The Most Shocking Celebrity Cousin Matches EVER on Finding Your Roots | Ancestry®

[@AncestryUS]

Can you believe these celebrity cousins?! If you could be related to any celebrity, who would it be and why?

[@vickyconerty8822]

I’m actually related to Woody Harrelson. 🙂

[@jackielc68]

Rod Stewart! I have adored and admired him since I was a very young girl. ❤

[@JackLeichter2023]

@AncestryUS Who Is My DNA 🧬 Cousin?

[@CrystalTwinStar]

Amy Grant I have always felt a deep kinship with her and always felt if we would meet casually somewhere we would hit it off well. Many times throughout my life I have felt connected with different people (and even occupations, geographical locations, etc.) and over time I have discovered that, in many cases, there is an actual reason. So, now when I feel a connection with anyone or anything I always delve into exploring it as deeply as I can. Doing this has made life much more interesting, fulfilling and adventurous!

[@1JewelOfTheNile]

Oprah!!! 🙏🏿🤞🏾😁

[@NotoriousWhistler]

Bernie Sanders: THAT'S UNBELIEVABLE!! Me: That's literally the most believable thing I've ever heard.

[@Liliarthan]

They even look alike 😂😂😂

[@lightyagami3492]

@@Liliarthan Literally LMAOOO

[@lc5929]

Most Ashkenazi Jews are related

[@MISNM0]

😂😂😂😂❤

[@BaldMancTwat]

@@LiliarthanThey look and sound exactly the same lol

[@nesnibila4888]

"my brother!" warmed my heart

[@Tylerson]

Jon Lithgow is one of my favorite famous people in the world. He can play some despicable people but out of those characters he always seems so warm and genuine.

[@WillyWylde1919]

It did me too. I wish all humans looked at each other like this.

[@barkerlandar]

Made me cry. spontaneous love reaction

[@daniellescott477]

Yes, mine too❤😊 good morning and day to all. Or afternoon, night😊

[@Pulsonar]

The John Lithgow one stunned me as much as John himself. His “we are brothers” exclamation was so genuine and lovely. I hope they at least had dinner together at some point just to round off a splendid and heartwarming surprise 🙏🏽

[@Thailerr]

You know... are we really that shocked that Larry David and Bernie are cousins? The writing was on the wall the whole time 😂

[@AncestryUS]

We all should have seen that one coming!

[@Magiasama88]

You mean in the hairline. 🤭

[@721rena]

They literally talk and look alike!

[@maxxandubar503]

Apparently they grew up not too far from each other in New York as well!

[@ragantate3995]

😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅

[@clairegoulet927]

Gosh John Lithgow's truly heartfelt "My Brother!" brought a tear to my eye. I wish we could all see each other like that..

[@AncestryUS]

We're glad you enjoyed these clips, Claire! Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts with us!

[@nostalgiamostalgia0319]

It’s the voice of Jean-Claude in Rugrats go to Paris

[@___David___Savian]

I met John Lithgow once. He really is that kind guy. He does not have one ounce of ego or narcassism in him. He is a true gentleman.

[@AncestryUS]

That must have been an unforgettable moment, David! We're glad that it all went so well and that you found John as genuine and kind as he always appears to be. We appreciate you stopping by to share your own thoughts! ❤️

[@unrealshrimp]

Bruh he was singing silly kids songs on his guitar on the kids show networks he's such a dad guy, warm soul for sure, we don't get many of those

[@NextExiter]

My friend met celebrities doing a lot of housework in LA, and said Lithgow was the only one he met who had the bigger-than-life presence he expected of a star.

[@Susan406]

We live near where he has a summer home and my husband sees him on the golf course sometimes. He absolutely is as wonderful as everyone says. By the way, do yourself a favor and watch the episode of "Amazing Stories" called "The Doll" (1986). Lithgow won a well-deserved Emmy for his performance.

[@susanfletcher3929]

I met him too and I concur.

[@relfyem]

"My brother!" That brought tears to my eyes.

[@speedRacer05]

Mine too!

[@Snoopydad]

Great to see the white guests really enthusiastic about their cousins of color.

[@Snoopydad]

@@lawrencefrost9063 For most of our history going into the relatively recent past it didn't work that way Bro.

