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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.
Episodes
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Where Did We Come From?
S8 E10 - 52m 16s
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. journeys with Erin Burnett, Amy Carlson and André Leon Talley, three guests from diverse backgrounds, as they meet the ancestors who laid the groundwork for their success.
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Watchmen
S8 E9 - 52m 11s
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. guides Regina King and Damon Lindelof, the creative forces behind a visionary television series, as they discover that they have more in common than meets the eye.
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Songs of the Past
S8 E8 - 52m 11s
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. accompanies Broadway stars Leslie Odom, Jr. and Nathan Lane as they meet a cast of inspiring ancestors hidden in the branches of their family trees.
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Forgotten Journeys
S8 E7 - 52m 11s
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. helps John Leguizamo and Lena Waithe retrace the paths of their ancestors, uncovering crucial pieces of their own identities that were lost on the journey to America.
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Fighters
S8 E6 - 52m 11s
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. sits down with Terry Crews and Tony Danza, both guests who overcame adversity, to discover they aren’t the first in their families to beat the odds through sheer force of will.
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Mexican Roots
S8 E5 - 52m 16s
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the deep Mexican roots of talk show host Mario Lopez and comedian Melissa Villaseñor, uncovering ancestors stretching back to the 1500s. Weaving together stories of migratory farmers, Spanish Conquistadors and Native Americans, Gates conjures up personal histories of diverse, sometimes conflicting, elements.
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Things We Don't Discuss
S8 E4 - 52m 11s
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. works with Pamela Adlon and Kathryn Hahn, two guests whose family trees were obscured by scandals, to discover the truth about their ancestors.
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Activist Roots
S8 E2 - 52m 11s
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.
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Children of Exile
S8 E3 - 52m 11s
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. retraces the ancestral journeys of David Chang and Raúl Esparza, whose families fled their homelands, leading them to find lost parts of themselves along the way.
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Hidden in the Genes
S8 E1 - 52m 11s
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. helps Rebecca Hall and Lee Daniels solve family mysteries through DNA detective work, illuminating both history and their own identities.
Extras + Features
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Clues About Lee Daniels’ Fun-Loving Side of the Family
S8 E1 - 1m 3s
“That’s why they’re so damn uppity.” An 1850 census reveals clues about Lee Daniel’s grandmother’s fun-loving, musical family and why he has always felt a special connection to them.
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“Passing” Helps Rebecca Hall Uncover a Family Mystery
S8 E1 - 1m 12s
The book “Passing", which Rebecca Hall has directed for film, helps her bring her grandfather's ethnicity into focus.
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Lee Daniels Is DNA Cousins with Mia Farrow
S8 E1 - 40s
How is this possible?!” Lee Daniels discovers he is DNA cousins with actor and human rights advocate Mia Farrow.
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Lee Daniels Delves into a Special Family Connection
S8 E1 - 48s
A discovery about Lee Daniels’ grandmother’s fun-loving, musical family may explain why he has always felt a special connection to them.
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Rebecca Hall Discovers Her Ancestors’ Ethnicities
S8 E1 - 1m 12s
The 1910 census holds clues about the true ethnicity of Rebecca Hall’s grandfather, who had lived as a Native American Sioux chief named Norman Isaac Ewing.
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Season 8 Official Preview
S8 E1 - 3m 7s
A new season of Finding Your Roots premiered January 4, 2022! Tune in for all-new episodes as Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores fascinating ancestries and family mysteries for an array of notable guests.
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One of the Most Prominent African Americans in Washington
S8 E1 - 1m 16s
Despite being born into slavery, Rebecca Hall’s great-grandfather, John Ewing, went on to work at the U.S. Treasury, attend Howard University and befriend Frederick Douglass.
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Hidden in the Genes Preview
S8 E1 - 31s
Finding Your Roots is back! Tune in to our season premiere this week with actress and filmmaker Rebecca Hall and filmmaker Lee Daniels as Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the hidden stories of their family trees. Don’t miss Finding Your Roots on Tuesday, January 4 at 8/7c on @PBS!
