Susan Lacy

In 2013, after nearly thirty years as Series Creator and Executive Producer of AMERICAN MASTERS, Susan Lacy began a new chapter in her documentary filmmaking career – forming her own company, Pentimento Productions, and focusing solely on directing and producing. Her first films at Pentimento are already underway (documentary portraits of Steven Spielberg, Jane Fonda & Ralph Lauren) - all part of her company’s exclusive multi-picture deal with HBO.

Susan’s previous films were all part of the AMERICAN MASTERS collection -- she directed and produced Inventing David Geffen, Judy Garland: By Myself, Joni Mitchell: A Woman of Heart and Mind, Leonard Bernstein: Reaching for the Note, Rod Serling: Submitted for Your Approval, and Lena Horne: In Her Own Voice. Additionally, she produced the Peabody award-winning films Paul Simon: Born at the Right Time, LENNONYC, and No Direction Home: Bob Dylan.

During her tenure, she created a singular library of American cultural history -- producing for national broadcast over 215 documentary films about our country’s artistic and cultural giants. Under her watch, the series garnered an unprecedented number of awards - 71 Emmy nominations and 28 wins, including a remarkable 10 for Outstanding Non-Fiction Series, in addition to 12 Peabodys, 3 Grammys, and an Oscar.