Brendan Fraser: Descended from Candymen | Finding Your Roots | Ancestry®

Oscar-winning actor Brendan Fraser is overjoyed to find his ancestor's trade of choice on PBS’s Finding Your Roots.
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[@shannonfergusson978]

He seems like he has such a kind and loving soul. He's completely right and I wish more people would think about things and come to the same realization. We all need to be more grateful for what we have.

[@AncestryUS]

Hi, Shannon! We're so glad to hear that you enjoyed our clip from Finding Your Roots, featuring Brendan Fraser. If you'd like to watch full episodes of this fascinating show featuring other major celebrities then you can see how to watch any available episodes via the PBS website here: www.pbs.org/weta/finding-your-roots

[@patriciajrs46]

Yes, we do. Our ancestors endured great hardships, more than we can even contemplate. They were made of seriously tough stock.

[@MakeLifeExtraordinary]

I say this every day. I try to remember to thank God for the things that I have, and not worry about the things that I don’t. As, material possessions only means as much as the person who values them. it’s friendships and love that should be the currency everybody chases.

[@rscats67]

Totally agree. It would also help provide a much fuller appreciation for all the benefits and freedoms we have here.

[@caraqueno]

@@rscats67 Including those who were enslaved or eradicated as European immigrants arrived in the United States?

[@darkangel_1978]

Brendan is one of the sweetest people. Every interview I have watched or read, has shown that he's sweet, kind and humble.

[@noraelliott7304]

He is one of best!

[@jwelch5742]

Brendan Fraser won an Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role - The Whale for playing Charlie. Brendan Fraser became the first Canadian to win the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role.

[@spyfoxguy]

Is the double use of "sweet" a reference to what we learn in this video?

[@connieblackwell2491]

I believe his ancestors would be very proud of him ,and his achievements.

[@AncestryUS]

That is lovely to hear, Connie! Thanks for sharing.

[@gaynorcopp7383]

I have always liked and loved brandon frazers

[@AncestryUS]

That is lovely to hear Gaynor! We hope you have enjoyed this episode. Thanks for sharing!

[@muzicfreek1986]

I just love how genuinely excited and pleased he was to find out his great-grandpa was a candy salesman. "Candy stores!?!" His face just lit up like a big kid! It was so sweet!

[@AncestryUS]

Hi Alyssa! Thanks for stopping by. We are thrilled you have enjoyed this episode of our show. We hope you love the rest of the season just as much!

[@kingrichardiii6280]

i can speak from experience of that joy. just a small detail of your ancestor you never realized and it is "wow that is interesting". one of these moments my gram asked me to look into her grandfather. she lived with him as a kid but he never said anything about his past save he came from donegal, ireland. i found what i could from us records with little success. but i found in one of the earlier census' my 2nd great grandfather was in he was living with his aunt and a young girl was boarding with them with the same emigration year as my 2nd great grandpa. took a shot and searched for that girl and she and my 2nd great grandfather were circled together in a ship passenger list with my 2nd great grandfather marked as her "guardian". with this info i looked into the irish census and found the house my 2nd great grandfather lived in ireland and the mysterious girl was an adopted sister.

[@poppletop8331]

No wonder Brendan has such a sweet personality.🍬🍭🍫

[@AncestryUS]

We are delighted you have enjoyed this segment with Brendan, Poppletop! Thanks for sharing.

[@HansLandaLovesJews]

Not all actors are jerks. Brendans proof of that

[@MrsBrit1]

As though we needed more reason to love him, we now get this. 😍

[@AncestryUS]

Thanks for stopping by, MrsBrit1! We are thrilled you have enjoyed this episode with Brendan!

[@honoredebalzac1281]

Thanks for your kind words about my brother Brendan, but please also read what I posted!

[@davidyoungquist6074]

He is such a great guy. Met him briefly, and he's just as wonderful in person.

[@AncestryUS]

Oh that is lovely to hear, David! We love that you have enjoyed this episode!