[@brightbubbly8251]

🙄

[@TedEhioghae]

​@@SnoopydadColoured People = People of Colour.

[@donna25871]

Now if Jimmy Kimmel had turned that page and seen Matt Damon that would have been epic 😂😂😂

[@brandon1234]

I wish it was.😂

[@georgeharman7177]

Or Katt Williams lmao

[@airbrushpower]

Thats what I was half expecting too! lol

[@freedomprophet2891]

@georgeharmann7177 why Kat Williams?? What a f..k does that has to do with anything? You just throwing names out there for no particular reason?

[@cjpatz]

Or Aaron Rogers! That would have been insanely hilarious!😂

[@MrsBrit1]

When John reached out to you with absolute joy and called you "brother!" Oh, I loved that! 💗

[@heygoodbyee]

We must protect John Lithgow!

[@neatofication]

I know! It was so cute 🥰

[@billiestevens318]

Even if it was take 47

[@Robdobalina]

John was wrong. It's his cousin NOT his brother. I'm furious.

[@clarissagafoor5222]

​@@Robdobalina What an odd emotion to have! And in many, many cultures cousins are siblings!

[@BlackwolfllArt-zc9vq]

When i saw Jimmy Kimmel i went: "Please be Matt Damon, Please be Matt Damon, *PLEASE BE MATT DAMON!!"...*

[@fransuke12]

More like, Please NOT Matt Damon 😂

[@cmarq817]

Me too! 😂

[@brainlock72]

Surprise! It’s BEN AFFLECK!

[@Greenballoffire]

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I WAS THINKING HAHAH

[@tannerb434]

I really thought it was gonna be Guillermo 😂😂

[@SelahEspiritual]

That "my brother" at the end is what this whole world needs right now. Oh, how we need it!

[@cdcdogs4961]

I have been a amateur genealogist for 25+ years. I think most people will be surprised to know how closely we are all related. 😳😁

[@kellyshomemadekitchen]

Yes! I’ve built my family tree back to the 1200s on both sides and there are so many astounding names, it’s unbelievable.

[@cartersusan]

I like to say, we are all related. We just have to find the right pieces. :) Since we are all descendents of Adam and Eve.

[@cannyexplorer5357]

It goes back to when 1st cousins married each other. In breeding.

[@lmc2375]

Yes, each was a shock. Ronstadt is a distant cousin of mine. Her early ancestors made the most beautiful wagons. Leo Carrillo, The Cisco Kid and my GF knew him. Leo's Grandfather had the Coronado CA Spanish land grant and sold it for $3,000 - was a lot of money back then. I also relate to Gobbi, the opera singer and Francesco Durante, early IT composer and "The Widow" of the 1775 - 1776 de Anza Expedition, said to be a Spitfire is my 6th GGM. You'd have to be to go over the head of Father Font to de Anza himself to see that you and and two young daughters were not left behind. That she did and wasn't. Her husband was killed in an Indian uprising attack at the Presidio in Tubac, while de Anza was out scouting best route from Mx to CA. He was killed/buried 14 Feb 1774. Those going on the Exp had to be married and she no longer was. Must have been something to have lived through. Glad she did.

[@justme6767]

I did DNA trying to find my siblings I found a few maybe you can help me

[@AtlanticGiantPumpkin]

I feel like Bill Hader had to flip when he realized he’s related to THE comedy legend Carol Burnett

[@MISNM0]

I mean, right.....???🤯🥲💓

[@sezzyridge]

That's got to feel good. Carol is a phenomenal entertainer.

[@michaelminch5490]

I would have lost my freakin' mind.

[@Meli1380]

Well, I guess someone finally won the 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon! 😂

[@EdDunkle]

6 DNA strands of Kevin Bacon

[@DEVRIMCI2007]

We are all related to Kevin Beacon. 😀

[@Liliarthan]

They both won on that one. I’d be stoked to be related to either one of them 😄

[@Robdobalina]

Kevin Bacon declined to comment on his disappointment

[@hectorsmommy1717]

They didn't show this but his wife, Kyra Sedgewick, is a DNA cousin of his.

