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American Masters

Ric Burns on George Plimpton's Death

Clip: 5/16/2014 | 2m 10s

Documentary filmmaker Ric Burns describes the surprise of George Plimpton's death.

"It was like a light on top of the Empire State Building went out when he died," says filmmaker Ric Burns about Plimpton's death in 2003. "You felt like he couldn't die. His indescribably handsome, boyish quality kept on giving the older he got. His eternally adolescent, prep school energy promised to keep on going." A web exclusive outtake from "Plimpton! Starring George Plimpton as Himself."

05/16/2014 | Rating TV-PG

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Support for American Masters is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, AARP, Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, Judith and Burton Resnick, Blanche and Hayward Cirker Charitable Lead Annuity Trust, Koo...

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George Plimpton at the Helm of The Paris Review

Clip: 5/16/2014 | 2m 38s | Plimpton shaped the prestigious literary magazine with the flair of a kindly ringmaster. (2m 38s)

George Plimpton: Making a Success out of Failure

Clip: 5/16/2014 | 3m 11s | Journalist George Plimpton did not show early promise when he failed at Exeter Academy. (3m 11s)

George Plimpton's Famous April Fool's Day Joke

Clip: 5/16/2014 | 3m 11s | Plimpton's assistant was tasked with keeping his Sports Illustrated hoax going. (3m 11s)

Peter Matthiessen Interview About The Paris Review

Clip: 5/16/2014 | 1m 28s | Peter Matthiessen (May 22, 1927 – April 5, 2014) co-founded The Paris Review in 1953. (1m 28s)

Plimpton Gives Writer Jay McInerney His Debut

Clip: 5/16/2014 | 2m 17s | Plimpton published McInerney's first story ever in The Paris Review in 1982. (2m 17s)

Plimpton! Starring George Plimpton as Himself - Trailer

Preview: 5/16/2014 | 2m 8s | Journalist George Plimpton was a writer, Paris Review editor, amateur sportsman and more. (2m 8s)

Robert F. Kennedy: Friend and Admirer of George Plimpton

Clip: 5/16/2014 | 1m 55s | In this excerpt, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recalls his father's admiration for Plimpton. (1m 55s)

Plimpton! Starring George Plimpton as Himself - Preview

Preview: 5/15/2014 | 31s | Premieres Friday, May 16, 2014 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT. Check your local listings. (31s)

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Support for American Masters is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, AARP, Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, Judith and Burton Resnick, Blanche and Hayward Cirker Charitable Lead Annuity Trust, Koo...

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