[@davidyoungquist6074]

@AncestryUS I love the show and watch it whenever I can. I've become the keeper of records and history for both sides of my family, and my mother's side has much the same history of Brendan's.

[@jennifercollins881]

Brendan is adorable and I mean that not condescendingly but in the most attractive way possible.❤

[@AncestryUS]

Thanks so much for stopping by, Jennifer! We are thrilled you are enjoying this episode.

[@summerolson6394]

Omg I 100% agree!

[@TheRAYviewYT]

I’m certain that the strength of his ancestors lives within Brendan, and he honors them by just being the amazing person that he is! Much love ❤️

[@nancyhammons3594]

If you research your family tree, you should react like Brendan did, he was excited to find a Candyman in his tree. Never be ashamed of your ancestors. I think his ancestors would be very proud of him.

[@shaunstrasser1]

And not be ashamed to be the decendant of coal miners

[@LOOSEbowelz]

How can you not love Brendan Fraser ❤

[@AncestryUS]

We are delighted to hear you have loved this episode so much! Thanks for sharing, E!

[@IcedCoffee81]

He's one of my favorite crushes.

[@essieessie5399]

Excellent show! Brendan Fraser is a compassionate and humble man. I love him even more after watching this episode.

[@irenekotarac1346]

Adore you Brendan, so thrilled for your success. It figures your ancestors were in the candy business, explains why you're so sweet. God bless you & your family.🙏❤️🙏

[@vickiepower6201]

It's a shame that not all people are as beautiful as this amazing young man ❤

[@CrystalTwinStar]

I love Brendan so much. He has such a huge, sweet heart!

[@AncestryUS]

Thanks so much for your kind words, Crystal! We love that you enjoyed this episode of the show so much!

[@MishaSims]

a part of my family fled from the famine in Ireland too. they were the last people alive from their village. the village no longer exists to this day. the main part of my family came to America in 1734 and fought in the revolutionary war for America's independence. we traveled back and forth across the Atlantic and the main part of the family paid for the other members of our family and 50 other families to come to America during the famine.

[@leashacarey9106]

When you look up the word humble in the dictoionary, there is a picture of Brendan Fraser.

[@MakeLifeExtraordinary]

That is truly amazing that his family started in Centralia, Pennsylvania. Which is the town that has been on fire for many years and still burns to this day. What a great family history. God bless him and his soul. Very few like him in Hollywood or on this earth.

[@AncestryUS]

We love to hear you enjoyed this episode, Nick! Thanks for stopping by!

[@massiahgrom]

Been there recently. To see the minefires . I'm a coal cracker !

[@greencello599]

Brendan has a rich heritage on his mother's side from Ireland. The Irish immigrants to America had a hard time for many years. Part of that reason is that the Irish are predominantly Catholic, and most of the early European settlements in North America were Protestant. Many today don't fully understand the animosity that developed between Catholics and Protestants over the generations. It wasn't just contained to the British Isles.

[@JC-MindsEye-777]

Brendan Fraser always reminded me of a college buddy I had, near spitting image. His last name was Devine so makes me wonder if somehow he and Brandan are distant cousins. I would not be surprised.

[@AncestryUS]

Hi JC, thank you for taking the time out of your day to engage with us! We are thrilled to hear this brought back fond memories, there is nothing better than seeing our members relate to our content! If you ever need us for anything, please do nt hesitate to reach out!

[@JC-MindsEye-777]

@@BiblicalTeachings My mother told me anyone with the last name Calo, my grandmother's maiden name, is a cousin. I have a coworker who had that last name and told her we might be related. Turned out to be true and she's my 2nd cousin. She then said another coworker has a step-father with that last name that she found out was her cousin which means he's my cousin. It gets deeper, my mother was a social worker for Bronx,NY and had a case to help a woman who was from Ecuador. My mom looked at the woman's family records and found her mother's last name was Calo. My mother is Puerto Rican and found the connection too coincidental so she asked about the woman's mother. Well a family mystery was solved that day, the woman's mother was my grandmother's sister (my mother's direct aunt) who left home when she was 18yo and fell in love with an Ecuadorian man and was never seen again. The family thought she died. The woman my mom was helping was my mother's direct cousin.