[@russergee49]

Seth Myers knows he just won the ‘six degrees of Kevin Bacon’ game

[@aprilflynn]

That was hilarious

[@marycook1644]

I thought Kevin would show up as everyone’s sixth cousin !!! 🦉

[@deejay9851]

My thoughts exactly 💯

[@ninat7483]

When I saw Carol Burnette and Bill Hader my jaw dropped! It make so much sense now 😂😂

[@marciasiehr6561]

3:39

[@MakelleBell]

Lithgow, "My brother!".. hilarious and endearing at the same time. 😂❤

[@GratitudeGriot]

Jimmy Kimmel sees Martha Stewart "I make my own vinegar"😂 hilarious! I LOVE this show!!

[@empebee]

I was really hoping it would be Matt Damon.

[@drewlovelyhell4892]

I can actually see the resemblance between the two.

[@sezzyridge]

Same! You can definitely tell they're related.@@drewlovelyhell4892

[@colleenovo1084]

@@empebeeI was just coming on here to say that! That would’ve been hilarious

[@Neopanther]

That's not Kimmel.

[@Loupdelou-ly1ve]

The joy on John Lithgow's face!

[@benr979]

“My brother” made me emotional ngl. You can see the immediate bond wash over them

[@kristen6393]

I love seeing how many black and white people are related. It's amazing how connected we are but think we are so different. We need more of this.

[@AncestryUS]

Hiya Kristen. We're grateful to you for sharing your thoughts on this mind blowing compilation of amazing discoveries taken from past seasons of the show. It can really inspire us and make us reflect in so many ways and we would recommend taking a peek at our entire playlist here if you are hungry for more: kzbin.info/aero/PL0xuz8BBkD4gm8NBVH8ga1elIoAkBjL-q. 🌳

[@thrshwll1526]

We know how that happened 😢

[@susivarga7303]

​​​@@thrshwll1526 Tell us more. Oh wait, I know, there was nothing out there in the big wide world but plantations and white guys with whips and everyone was American.... 🙄

[@maddiedoes3571]

​@@thrshwll1526if you go back far enough, or even recently enough, plenty of completely healthy and innocent crossovers between white and black people have occurred throughout history. While violence has of course tainted history, it is not all there is 🙏

[@thrshwll1526]

@maddiedoes3571 - I 100% don't believe that. If you go way back, black people, black women in particular, had no choice but to submit to white men. They weren't allowed to say no. I highly doubt 99% of these relationships were not forced.

[@PlutoniaFreeBandz]

I love that she said “Redd Foxx!” 😂

[@eharper7]

I know! Would've been so funny if it had been LaWanda Page.

[@fr0stb1ght34]

​@@eharper7 I woulda died laughing 😂😂😂.

[@AthenaisC]

I'm distantly related to Carrie Fisher via her mother, Debbie Reynolds. That's the coolest claim to fame I've got. 😂

[@publiceyes473]

Hello cousin me too

[@AthenaisC]

@@publiceyes473 ... if I ever need an organ donor, this is the way I'm going to find them. The comment sections on KZbin. 😆 🤣

[@SoTiredoftheToxicBS]

O wow! I would love that! Boss females! ❤

[@publiceyes473]

Wondering if this is a line of four cousins

[@Morfeusm]

May the Force be with you!

[@ladydeerheart1]

John Lithgow has been one of my most favorite actors since "The World According To Garp". He is amazing in everything he does!

[@olivegreenpants7153]

Thats when I first saw him. Also Glenn Close.

[@SledDog5678]

HUGE John fan here too!!!! He is amazing. From Churchill to Dick Solomon High Commander to his books. Love him!!!!!!!

[@JosieStev]

Cool 😊

[@bigums21]

Roberta! ❤❤❤

[@BrianneVillano]

Harry and the Hendersons

[@waywardsisters918]

My grandmother was never treated that well, and she thought she came from nothing. It's taken me years and years to finally find out that she came from the first king of England. I wish she was alive today to tell you you came from the best and you were the best.

[@Autumn74]

That’s lovely. It would have made her smile ❤

[@Lily_of_the_Forest]

I’m so sorry

[@binaway]

After 950 years almost every person of British decent must be. Simple math.

[@bvbxiong5791]

she's related to king Arthur?!?!

[@Lily_of_the_Forest]

@@bvbxiong5791 her name is MeeMaw Pendragon!

[@benparks3564]

"My brother!" Loved that ending.

