Moved to New York City after graduating from Yale

Worked as an advertising copy writer

Started Electronics Enginering, the company that developed the first computerized airline reservation system

Sold Electronics Engineering

Met experimental filmmaker Francis Thompson; was inspired to become a filmmaker

Made first film, "Daybreak Express", a five-minute portrait of NYC's now defunct Third Avenue elevated subway set to Duke Ellington's music

Began making industrial films

Joined Richard Leacock and others in Filmakers, an equipment-sharing film co-operative

Joined Robert Drew's Drew Associates for "Living Camera", the TV documentary series produced by Time-Life

Worked on ten TV documentaries, each intended to chronicle a crucial day, week, or month in the lives of both famous and unknown subjects

Co-directed (with Richard Leacock, Albert Maysles, Robert Drew, and Terence Macartney-Filgate) the landmark political documentary, "Primary", about the 1960 Democratic primary contest between candidates John Kennedy and Hubert Humphrey in Wisconsin

Was involved with "Adventures on the New Frontier", an ABC documentary shot in the White House during the early weeks of the Kennedy Administration

Collaborated on "Crisis", a chronicle of Robert Kennedy's successful battle with Alabama governor George Wallace over school desegregation

Left Drew Associates and formed Leacock-Pennebaker, Inc. with Richard Leacock

Produced, shot and directed the landmark feature-length pop artist portrait, "Don't Look Back", about Bob Dylan's 1965 English tour; the film's cardboard-sign sequence for Dylan's "Subterranean Homesick Blues" is often cited as the first rock video

Co-directed (with James Desmond, Barry Feinstein, Albert Maysles, Roger Murphy, Richard Leacock and Nick Proferes) the first major rock concert film, "Monterey Pop"

Served as director of photography on three films directed by Norman Mailer: "Beyond the Law" (1968), "Wild 90" (1969) and "Maidstone" (1970)

With Leacock, directed "Original Cast Album: Company", a look at the grueling 15-hour marathon recording session of the landmark Stephen Sondheim stage musical

Shot the strange concert film "Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars" featuring David Bowie in his alternative persona

First collaboration with editor, producer, and future wife Chris Hegedus on "Town Bloody Hall", a record of a 1971 debate between Norman Mailer and a group of feminist writers

With Hegedus, directed "Elliott Carter", a profile of the influential modern composer

Profiled rock star Jimi Hendrix in "Jimi Plays Monterey"; not released theatrically until 1989

Made "Depeche Mode 101", a nonfiction look at the British rock band's US tour

Co-directed "Branford Marsalis: The Music Tells You", a look at the influential jazz musician

Garnered critical praise for "The War Room", a behind-the-scenes look at the 1992 US Presidential campaign of Bill Clinton

Undertook a look at the making of a stage play by following the out-of-town tryout of the comedy "Moon Over Buffalo" in the documentary "Moon Over Broadway"

Served as a producer on "Startup.com", co-directed by Chris Hegedus