[@lahomalin]

Yep, I'm from the same area as his great great grandfather's. My mom worked in Centralia before it caught fire. I went to school with a Devine that looks like Brendan. Now I have to believe they are distant distant relations. Pretty cool how we are all connected.

[@jeniestra.]

I've admired Brendan Fraser for 30 years and this video is a reaffirmation of why I feel that way.

[@AncestryUS]

We hope you enjoyed this episode! Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts!

[@bonniepark6802]

I am 71. My grandparents came from outside of Poland in the late 1800s. I was able to find them through the Ellis Island registry what a thrill that was

[@denisemelanson9717]

protect him at all costs

[@mskiara18]

I'm thankful Finding Your Roots exists, love seeing Brendan Fraser on the show

[@lightningbug276]

Brendan, we love you so much!❤

[@YasuTaniina]

I have very little respect for most actors as people, but Brendan Fraser seems like a genuinely good guy. I got excited seeing there was an episode with him

[@AncestryUS]

That is wonderful to hear, EmLaney! We hope you enjoy the rest of the season!

[@redmoondesignbeth9119]

That must be why Brendan is such a Sweet Heart. :)

[@AncestryUS]

Thanks for stopping by RedMoonDesign! We hope you enjoyed this episode.

[@redmoondesignbeth9119]

@@AncestryUS I love this show. A friend recently did my ancestors. Mary Barnes was hung as a witch in 1662. Being opinionated seems to be her crime. But that is who us Barnes Gurls are. 😄✌

[@donnav6219]

James Candy Company, anyone who is familiar with the Jersey Shore knows this company. I spent many a summer at the beach and a box of James Salt Water Taffy's siting on the kitchen counter. Oh the memories!

[@hilariefortune3909]

Wow, my grandparents were part of that famine, i remember stories from my grandma. Id love to know more about my ancestors. My family is all gone. I wished i wrote down the stories my grandma told me.

[@maryhirsch2909]

I love this man. When he won I just was so happy. This was awesome.

[@psychicmediumlisamarie3235]

Ohhh I just love him. He’s such a lovable man ❤️

[@bennyboogenheimer4553]

I remember after watching the show ROOTS all week on ABC TV, My Aunt Cass describing what a coal mine in upstate Pa. looked like, and how every man worked 12 to 16 hours a day in the mine, and was paid by the company store in tokens. So you were never ahead, always a slave. Cass only got away, because Philadelphia needed machine threaders, for industrial sewing machines. She left at 12, and only got to go back home at 28 when 6 members of her family were killed. Her brother Charles said, "We were in cotton field of our own, but no Army was coming to save us!"

[@slantos2668]

Brendan is so humble.

[@McLeod2022]

I stand upon the foundation of those who were before me. My mother. with me at 16 yrs old. an "unexpected oops".. a straight A student, brightest in her class, who chose me... she gave up her future to lay that bedrock for me and my fam. The best woman/person I have known. I fall short in my actions but i aspire to those who gave me a bed, a roof, a plate, and some comfort from those who oppress. Those before you walked harder paths.

[@MA-yh2ko]

🙏🏾🙏🏾

[@melirose89]

Brendan is such a sweet soul! 🥹❤️

[@marianavarro7797]

He seems like such a sweet and tender soul❤

[@jj-bv3ui]

I hope all the best in the world for Mr. Fraser. He is a delight to watch and seems like a truly delightful person irl. :)

[@siobhanroberts8627]

I've always loved his incredible talent, and his big heart.

[@sundance81677]

Brendan’s ancestors would be immensely proud of what type of person he is. He seems to be a very kind and lovely person. I’ve always liked him.

