Raised in Brookline, Massachusetts

At age seven, purchased first still camera

Worked as salesman

During WWII, served with Army tank corps; after discharge enrolled in college

Taught psychology at Boston University

Went to USSR to study mental health care; began making films

First film (made solo), "Psychiatry in Russia"; aired on WGBH the public television station in Boston

First film made with brother David, "Youth of Poland"

Co-shot D.A. Pennebaker's "Opening in Moscow"

With Pennebaker, Richard Leacock and David Maysles, became member of Drew Associates (founded by Robert Drew)

Co-directed an examination of the Democratic campaign for president "Primary"

Formed Maysles Films, Inc.

First Maysles Brothers collaboration with Charlotte Zwerin, "Showman"; also first Maysles Films Inc. production

Helmed the documentary short "What's Happening! The Beatles in America"; never released theatrically; aired instead on CBS with narration by Carol Burnett

Photographed Godard's segment ("Montparnasse et Levallois") of omnibus feature, "Paris vu par/Six in Paris"

Co-directed with brother and Charlotte Zwerin, "Salesman" a portrait of bible sellers in Boston; withheld from audiences for 25 years; finally aired on PBS' "POV" in 1994

Garnered widespread acclaim for "Gimme Shelter" chronicling the Rolling Stones' 1969 US tour

Shared Academy Award nomination for "Christo's Valley Curtain"; also first of several film collaborations with the artist Christo

Worked as cinematographer on Leon Gast's documentary "When We Were Kings" about the Muhammed Ali and George Forman 'Rumble in the Jungle'; film not released until 1996

In early 1980s, worked on film profiles of musicians Seiji Ozawa and Vladimir Horowitz; earned Emmy Award for "Vladimir Horowitz: The Last Romantic"

Last feature collaboration with brother David, "Christo in Paris"; released three years after David's death

Co-directed (also produced) the award-winning HBO documentary "Abortion: Desperate Choices"

Filmed "Conversations With the Rolling Stones" (broadcast on VH-1)

Produced, shot and co-directed the award-winning HBO documentary "Letting Go: A Hospice Journey"

Co-directed with Susan Froemke and Bob Eisenhardt the documentary "Concert of Wills: Making the Getty Center"

With Froemke and Deborah Dickson, filmed "LaLee's Kin: The Legacy of Cotton"; premiered at Sundance before airing on HBO

Profiled directors Martin Scorsese, Wes Anderson, Robert Duvall and Jane Campion in the TV specials "With the Filmmaker: Portraits by Albert Maysles" (PBS)

Founded the Maysles Institute, a nonprofit organization that provides training and apprenticeships to underprivileged individuals

With Antonio Ferrera, documented a site-specific art installation by Christo and Jeanne-Claude, "The Gates" in NYC

Joined Martin Scorsese to directed "Shine a Light"; the film documented two 2006 performances that took place during rock and roll band The Rolling Stones' A Bigger Bang tour