by Paulette Cohn

What do Tony Bennett, Joe DiMaggio, Stanley Tucci, Nancy Pelosi, and John Turturro have in common? They are among the subjects of a new PBS two-part, four-hour documentary series, The Italian Americans, which explores the evolution of Italians in the U.S. from the late 19th century to today.

"I know a lot about Italian history because I've been interested in it," says Turturro, whose critically acclaimed acting career encompasses projects as diverse as the hit box office franchise Transformers to Oscar-nominated movies such as Quiz Show and Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? "I don't think that [Italian] people know that much about where they come from. They maybe know the last 50 years... Plus, I don't think Italian-American history is as well documented as other groups."

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Source: http://www.biography.com/