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Season 8 Teaser
S8 - 30s
A new year means new Finding Your Roots! In our eight season, Henry Louis Gates, Jr. will explore fascinating ancestries and family mysteries for an array of notable guests including Terry Crews, Mario Lopez, David Chang and more! Mark your calendars for Jan 4 at 8/7c.
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Season 8 Sneak Peek
S8 - 2m
Finding Your Roots Season 8 is bursting with reveals, including family mysteries solved and long-hidden secrets uncovered for Pamela Adlon, Regina King, Rebecca Hall, Brittany Packnett Cunningham, and more! Mark your calendars for an all-new season starting on Tuesday, Jan 4 at 8/7c on PBS.
Schedule
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Finding Your Roots
Forever Young
Wednesday
Apr 24
1 Hour
Actors Valerie Bertinelli and Brendan Fraser explore their family histories. -
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Finding Your Roots
Forever Young
Wednesday
Apr 24
1 Hour
Actors Valerie Bertinelli and Brendan Fraser explore their family histories. -
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Finding Your Roots
Forever Young
Wednesday
Apr 24
1 Hour
Actors Valerie Bertinelli and Brendan Fraser explore their family histories. -
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Finding Your Roots
Forever Young
Wednesday
Apr 24
1 Hour
Actors Valerie Bertinelli and Brendan Fraser explore their family histories. -
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Finding Your Roots
Forever Young
Saturday
Apr 27
1 Hour
Actors Valerie Bertinelli and Brendan Fraser explore their family histories. -
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Finding Your Roots
Forever Young
Sunday
Apr 28
1 Hour
Actors Valerie Bertinelli and Brendan Fraser explore their family histories. -
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Finding Your Roots
Forever Young
Sunday
Apr 28
1 Hour
Actors Valerie Bertinelli and Brendan Fraser explore their family histories. -
Image
Finding Your Roots
Forever Young
Sunday
Apr 28
1 Hour
Actors Valerie Bertinelli and Brendan Fraser explore their family histories. -
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Finding Your Roots
Forever Young
Monday
Apr 29
1 Hour
Actors Valerie Bertinelli and Brendan Fraser explore their family histories. -
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Finding Your Roots
Forever Young
Monday
Apr 29
1 Hour
Actors Valerie Bertinelli and Brendan Fraser explore their family histories. -
Image
Finding Your Roots
Forever Young
Monday
Apr 29
1 Hour
Actors Valerie Bertinelli and Brendan Fraser explore their family histories. -
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Finding Your Roots
Forever Young
Tuesday
Apr 30
1 Hour
Actors Valerie Bertinelli and Brendan Fraser explore their family histories. -
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Finding Your Roots
Fathers and Sons
Tuesday
Apr 30
1 Hour
Actors LeVar Burton and Wes Studi, two men who grew up without their fathers, explore their family histories. -
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Finding Your Roots
Fathers and Sons
Tuesday
Apr 30
1 Hour
Actors LeVar Burton and Wes Studi, two men who grew up without their fathers, explore their family histories. -
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Finding Your Roots
Fathers and Sons
Wednesday
May 1
1 Hour
Actors LeVar Burton and Wes Studi, two men who grew up without their fathers, explore their family histories. -
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Finding Your Roots
Fathers and Sons
Wednesday
May 1
1 Hour
Actors LeVar Burton and Wes Studi, two men who grew up without their fathers, explore their family histories. -
Image
Finding Your Roots
Fathers and Sons
Wednesday
May 1
1 Hour
Actors LeVar Burton and Wes Studi, two men who grew up without their fathers, explore their family histories. -
Image
Finding Your Roots
Fathers and Sons
Wednesday
May 1
1 Hour
Actors LeVar Burton and Wes Studi, two men who grew up without their fathers, explore their family histories. -
Image
Finding Your Roots
Fathers and Sons
Saturday
May 4
1 Hour
Actors LeVar Burton and Wes Studi, two men who grew up without their fathers, explore their family histories. -
Image
Finding Your Roots
Fathers and Sons
Saturday
May 4
1 Hour
Actors LeVar Burton and Wes Studi, two men who grew up without their fathers, explore their family histories.
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