Richard Feynman

Richard Phillips Feynman (May 11, 1918 – February 15, 1988) (surname pronounced FINE-man; {{IPA|/ˈfaɪnm?n/}} in IPA) was one of the most influential American physicists of the 20th century, expanding greatly the theory of quantum electrodynamics. As well as being an inspiring lecturer and amateur musician, he helped in the development of the atomic bomb and was later a member of the panel which investigated the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. For his work on quantum electrodynamics, Feynman was one of the recipients of the Nobel Prize in Physics for 1965, along with Julian Schwinger and Shin-Ichiro Tomonaga.

Works about Feynman

There are several documentaries with and about Feynman, all made in Britain for the BBC's Horizon programme, and shown in the United states by PBS's Nova:

Related Topics:
BBC - Horizon - PBS - Nova

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• "The Pleasure of Finding Things Out"
• "The Quest for Tannu Tuva" (re-titled 'Last Journey of a Genius' on Nova)
• "No Ordinary Genius", Parts 1 and 2 (one-hour version re-titled "The Best Mind Since Einstein" on Nova)

A movie was made about Feynman's life in 1996. Called Infinity and starring Matthew Broderick, the movie focused on Feynman's relationship with his first wife, Arline, with his work on the Manhattan Project serving as a backdrop for what was essentially a love story. The film received mixed reviews, however, and did poorly at the box office.

Related Topics:
1996 - Matthew Broderick - Manhattan Project

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Finally, the character of Feynman was portrayed by Alan Alda in a play called QED in 2001. The play was essentially a one-man show, with only brief appearances by other characters, portraying Feynman in his office at Caltech and covering many of the stories and anecdotes included in Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman! and What Do You Care What Other People Think? A similar one-man play entitled Feynman Lives!, produced several years earlier, featured actor Norman Parker as Feynman.

Related Topics:
Alan Alda - 2001

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