Activist Roots
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. welcomes Brittany Packnett Cunningham and Anita Hill, two guests who made profound sacrifices for social justice, and helps them discover the ancestors who made sacrifices for them.
Since the premiere of his groundbreaking series, African American Lives, in 2006 through the first two seasons of Finding Your Roots, noted Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr. has unearthed the family histories of influential people helping shape our national identity.
Finding Your Roots Episodes
S8 Ep1 | 52m 11s
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. investigates the family history of Rebecca Hall & Lee Daniels
S7 Ep1 | 52m 11s
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. discovers the lineages that claim Glenn Close and John Waters.
S7 Ep2 | 52m 10s
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. discovers the lineages that claim Andy Cohen and Nina Totenberg.
S7 Ep3 | 52m 10s
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the roots of actor Jane Lynch and comedian Jim Gaffigan.
S7 Ep4 | 52m 10s
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. reveals the immigrant roots of actors Tony Shalhoub and Christopher
Write My Name in the Book of Life
S7 Ep5 | 52m 10s
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. helps musician Pharrell Williams and filmmaker Kasi Lemmons.
S7 Ep6 | 52m 11s
Henry Louis Gates Jr. uncovers the diverse backgrounds of Clint Black and Rosanne Cash.
S7 Ep7 | 52m 11s
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. traces ancestors of John Lithgow and Maria Hinojosa.
S7 Ep8 | 52m 10s
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. discovers the lineages of Gretchen Carlson and Don Lemon.
S7 Ep9 | 52m 11s
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. examines the family histories of Audra McDonald and Mandy Patinkin.
S7 Ep10 | 52m 11s
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. investigates the family history of Roy Wood, Jr. and Lewis Black.
S6 Ep1 | 52m 41s
Anjelica Huston, Mia Farrow, and Isabella Rosselini learn their family histories.
S6 Ep2 | 52m 36s
Dr. Gates helps Melissa McCarthy and Eric Stonestreet answer family mysteries.
S6 Ep3 | 52m 41s
Sterling K. Brown, Jon Batiste, and Shasheer Zamata learn their family histories.
S6 Ep4 | 52m 41s
Queen Latifah and Jeffrey Wright discover unexpected family trees.
S6 Ep5 | 52m 41s
Jeff Goldblum, Terry Gross, and Marc Maron uncover unknown family histories.
S6 Ep6 | 52m 11s
Sigourney Weaver, Justina Machado, and Amy Ryan unearth surprising family histories.
S6 Ep7 | 52m 41s
Francis Collins, Shirley Ann Jackson, and Harold E. Varmus learn their family histories.
S6 Ep8 | 52m 41s
Ava DuVernay, S. Epatha Merkerson, and Questlove discover unexpected family histories.
S6 Ep9 | 52m 41s
Jimmy Kimmel, Marisa Tomei, and John Turturro meet ancestors who made immense sacrifices.
S6 Ep10 | 52m 16s
Laura Linney, Lisa Ling, and Soledad O’Brien discover surprising roots.
S6 Ep11 | 52m 46s
Diane Von Furstenberg, Narciso Rodriguez, and RuPaul Charles discover surprising roots.
S6 Ep13 | 52m 40s
Julianne Moore, Bill Hader, and Kehinde Wiley discover surprising rates.
S6 Ep14 | 52m 40s
Scarlett Johansson, Lupita Nyong’o, and Lidia Bastianich discover surprising roots.
S6 Ep15 | 52m 10s
Gayle King, Jordan Peele, and Issa Rae discover surprising roots.
S6 Ep16 | 52m 10s
Nancy Pelosi, Norah O’Donnell, and Zac Posen discover surprising roots.
Finding Your Roots Extras
Anita Hill Learns Her Great-Great Grandparents’ Identities
S8 Ep2 | 1m 22s
Anita Hill meets her great-great grandparents who were listed in the 1870 census.
Anita Hill Unpacks Her Optimism and Humble Beginnings
S8 Ep2 | 1m 17s
Anita Hill says she was always optimistic about her future because of her mother’s spirit.
