is a private, nonpartisan, national philanthropy dedicated to improving the care of older adults. For more than three decades, the organization has been the leader in building a field of experts in aging and testing and replicating innovative approaches to care. The foundation has three priority areas: creating age-friendly health systems, supporting family caregivers, and improving serious illness and end-of-life care. Working with its grantees, the foundation strives to change the status quo and create a society where older adults can continue their vital contributions. For more information, visit johnahartford.org.