Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
Before the popularity of AncestryDNA, journalist and cultural critic Henry Louis Gates, Jr. divulges the family trees of various celebrities, many times with stunning revelations.
Genre: Documentary, Biography, History
Cast:Henry Louis Gates Jr. , CeCe Moore , Mia Farrow , Anita Hill , Ty Burrell , Sterling K. Brown , Kehinde Wiley , Cory Booker , Tina Fey , Sally Field , Angela Bassett , Sting , Anderson Cooper , Tony Kushner , Nas , Aarón Sánchez , Derek Jeter , George Stephanopoulos
S6.E1 ∙ Hollywood Royalty
Three actresses who come from Hollywood royalty, Anjelica Huston, Mia Farrow (whose segment is taken from Maps of the Stars (2016)) and Isabella Rossellini, learn their family histories.
S6.E2 ∙ Off the Farm
Melissa McCarthy and Eric Stonestreet, two comics who moved away from their homey family farms to pursue a career in fashion and clownship only to find unexpected success in Hollywood, learn what they have in common with their ancestors.
S6.E3 ∙ Homecomings
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. helps actor Sterling K. Brown, comedian Sasheer Zamata and musician Jon Batiste discover the unexpected places their ancestors once called home, providing new insight into the people and places that made them who they are today.
S6.E4 ∙ This Land Is My Land
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. reveals to his two guests, musician Queen Latifah and actor Jeffrey Wright, how their ancestors' uncommonly well documented experience in America reflects on their success.
S6.E5 ∙ Beyond the Pale
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the Jewish heritages of actor Jeff Goldblum, radio host Terry Gross, and comedian Marc Maron, previously unknown stories that show each share much more with their ancestors than a religious tradition.
S6.E6 ∙ Secrets & Lies
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. helps actors Sigourney Weaver, Justina Machado, and Amy Ryan unearth surprising revelations about their family histories, forever altering how they see themselves.
S6.E7 ∙ Science Pioneers
Three esteemed science pioneers are featured: Francis Collins, Shirley Ann Jackson and Harold E. Varmus.
S6.E8 ∙ Slave Trade
Clip show episode compiling three previous stories about people whose families' lives were forever changed in shocking and surprising ways by the slave trade: Ava DuVernay, S. Epatha Merkerson and Questlove.
S6.E9 ∙ Italian Roots
Clip show episode compiling three previous stories about famous people with Italian roots whose families were forced to flee Europe due to poverty, disaster and intolerance: Jimmy Kimmel, Marisa Tomei and John Turturro.
S6.E10 ∙ Criminal Kind
The family histories of Laura Linney, Lisa Ling and Soledad O'Brien reveal tricksters, scoundrels and criminals.
S6.E11 ∙ Fashion's Roots
Designers Diane van Fürstenberg and Narciso Rodriguez and actor RuPaul Charles learn about their ancestors.
S6.E12 ∙ DNA Mysteries
DNA detective work is used to solve mysteries in the family trees of Ann Curry, actress Téa Leoni and radio host Joe Madison.
S6.E13 ∙ War Stories
Kehinde Wiley, Julianne Moore and Bill Hader research their family's military service.
S6.E14 ∙ Flight
The families of Lupita Nyong'o, Lidia Bastianich and Scarlett Johansson crisscross the globe to escape oppression and find opportunity.
S6.E15 ∙ Breaking Silences
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the family secrets of journalist Gayle King, film director Jordan Peele, and comedian Issa Rae, introducing them to ancestors who raise profound questions about the shape and meaning of their family trees.
S6.E16 ∙ Coming to America
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. helps Nancy Pelosi, Norah O'Donnell and Zac Posen explore their immigrant roots, retracing the journeys of their ancestors who arrived in the United States with little more than a dream.
