Rita Dove's Ancestor Had Run-Ins With the Law
Rita learns about her grandfather's criminal charges and trying adulthood.
Amy Tan Learns About Her Father's Past in China
Amy discovers records of her father's immigration from China and his many accomplishments.
The Train Accident in Michael Imperioli's Family History
Michael's maternal grandfather, Alberto Luzzi, was born in New York City in June, 1914. Alberto had a difficult childhood due to the early passing of his father, Michael's great grandfather, who died in an accident cleaning trains for the transit system. Michael's great grandfather grew up in Calabria, Italy, before moving to America after getting married.
Joy Behar Discovers Her Grandfather's Immigrant Story
Joy Behar's grandfather sought a new life in America, but after only four years moved back to Calabria, Italy in 1907. He then married her grandmother, Francesca. He ultimately moved back to Pennsylvania and left her behind, where he was able to make enough money to send back for her. Francesca met him there in 1911 where they had their first child, Joy's mother, but Francesca passed away shortly.
La Famiglia Preview
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the family trees of talk show host Joy Behar and actor Michael Imperioli—two Americans whose roots stretch back to small towns in Calabria, Italy. Joy and Michael’s families lived in these towns for centuries, but their stories were lost on the journey to America. Gates reveals the challenges that their ancestors faced—and overcame—on both sides of the Atlantic.
Lea Salonga Uncovers Her German Ancestry
Lea Salonga has relatives who believe her maternal great great grandfather, Pedro Malhabor, was a German physicist. He arrived to the Philippines in the early 1870s.
Amanda Seyfried Discovers Ancestor Was an Army Musician
Amanda's third great grandfather, Peter Friesell, was living in Pennsylvania with his wife Lydia and their daughter in 1860. He voluntarily enlisted in the Civil War to fight for the Union to end slavery. He ultimately served as a musician, playing the fife. He risked his life and survived.
Larger Than Life Preview
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. introduces actors Lea Salonga and Amanda Seyfried to ancestors who are every bit as dramatic as the characters they’ve played on stage and screen. Moving from a naval base in the Philippines to a small town bakery in Pennsylvania to steamships on the Atlantic Ocean, Lea and Amanda hear stories of relatives who survived wars, murders, and heart-wrenching ordeals.
Season 11: Inside Look
Renowned scholar Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. returns for a new season of FINDING YOUR ROOTS. Using genealogical detective work and cutting-edge DNA analysis, Gates guides twenty compelling guests deep into their family trees, revealing surprising stories that transcend borders, illuminating an American root system fortified by its diversity.
Season 11: Extended Trailer
Renowned scholar Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. returns for a new season of FINDING YOUR ROOTS. Using genealogical detective work and cutting-edge DNA analysis, Gates guides twenty compelling guests deep into their family trees, revealing surprising stories that transcend borders, illuminating an American root system fortified by its diversity.
Megan Robertson and the Mystery of Green's Real Father
Join Megan Robertson, a curious descendant from the small town of Ashton, Idaho, as she delves into a longstanding family mystery - is Solomon Moxley truly the biological father of her great-grandfather, Green Church? Megan's investigation is fueled by the enduring stories and myths that have percolated through her family for generations.
Terrie Morrow's Quest to Unveil Her Great-Grandfather's Origins
Join Terrie Morrow, a devoted school bus driver from Birmingham, Alabama, as she embarks on an emotional odyssey to resolve a longstanding family puzzle that has intrigued her for decades. Her journey focuses on her cherished great-grandfather, affectionately referred to as Papa, whose early life is shrouded in obscurity. Left by his mother, Lenora, at the tender age of five with the Tagger family
Unraveling the Willis Family Mystery
Join Joyce Willis as she embarks on a riveting exploration into her family history, aiming to resolve a deeply rooted enigma: Was the man known as her grandmother Beatrice Willis's father truly related by blood? Through meticulous historical research, heartfelt interviews, and groundbreaking DNA analysis, Joyce seeks to uncover the truths buried within her family's past.
Megan Robertson's Search for Her Great-Grandfather's Roots
Megan Robertson embarks on a poignant quest to demystify the lineage of her great-grandfather, Green Church, who was believed to have been adopted early in his life. Originating from a longstanding curiosity fueled by fragmented family lore, Megan's journey leads her to the discovery that instead of an adoptive family, Green was actually raised by his grandparents alongside his brother Rufus.
Viewers Like You Preview
After a national casting call that received over nine thousand submissions, Henry Louis Gates, Jr. meets 3 everyday Americans. Each has a family mystery that they have spent years trying to solve—only to reach dead ends. Using genetic genealogy and old-fashioned detective work, Gates unravels these mysteries, allowing each of his guests to understand themselves—and their families--as never before.
In the Blood Preview
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the roots of actor Michael Douglas & writer-director Lena Dunham. Both guests are the children of famous artists—and both proudly followed in their parents’ footsteps. But their family trees contain a cast of characters whose lives were forgotten. Gates recovers them, telling fascinating stories from the shtetls of Eastern Europe to the streets of colonial America.
Lena Dunham's Ancestors' Heartbreaking Story of Survival
Lena Dunham embarks on a poignant journey to uncover her family's past, revealing a deep connection to the Holocaust. From discovering ancestors' records in Poland to the heartbreaking story of survival and loss during World War II, this video offers a powerful glimpse into history and Dunham's personal legacy.
Michael Douglas Unravels His Family's Secret Past
Join Michael Douglas on a riveting quest into his family's hidden history. From escaping the Russian army to uncovering a legacy of survival and secrecy, dive into the Douglas family's untold stories and ancestral secrets.
Lena Dunham Uncovers Her Ancestor's Complex Legacy
We trace Lena Dunham's ancestry back to her paternal eighth great-grandfather, Stephanus van Cortlandt, a pivotal figure in the early history of New York City. Stephanus's life story unfolds as one of ambition, becoming the first native-born Mayor of New York. But Lena confronts the more troubling aspects of his legacy, including his dealings with the Lenape tribe and his involvement in slavery.
Anthony Ramos' Ancestor was Enslaved by Conquistadors
Anthony Ramos' 15th great-grandfather, Andrés de Llerina, an indigenous person from Tenerife, Spain, faced hardships due to the Spanish conquest, being driven from his land and enslaved by a conquistador named Fernandez de Lugo.
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