Skip to main content
Back to Show
American Masters

Actor James Earl Jones on August Wilson's Plays

In this behind-the-scenes look from August Wilson: The Ground on Which I Stand, director Sam Pollard interviews James Earl Jones, a Tony Award winner in 1987 for his role in Wilson's "Fences," for which Wilson won the first of two Pulitzer Prizes for Drama. Jones characterizes Wilson's work, saying, "Most of all his plays are about families and the migration from greater pain to lesser pain."

Support Provided By
Season
Julia Alvarez: A Life Reimagined
Unlock with PBS Passport
1:23:57
Explore the story of writer Julia Alvarez, who blazed a trail for a generation of Latino authors.
Blake Edwards: A Love Story in 24 Frames
Unlock with PBS Passport
1:23:35
Explore the story of filmmaker Blake Edwards, known for his comedies like the "Pink Panther" series.
Thought Leaders
Unlock with PBS Passport
1:40:39
Discover the intellectual evolution and political legacy of William F. Buckley, Jr.
Moynihan
Unlock with PBS Passport
1:43:31
Discover the life and legacy of former U.S. Senator and diplomat Daniel Patrick Moynihan.
HOPPER: An American love story
Unlock with PBS Passport
53:03
Discover the secrets behind Edward Hopper’s most iconic and enigmatic works.
José Clemente Orozco: Hombre de Fuego (En Español)
54:31
El artista José Clemente Orozco (1883-1945) encabezó el movimiento muralista en México.
Max Roach: The Drum Also Waltzes
Unlock with PBS Passport
1:22:29
Experience the groundbreaking sounds of bebop pioneer and virtuoso composer Max Roach.
A Song for Cesar
Unlock with PBS Passport
1:22:12
Trace the life and legacy of labor activist Cesar Chavez through music and the arts.
Floyd Abrams: Speaking Freely
Unlock with PBS Passport
1:22:45
Follow the 50-year career of First Amendment lawyer and legal expert Floyd Abrams.
Jerry Brown: The Disrupter
Unlock with PBS Passport
1:33:44
Experience the political and personal journey of California governor Jerry Brown.
Little Richard: King and Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll
Unlock with PBS Passport
1:29:31
Experience the meteoric rise and enduring legacy of Little Richard.
Nam June Paik: Moon Is the Oldest TV
Unlock with PBS Passport
1:45:01
See the world through the eyes of Nam June Paik, the father of video art.
Active loading indicator