A&E Greenlights Ol’ Dirty Bastard Documentary

Ol' Dirty Bastard
(Image credit: A&E)

A&E will develop a documentary on late hit hop icon Ol’ Dirty Bastard in collaboration with the artist’s estate. 

The two-hour documentary, Biography: Ol’ Dirty Bastard, will chronicle the life of the musician and founding member of hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan. Featuring never-before-seen personal archive content shot by his wife, Icelene Jones, along with access to his closest friends and family, this documentary showcases ODB as a man, a father, and a husband, said the network. 

The documentary, co-directed by Sam and Jason Pollard, will center on ODB’s solo career, from his first album release in 1995 until his untimely passing from a drug overdose in 2004.

“A&E continues to be an industry leader in definitive documentary storytelling,” said Elaine Frontain Bryant, Executive Vice President and Head of Programming for A&E in a statement. "Biography: Ol’ Dirty Bastard will present viewers with the untold story of the man and the musician who made an immense cultural impact across just a few short years.”

Pulse Films and Four Screens will produce Biography: Ol’ Dirty Bastard, with Sam Bridger, Diene Pettrle, Louis Mole, Messiah Jacobs, Nicole Beckett and Icelene Jones serving as executive producers, said A&E.

R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.