[@AncestryUS]

Hi Ben, thanks for watching! We are glad to see that you enjoyed this video.

[@alisongarcia3476]

John Lithgow has one of my favorite laughs. I absolutely adore him

[@CrystalTwinStar]

I loved all the reactions but my favorite was you and Mr. Lithgow! It gave me chills!

[@JMurdochNZ]

John's reaction was adorable.

[@saraschneider6781]

​@@JMurdochNZI'm not a fan of his acting...or at least the writing of the roles he took, but he's a delightful man.

[@ladydeerheart1]

I think he is one of the best actors ... ever!

[@cassmellish]

I would love to be your cousin as well! Love your show!

[@MoonLightOnWater1]

Me too!

[@mspfinney]

One of the best shows on tv. The DNA matches just prove we are all in this world together. ❤

[@pernicecartwright8420]

AMEN ❤❤❤❤

[@nunyabiznez6381]

Finney? I have some Finney's in my family tree, they trace back to the Finney's/Phinney's of Nottinghamshire by way of Cape Cod/Rhode Island.

[@mspfinney]

@@nunyabiznez6381 - My Finney is a nickname that is short for Findorff which is German.

[@BodaciousWench]

Yup. Everyone’s cousins

[@AncestryUS]

We are delighted to hear you are enjoying the show, mspfinney! We hope you continue to love the rest of the season. Thanks for sharing! 🌳💚

[@rankoorovic7904]

Larry David and Bernie Sanders being related was a surprise for about half a second

[@maisonneuve]

John Lithgow is a gem. Truly one of the most underrated actors of his generation. Remember that kids show he had for a while? I mean. Just a stand up human being.

[@cdonorab]

Love their reactions. The one I find the funniest though were Bernie and Larry's reactions. Been doing genealogy for a while and found a lot of connections from myself to famous people,but find it interesting how many famous people are related to other famous people. Think my best celebrity connection is Matthew Perry. He was my fifth cousin once removed.

[@drewlovelyhell4892]

Oh. 😔 Sorry that you lost him.

[@melissaha]

My condolences, he sure waa a best Friend and is missed..

[@ChildlessCatLady81]

I am sorry for your family's loss. I loved their reactions too! As soon as I saw Larry, I said it had to be Bernie. I lost it when it was. 🤣

[@drewlovelyhell4892]

@@ChildlessCatLady81 Sadly, the Jewish gene pool has become quite small for some reason...

[@Elisheva333]

What is once removed?

[@veronicaferguson8548]

Dr Gates is a national treasure! Him and John Lithgow distant cousins 😂

[@stevef3685]

i'm an amateur genealogist, my daughter caught a tv show that Ellen Degeneris did and saw a piece of her family tree. I had once told her that all Acadians were related, so she immediately ran to me and put me on the case. And yes they were related, but something like 8th cousins. She was more impressed when she found out that meant she was also related to Beyonce at 10th cousins.

[@EllaBee90]

So this means we are cousins too. Hi! Ellen is my 9th cousin and Beyoncé is 8th. 🙂

[@wplants9793]

Madonna and Ellen are related

[@stevef3685]

@@wplants9793 - So yeah, would be a relative too. They were both descended from Martin Aucoin, and my wife is from that line as well.

[@LMmccallL57]

I'm Beyonce's cousin on her dad's side. Our great-grandparents were brother and sister.

[@Knight-Bishop]

Okay, so add me to that, through my mother. Hello all 😅

[@heresmytake2782]

Now, both Lithgow and Gates Jr. can hold up a mirror together and say, "OH MY GOODNESS! we're GORGEOUS!"

[@kiciacoldspring1621]

That “My brother” at the end was perfect❤️💪🏾

[@luciustitius]

„I make my own vinegar“ cracked me up - „cousins“, too. So random…

[@nunyabiznez6381]

I had a similar reaction when I found out I was related to a famous artist by saying "I draw my own pictures."

