Ken Burns is an American documentary filmmaker who has been making films since the 1970s. He is best known for his series of documentaries on American history, such as The Civil War and Baseball. He has also directed films on topics such as the Vietnam War, jazz music, and the national parks. His films often feature archival footage and interviews with people who lived through the events he is documenting. Burns has won numerous awards for his work, including Emmy Awards and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.