Anita Hill Wins “The Genealogical Jackpot”
S8 Ep2 | 1m 13s
A rare census finding leads to the revelation of Anita Hill's great-great-grandfather.
Brittany Packnett Cunningham Meets Her Great-Grandparents
S8 Ep2 | 55s
Brittany Packnett Cunningham learns the identity of her great-grandparents.
Brittany Packnett Cunningham Yearns to Know Her Grandfather
S8 Ep2 | 1m 16s
Brittany Packnett Cunningham says she yearns to learn the identity of her grandfather.
S8 Ep2 | 32s
Dr. Gates explores the ancestral roots of Brittany Packnett Cunningham and Anita Hill.
S8 Ep1 | 31s
Tune in to our season premiere this week with filmmakers Rebecca Hall and Lee Daniels.
S7 Ep1 | 32s
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. discovers the lineages that claim Glenn Close and John Waters.
S7 Ep1 | 44s
John Waters knew from an early age he wanted to work in entertainment.
S7 Ep2 | 31s
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. introduces Andy Cohen and Nina Totenberg.
S7 Ep2 | 1m 16s
Andy Cohen discovers a newspaper article about his great-great-grandfather.
S7 Ep3 | 33s
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the roots of actor Jane Lynch and comedian Jim Gaffigan.
Bill Hader's Sixth Great-Grandfather
S6 Ep13 | 1m
Bill Hader's sixth great-grandfather found in the American Revolution.
3m 9s
Season six of Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. premieres on October 8th!
S6 Ep1 | 30s
Anjelica Huston, Mia Farrow, and Isabella Rosselini learn their family histories.
S6 Ep2 | 30s
Dr. Gates helps Eric Stonestreet and Melissa McCarthy learn their family histories.
S6 Ep2 | 1m 8s
Eric talks about getting his work ethic from his dad and grandfather.
S6 Ep2 | 50s
Melissa talks about keeping her family close and how it must come from her genetics.
S6 Ep2 | 1m 13s
Henry Lewis Gates Jr. reveals the first member of Eric's family to come to Kansas.
S6 Ep2 | 1m 21s
Henry Lewis Gates Jr. discovers how the name Stonestreet came to be.
S6 Ep3 | 30s
Sterling K. Brown, Jon Batiste, and Shasheer Zamata learn their family histories.
Jon Batiste’s Ancestor Signs Name With “X”
S6 Ep3 | 1m 3s
Jon Batiste discovers his ancestor signed his name with “X” when registering to vote.
Sterling K. Brown Recalls Last Moment He Saw His Dad Alive
S6 Ep3 | 1m 31s
Sterling K. Brown emotionally recalls seeing his Dad for the last time before his death.
Sterling K. Brown Discovers Rare Roots
S6 Ep3 | 48s
Dr. Gates reveals Sterling K. Brown's rare ancestry.
S6 Ep4 | 30s
Queen Latifah and Jeffrey Wright discover unexpected family trees.
Queen Latifah Discovers Ancestor’s Emancipation Document
S6 Ep4 | 2m 20s
Queen Latifah meets the woman that freed her ancestors from slavery.
Family Roots in U.S Back to 1776
S6 Ep4 | 1m 29s
Queen Latifah discovers family roots that reinforce a conviction she has always felt.
A Grandfather's Imagery as a Black Man
S6 Ep4 | 1m 35s
Even today, Jeffrey Wright stands in awe of his grandfather's work ethic.
Taking Strength from Ancestors
S6 Ep4 | 1m 19s
Jeffrey Wright shares the strength and empowerment he draws from his ancestry.
S6 Ep5 | 30s
Jeff Goldblum, Terry Gross, and Marc Maron uncover unknown family histories.
Terry Gross on Getting Fired From Teaching
S6 Ep5 | 1m 11s
Terry Gross's career began in a place she couldn't fit — an 8th-grade classroom.
Become a PBS KVIE Passport member and watch your favorite PBS programs from any device.