[@rebeccamd7903]

With dna, I found out my best friend is my 6th cousin. It amazed us both because she’s from New York and I’m from West Virginia. We were both this happy!! 🥰

[@brainlock72]

My sister found out her bestie is a fourth cousin on dad’s side. I had to laugh, as she previously admitted to a drunk make out session with her! 😂😂

[@mikehair5904]

I love seeing the positive acceptance of our shared DNA connections. We are far more connected than some people would want us to be. Too many people are still stuck on the outside and ignore the inside

[@R9naldo]

Everyone is God's child 💪🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾✝️

[@jmspegel]

If we all started with Adam and Eve it makes sense to me. 🧜🏼‍♀️

[@altamiradorable]

One day, I was in a big corporate meeting filled with people I never met. A man comes towards me and present's himself. Alhough his last name is totally different than mine, I greet him with "hello cousin, pleased to meet you". Gave him my full name and he was stunned. He could not understand the relation. I told him that my first ancestor that came to America married his first great great grand mother that also came to America. He looked at me a bit puzzled and pulled out of his briefcase his genealogy tree he had made last week! And there they were, the two names side by side, married together in 1670.

[@sarahpalmer411]

But how did you recognize him?

[@altamiradorable]

@@sarahpalmer411 Just by his last name.

[@brainlock72]

My mom has two branches, if the name pops up, we KNOW we’re related. One branch has thirty-six spelling variants, but the base name is the same. The other has a more common version, but those are not related, just a handful of cousins in Ohio and Missouri, as last cousin in Germany died a few years back. Some nonsense rule about you couldn’t have kids until the previous head of house died, so I’m surprised it lasted that long. 🤦‍♂️😂 We still don’t know the full story of why 2great-grandpa was told to GTFO or d!e? Only three US cousins have visited the hof: Ohio aunt/opera singer in early 1900s; grandma’s brother/priest 100 years ago; and my sister & niece about a decade back. They met the last hof cousin before he died. Wife was too old to have kids when his father finally died, so that German branch ended.

[@k90v85]

​yea that happened, duh

[@allamaraine8066]

Lithgow’s actually made me a little teary-eyed! That was wonderful.

[@deadiemeyers1661]

We should all treat each other as family. Because we are. 💗

[@chadelia7447]

Both you and John are treasures. May we never know what it's like to live without either of you! Enjoyed every moment!

[@crowtservo]

0:20 “That is unbelievable.” Is it really? That’s the least surprising thing ever, they practically look the same.

[@Amanda-bj4eo]

John Lithgow's reaction was so sweet and wholesome ❤

[@blueyes6474]

“I make my own vinegar” 😂😂😂 it all makes sense

[@HadrianGuardiola]

😂😂😂

[@wvu05]

Bernie and Larry David finding out they're realted was so wholesome.

[@shannonstevens2476]

Crying over John Lithgow's reaction ❤❤❤

[@GeorgeMorgan6600]

@Hello there, how are you doing this blessed day?

[@homonaledi640]

All the hate between them and us, we're actually blood relatives.

[@721rena]

What hate? Where? I just saw very happy loving people on this show

[@noc1891]

@@721rena i dont think he was talking about the people in the show but everyone else

[@WerewolfMaster]

Last one was SUPER wholesome :D

[@AncestryUS]

Thanks for watching! We are glad to see that you enjoyed this video.

[@rosewalsh1255]

I love when there are unexpected matches at the end of these shows...it just goes to show you anything is possible :)

[@AncestryUS]

We love to hear you are enjoying the show, Rose! What was your favorite part?

[@nunyabiznez6381]

I fish for cousins sometimes here on this channel. I have Walsh's in my family tree who are Irish and some in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

[@sheilafrench4175]

So heartwarming to see how happy they are to see who their distant cousins are.

[@victorsamsung2921]

Funny how one of those you admire, including your children, ends up being a distant relative, like Terry Crews.

[@jillanderson3242]

My favorite is when Marisa Tomei found out she was related to Julianne Moore

[@meagenb4968]

I love that Dr. Gates and Mr. Lithgow are cousins. How fun to be able to be in the room together.

[@AncestryUS]

They are great aren't they! Thanks for watching, it's great to see that you enjoyed this video.

[@RoyGBiv-mb8xt]

Bernie’s reaction was so genuinely hilarious! Lithgow’s reaction was so heartwarming!

[@laceypennies]

"You're my brother" I felt that ❤

[@stefanie7823]

I’m just over here being perfectly happy with the fact that Laura Ingalls Wilder is one of my cousins 😁 Seth Meyers and Kevin Bacon was probably the only one that I was surprised by and yet not surprised by. They kind of have the same energy.