[@upstaged]

Would love to know where that petition for naturalization came from! Been trying to track down the same document for my 3X great-grandfather in Schuylkill County, PA and having no luck. Coincidentally, my 2X great-grandfather owned a confectionery store in Mahanoy City.. wonder if their paths ever crossed, haha.

[@roxy5588]

Brendan is such a sweetheart. A truly caring, loving man.

[@blxcklab]

I'm very happy he is looking healthy now.

[@blxcklab]

@@mytv89626 yes. He doesn't look pale than he used to.

[@laenvirolatina4763]

These always make me cry

[@amynazza]

I need one of those candy canes from the shop window in that b&w photograph. WOW! We need more handmade confections in this country, we are clearly missing out on gorgeous giant treats 😂

[@dalidzucheredi2495]

He is so happy about the candy and he didn't have any😂 this is wonderful.

[@t.nash8]

Love this! From famine to candy. I’ve found that nothing connects us to history like Ancestry. Nothing makes me want to dig deeper into the history of an area than knowing my ancestors lived through it. Ancestry humanizes history, and our connection to one another.

[@AncestryUS]

We love to hear the show is such an inspiration, t./ Nash! Thanks for sharing and we hope you enjoy the rest of the season!

[@canadarock1970]

You have no idea how much I LOVE your show. I love learning about other family's history as I've been working on my tree for twenty + years and always looking to find a celebrity connection! Lol

[@elouise5593]

Go to any LDS family history library and get someone to help you set up a free Family Search account. Then you can look up BYU's Relative Finder (log in via Family Search) and see if you have any famous cousins or direct ancestors. You might be surprised!

[@VeganDeterioration]

wow that's amazing they can find all this information

[@simonbannow3905]

A big thanks to Brendans ancestors!

[@HerbalMoon17]

Oh, that squeak of surprise hasn't changed! I love it! 🤭💙

[@ginalynn4493]

Mr Fraser is one of the best humans .

[@kimberlydavis4772]

What a darling, wonderful man he is!

[@clarissagarza7284]

I love him. I love Brendan Fraser.

[@BlueMilkTea443]

Love brendan❤❤

[@Rheaheart128]

He's such a wonderful person. It's funny that a lot of the comments I've seen say that he's wonderful, because it's just so true. It's basically the first word I think of when I think of Brendan Fraser. He will always be in the top 5 celebs I want to meet, and think that will be genuinely kind when I do, y'know?

[@Spectrefox1313]

Awesome actor that was sidelined for speaking up. Now he's getting his flowers. Good job Brendan

[@jenniehalbroeder3652]

My great grandmother and her father were confectionary dealers too in the 1800s in the UK

[@RIchardDavidson007]

He's one of my favorite actors too.

[@theeggtimertictic1136]

I'm Irish and we love Brendan.

[@dianegreen4803]

How I wish I could get this series on TV in the UK

[@nicolad8822]

I know! I watched them a few years back on PBS channel on Sky, but I can’t find recent ones on any platform now.

[@invadertifxiii]

this is incredible, according to my ancestry records if proven true, my 3rd and 4th great grandparents stayed in ireland till after the famine because my 3rd great grandparents were born in 1860s in ireland and died 1900s in US, and my great great grandmother was born in the US

[@AncestryUS]

Oh wow, that is so exciting to hear! We are delighted you were able to find out more about your ancestors paths in life! Thanks for sharing this with us.

[@DeeDee-lz8zx]

That's why the Irish love Americans - because the USA took in Irish refugees.

[@terryfox5666]

Nice kid. Always a very entertaining actor. Very good actor and seems to be very happy guy.

[@AncestryUS]

We are delighted to hear you have enjoyed this episode with Brendan, Terry! We hope you enjoy the rest of the season just as much.

[@terrancebrown87]

I got ancestry for a Christmas gift and holy cow I’m getting some cool stuff.

[@Straydogger]

Centralia is a borough and near-ghost town in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of Northeastern Pennsylvania. Its population has declined from 1,000 in 1980 to five residents in 2020 because a coal mine fire has been burning beneath the borough since 1962.