[@TLo6080]

That’s so cool! Thanks for sharing ❤

[@hectorsmommy1717]

Princes Diana was one of my distant cousins, but so is HH Holmes. For every "bragging right" we have a skeleton in the closet (in the case of Holmes we have maybe 100)

[@ronniebillhicks]

i like john Lithgow even more now,.........what a genuinely nice and wholesome human being

[@Zoey1999z]

They are all fun but Jimmy Kimmel immediately saying he makes his own vinegar was so funny and would no doubt make cousin Martha proud. Ha ha

[@hottubtimemachine1200]

They were all surprised and John Lithgow’s reaction was priceless. ❤ the reactions of the all!

[@bryndabaker6782]

I'm not even sure why, but this brought tears to my eyes. What a wonderful thing for these folks to discover!

[@shadykatie100]

Me too! That was one lovely moment.

[@ChildlessCatLady81]

"My brother!" That was the best. 😢 I am distantly related to Courtney Cox. My mom watches this show, is way deep in Ancestry (we can date one side back to 1,000-something AD) and she happened to remember a shared relative that was mentioned. Wild!

[@AncestryUS]

Whoa! Your mom must be an amazing family history researcher 👏

[@scottshinbaum1772]

Courtney Cox was on "Who Do You Think You Are," and they found that she was directly descended from William the Conqueror. That was a pretty cool reveal.

[@ann40069]

I discovered that one of my ancestors came over during the great puritan migration in 1630. He was a Founders of Watertown Massachusetts. Later on as I did more research I discovered my distant relatives Clara Barton American Red Cross and John Chapman aka Johnny Apple Seed, Writer and poets Ezra Pound, and T.S. Elliott. It's amazing the things I keep finding out.

[@nunyabiznez6381]

You probably have a lot more people to find if you are descended from a Massachusetts family. Massachusetts Puritans were obsessed with record keeping so we from that state have access to a lot of material for research. I can trace over a hundred from that migration including my male line who came from Wiltshire not far from Stonehenge though it seems my male line haplogroup is Roman.

[@sun_chariot6141]

That's awesome!

[@ohmightywez]

I read the biography of Clara Barton when I was8 years old, and I was just so impressed by her life and her courage. What an amazing ancestor to have. She changed the course of history in the United States and around the world. She took the incredible work done by Florence Nightingale and made a new entity of it that has served the globe.

[@lightyagami3492]

I have made similar discoveries in my family tree (in regards to famous relatives.) except in my case im descended from multiple founders of Hartford Connecticut and their names are engraved on the monument dedicated to the founders.

[@bravocado]

I have never seen Larry David so happy about ANYTHING before! Also, what a wonderful feeling it must be, to have John Lithgow joyfully embrace you as family.

[@AncestryUS]

Hi, bravocado. It sounds like you enjoyed this episode of "Finding Your Roots." It certainly was interesting and fun to watch. John Lithgow's reaction was great for both of them to enjoy.

[@fooglies]

What's crazy is you can actually tell most of them actually have similar facial features, despite being distant relatives.

[@G.G.8GG]

Finding Your Roots has given me more heartwarming moments than any other show. It's so beautifully done. I wish every single person could sit at that table and take that journey.

[@honkeykong9563]

Not one of the cousin reveals, but I do recall my favorite revelation on this show during which Anderson Cooper was informed his ancestor was a Slave Master who was killed by a Slave. Anderson said he thought that was "Awesome."

[@Liliarthan]

I don’t watch this show often but I saw that one too. I really like Anderson Cooper. 😄

[@KittysDaffodil]

I found out my senior year in high school that my best friend was my 6th cousin. Everyone always asked if we were sisters and we would say no, we aren't related.

[@JAYCEETAYLOR]

"Yes, and we only had to go back 700 years to find a link"

[@ragantate3995]

😅😅😅😅

[@aliasmarg8ta127]

My favorite part of Finding your Roots is the "who is your cousin" segment. I loved that Kyra Sedgewick and Kevin Bacon shared a very distant relative.

[@odessa745]

Sweet home Alabama

[@stillhere1425]

Ew! Not seriously, that’s plenty of distance, but didn’t you always think they looked like members of the same tribe?

[@hectorsmommy1717]

@@stillhere1425 Not really but I did know they were both descended from old Colonial Connecticut families so a connection was almost inevitable. I was surprised that there wasn't a connection between John Lithgow and Sally Field because he is descended from something like 5 Mayflower passengers and she is from 2.

[@jentrification_]

same. when they don't do it, it makes me sad.

[@sw6155]

My family in Brazil is the quintessential Brazilian family… my grandparents have descendants that vary from blond/blue-eyed to black/black-eyed… Our family reunions are always a big beautiful party! 🥰🥰🥰

[@Liliarthan]

With those Brazilian genes? I’m surprised that those events don’t get swarmed by modelling talent scouts every time 😄

[@hollybug-76542]

Portuguese, Indigenous, African

[@deedledumb790]

There's no such thing as black eyes. Just dark brown.

[@Jean-tt6on]

Okay why did I cry at John's reveal 😭😭😭😭😭

[@ModernDayRenaissanceMan]

"Oh my brother!!" Perfect ending. Dude was related to TWO people on the show.

[@ragantate3995]

That’s a big family

[@negyt7665]

Derek Jeter and Jim Gaffigan got me.😂

[@marycook1644]

I was waiting for Jim to say, no wonder l am so athletic !!

[@ragantate3995]

😅& Terry Crews cousin

[@MishaSims]

i love how the world isn't as big as we think it is. these were great

[@TheMichaelBeck]

Larry David and Bernie Sanders. Yup, I can see that. I found out in HS at the funeral of one of my mother's family that I was 3rd cousins with one of my football coaches and 4th cousin of his son, our QB. It really is a small world. Cheers.

[@preacher_chick]

Last count I have over 17,000 DNA Cousins, my DNA shocked me, I have a ton of White Relatives, discovering my African Roots was so rewarding its therapeutic to find the truth ♥️♥️♥️

[@hollybug-76542]

Found out my 8th GGrandfather was from Angola, came as an indentured and married a woman from Ireland who also was indentured until they both gained their freedom. Interracial marriage wasn't an issue at the time.

[@deepurahulan2474]

"My Brother".....teared me up

[@freelikeyve]

“I knnnow you lyin” 😂 I luv Niecy.

[@poeticpoems1234]

I hope they do another episode of cousins ☺️

[@Littlestraincloud]

Kathryn Hahn and Regina King should collaborate tbh

[@jentrification_]

the best buddy team up movie ever. like seriously

[@k.c1126]

Somehow finding hidden cousins like this is so cool, even when you already have 100s of known cousins 😂😂😂

[@girl1213]

And I thought Tom Hanks and Fred Rogers having a distant cousin relationship was mind blowing

[@7peaches7]

Ultimately, we are all related to each other in the grand scheme of things.

[@sunnydaysatl]

Mahalia Jackson is my great cousin- wish I could sing like her. Everyone says we look a like I’m just smaller.

[@d.r.3362]

I loved Mahalia Jackson since I was very young, first becoming aware of her when she opened the day's tv broadcast. Couldn't wait to hear her, even then realizing her power and emotion. With tv now being 24/7 it's hard to believe that there was once a time when tv signed off at night and didn't come back on until morning.

[@lindam9618]

I wish you could sing like her, too! 😊

[@nrsimmons178]

One of the most profound scenes in the movie Imitation of Life is her singing "Troubles of the World" at Annie's funeral, and I bawl each time I watch it, without fail! Awesome, epic voice! 🥰

[@ellenchavez2043]

My favorite was Kevin Bacon and his wife, Kyra Sedgwick as DNA cousins.

[@nunyabiznez6381]

You should have seen the look on my mothers face when I told her that my Dad, her late husband had parents who were cousins. You'd think she saw a ghost. After Mom died I found out her parents were fourth cousins.

[@Liliarthan]

@@nunyabiznez6381wow! Gosh that would be quite a shock. And not as uncommon as we think, especially going back a few generations. May I ask where in the world are your parents from?