[@AncestryUS]

Oh wow, that is so fascinating to hear. Thanks for sharing this with us!

[@carolinasimoes2512]

He has such a kind soul ❤❤❤❤

[@lahomalin]

Yep, Patrick Devine is from my area. Alot of the Devine ancestors are still there. There is even a few old newspaper articles about his great grandfather from the Shamokin paper a few miles away from Centralia. "Patrick Devine and Bernard McBrearty, of Centralia, were among the throng of Sunday visitors to town."

[@lahomalin]

Welcome to the Coal Region Brendan!!!!! You are one of us!!!

[@Gravelgratious]

I hopemillennial and zoomer celebs get to be on this show. It’s really important as Brendan said to know and appreciate where you come from.

[@Tinymoezzy]

My great uncle was named Patrick Devine and sold Hershey chocolate in Pennsylvania. Trippy

[@Shay-bp7yt]

Rick o connell even better character now, fighting irish. Love ya Benny , love from a fellow Irishman from Donegal.

[@tagh4055]

What a humble, lovely man.

[@AncestryUS]

Hi there, thanks for watching!

[@jeffpagan7735]

Childhood is a new concept.

[@rachelgarber1423]

He’s such a sweet man

[@YummyLADanish]

No matter how old Brendan Fraser gets, he remains absolutely goofily adorable.

[@ericah980]

I love Finding Your Roots!! Best show on!

[@carolinemcgovern8059]

Irish woman here, love him.

[@carolinemcgovern8059]

@Brendanfraserofc Originally, I am from right on the Fermangh/Cavan border in Ireland. Now in London, England.

[@metalmaria26]

We love you, Brendan!

[@Cantetinza17]

And thats why he's so sweet! 😊

[@AncestryUS]

Thanks for stopping by, Cantetinza17! We are delighted to hear you enjoyed this episode with Brendan Fraser. We hope you love the rest of the season!

[@toodlescae]

I learned a lot about my own family tree and my DNA from Ancestry. One day I'll hopefully be able to afford my monthly subscription again. Y'all are a great company. I'm glad Brendan had such a pleasant experience. He's such a sweet and gentle gentleman

[@AncestryUS]

Hi there, thanks for stopping by. It's great to hear that you have had some success with your family history research. We have several sales throughout the year. While we do not share our promotional calendar publicly, we do try and keep our members updated about upcoming sales. If you are already a member of Ancestry, you can subscribe to our promotional email list through your account. This will ensure that you are first to know when a good sale price becomes available. Here is an article from our online support center on how to do that: support.ancestry.com/s/article/Signing-up-for-Promotional-Emails-from-Ancestry

[@thegatesofdawn...1386]

I like him. Imagine what they suffered through. A success story, most certainly.

[@massiahgrom]

I love him hes so handsome and talented .

[@janetwatson7966]

We should be thankful for what our ancestors went through. They made it possible for what we have today. Most impotent is our freedoms.

[@samanthapuskar6245]

Growing up in the coal country of Pennsylvania, there is something about the area that keeps you hard working, proud, and humble.

[@robertfeeney9857]

Brendan Fraser going be 56 years old in 2024 soon because he was born in 1968! He’s been an actor since 1990 when he was 22 years old.

[@romanticfool5658]

Such a sweet soul❤

[@AncestryUS]

Thanks so much for your lovely comment! We hope you enjoyed this episode as much as we did.

[@chrismazz75]

I noticed GGF was from Centralia PA.. that town has a very interesting and tragic story..

[@steffaney2012]

Brendan is such a nice person.

[@jwelch5742]

Brendan Fraser won an Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role - The Whale for playing Charlie. Brendan Fraser became the first Canadian to win the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role.

[@angelaweglarska8428]

Such a sweet guy ❤

[@vegetachiva]

Love him so much! He trully is a lovely person

[@AncestryUS]

Thanks so much for stopping by, vegetachiva! We are glad to hear you enjoyed this episode!

[@dfagula]

I believe he has a good heart & is very appreciative for what he has. !!

[@sgc5888]

Such a lovely guy. But how & when did his mother's family get to Canada 🇨🇦 She was from Saskatchewan I think.

[@leegifford2942]

Yeah, they didn't really go into his mom's side much. But, yes, she was born in my hometown, Saskatoon which I didn't know about until I watched the episode. Her brother, George, was a gold medal winner in trap shooting and was a doctor.

[@M1N1Girl007]

We love ya man!!!!! Glad that you are back!!

[@AncestryUS]

We are delighted to hear you are enjoying this episode with Brendan fraser, M1N1G1RL007! Thanks for stopping by!

[@ajdarko8531]

I'm half African, half Irish and it's disturbing to me that ppl will say negative things about the struggles of both.

[@ajdarko8531]

@@nicolad8822 I agree. But my African genes aren't new to Ireland.. My fathers family goes back 4 generations living in Ireland as an adopted boy from Africa..My mother's side moved to the US right around the famine in the mid 1800's.

[@biddyearly9262]

​@@nicolad8822 Most Irish are not against emigrants who do it the right way. These emigrants are economic migrants who often hop between 4 safe country's before they reach Ireland. And before you criticize Ireland, your country was built on the genocide of native Americans. Ireland has a right to protect its borders as every sovereign nation has that right.

[@biddyearly9262]

​@@ajdarko8531 What he is saying to you about "for them to complain makes little sense" here's a bit of context, in Ireland there is a severe housing crisis and immigrants from everywhere including Ukraine are given 700$ monthly on top of social welfare while the Irish are struggling themselves so it makes the Irish envious for lack of a better word. But I've always said don't direct anger against the people newly arriving in Ireland but direct the anger at the corrupt government. Ireland politicians are nepotist and corrupt to the core. And even immigrants themselves who have been in Ireland for years are suffering the same so they are frustrated just as much.

[@Skyebright1]

@@biddyearly9262the Ukrainian refugees travelled straight to Ireland I thought

[@megankenworthy6345]

I relate to this story. Both of my great grandparents on my moms side came to the US because of the famine. I wouldn't be here without them.

[@iwakuraSanta]

the handwiting amazing

[@codelessunlimited7701]

Fled Ireland from famine, then arrived in America as young kid. Then worked in a coal mine and established a candy store. That's absolute winning! No wonder Brendan is a very humble man.

[@kennyfresquez7019]

That explains Brenden's undying wholesomeness. The current wholesome trifecta, to me, would be Brenden Fraser, Keanu Reeves, and Dwayne Johnson.

[@ritarabaa8338]

I love You Brendan ❤

[@AncestryUS]

We're so pleased that you enjoyed gaining these insights into Brendan's own family history, Rita Rabaa! Each episode tells a unique story and provides valuable historical context to help us understand the challenges faced by past generations. Click here to check out even more amazing highlights from past seasons of the show: kzbin.info/aero/PL0xuz8BBkD4gm8NBVH8ga1elIoAkBjL-q. Thanks again and have a great week! 🌳

[@kimgroslouis5587]

Yes, back in the 1800s there was poverty everywhere and just being able to find a job was a blessed even though the job was awful and have horrible condition. As long as they could feed and give a shelter to their family (being on a survival lifestyle). Always be grateful to your ancestors like him because we wouldn't be here living comfortably like today. Some people have everything and still complaining, they have no life values and it makes me sick. Brendan is amazing with a kind heart, love him ❤

[@AncestryUS]

Thanks so much for stopping by, Kim! We love to hear you have enjoyed this episode with Brendan Fraser! Thanks for sharing.

[@simonmc78]

We do not call it the Great Famine in Ireland. We call it the Great Hunger or An Gorta Mor. There was plenty of food in the country just not available to the native Irish. It was mostly exported to Great Britain