[@nunyabiznez6381]

@@Liliarthan I've been doing genealogy since 1976. You are correct about how common it is. People pile hate on European royal families over inbreeding but the amount of inbreeding in the current royal family of the UK is actually fairly typical of most families. Anytime you have a situation where you are in some way isolated from other populations you reproduce with whomever is available and sometimes that's a cousin. My parents are from New England, both have Irish ancestors, especially my Mom and on her mother's side, going back five prior generations there are but five surnames in her entire ancestry and I'm talking about 31 ancestors and I'm including all maiden names. One county in Ireland I discovered that the 1901 census shows roughly 20,000 people but 11 surnames represents roughly 97.5% of the total population. In fact many counties have a relatively low number of surnames. People didn't travel far for love in those days. In a lot of Irish marriage records of the 19th century there are notations next to the entry indicating the couple were cousins.

[@anndeecosita3586]

My family is from a farming community where we have lived hundreds of years. I have cousins who are my cousins three times over. 😂

[@debralynnpaxton5238]

So precious seeing that Dr. Gates, Jr. and John Lithgow are cousins ❤❤❤

[@GeorgeMorgan6600]

@Hello there, how are you doing this blessed day?

[@garymathena2125]

This is one of my most favorite shows, Professor Gates is a great man, he really elevates this show.

[@GreenGretel]

"That's unbelievable! I make my own vinegar." 🤣🤣🤣

[@SirWilly77]

You can pick out any random person on the street and you're virtually guaranteed to share an ancestor from the last 1,000 years, if not sooner.

[@brainlock72]

Yeah, 99% chance it’s Charlemagne. Or Genghis Khan if you’re Asian.

[@oceanrock733]

I share two Mayflower passenger ancestors with John Lithgow, so maybe I also share DNA with Dr. Gates. Incredible!

[@connietreloar2102]

My husband is descended from John and Pricilla Alden.

[@brainlock72]

My Mayflower ancestors didn’t survive the first winter.

[@elizabethturner2421]

It's hard to tell who enjoys these revelations more: Professor Gates or his subjects.

[@nunyabiznez6381]

It's always fun to tell someone they are related to someone famous.

[@AncestryUS]

Hi Elizabeth! Thanks for commenting, we couldn't agree with you more, we think that's part of what makes Professor Gates such an excellent host, his passion for genealogy is unbelievable, and infectious!

[@jackdog06]

“That’s unbelievable!” You could both be mistaken for the other guy from a distance, it is extremely believable.

[@ragantate3995]

😅😅😅😅😅

[@Minidoppler]

This was adorable! The ending was my favorite part; forget cousins “My brother”!😊

[@niecylanae33]

If a lot of us turn our blinders off, you can see the resemblance in EACH of them and their COUSIN ❤

[@Hello_Gorgeous]

Yes!!

[@Conmezzo]

One of my favorites was Cory Booker and Ru Paul.

[@teenchy]

That, and Roy Wood Jr. and John Lewis.

[@jentrification_]

looking like twins

[@atwunz]

Will Smith: What? CHRIS ROCK!

[@marycook1644]

That would be a crazy slap in the face !

[@theresaschuebel5151]

To see Nora and John be so happy to find out they are related to Dr Lewis is amazing. John was so adorable.

[@christadawnwheeler2696]

Apparently my families got around. Im related to quite a few famous people in history and current. Outlaws, royalty, politicians, entertainers, the list goes on. Learning my ancestry has been a wild ride.

[@pamelamays4186]

Bill Harder and Carol Burnett are cousins. The comedic gene runs strong in their family.

[@AncestryUS]

Thanks so much for sharing some of the discoveries you've been able to make, Christa! We hope piecing the puzzle together to learn more about your ancestors has been a truly rewarding experience. 😊

[@nunyabiznez6381]

Everyone is like that. I can trace my family to Kings and pirates, the pirates are a lot more recent than the kings lol.

[@christadawnwheeler2696]

@nunyabiznez6381 that's the one thing I haven't found yet....pirates! Isn't it awesome to find all this out???

[@drewlovelyhell4892]

Probably a few farm animals too.. 😆

[@redmoondesignbeth9119]

That was a lot of fun. Many of them resembled each other. I recently found out I'm a Bush Cousin...tho my politics don't line up. 😄

[@nunyabiznez6381]

He and I are related through an ancestor of his from Maine.

[@brainlock72]

Hiya, cuz! Did you know grandpa Prescott has an ancestor where the family tree did not branch that generation?