Episode 1
American Dreams
1.0 / 10
America Ferrera and Darren Criss uncover their immigrant roots.
Where to watch Finding Your Roots
TV series
Finding Your Roots
2012TV-PG12 seasons6.5 / 10
Noted Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr. has been helping people discover long-lost relatives hidden for generations within the branches of their family trees. Professor Gates utilizes a team of genealogists to reconstruct the paper trail left behind by our ancestors and the world’s leading geneticists to decode our DNA and help us travel thousands of years into the past to discover the origins of our earliest forebears.
Availability
Not streaming in United States
Finding Your Roots premiered March 24, 2012. We don't have a confirmed streaming, rental or purchase option yet.
Synopsis
Noted Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr. has been helping people discover long-lost relatives hidden for generations within the branches of their family trees. Professor Gates utilizes a team of genealogists to reconstruct the paper trail left behind by our ancestors and the world’s leading geneticists to decode our DNA and help us travel thousands of years into the past to discover the origins of our earliest forebears.
Season 12 episodes
Choose an episode, then use the watch options above for the show.
Episode 2
Great Migrations
5.5 / 10
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. introduces rapper Wiz Khalifa and actor Sanaa Lathan to ancestors who left the American South, boldly breaking racial barriers.
Where to watch Finding Your RootsEpisode 3
Caribbean Roots
1.0 / 10
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the Caribbean roots of actors Liza Colón-Zayas and Delroy Lindo—meeting ancestors who took enormous risks.
Where to watch Finding Your RootsEpisode 4
The Road We Took
10.0 / 10
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. introduces actor Lizzie Caplan and comedian Hasan Minhaj to ancestors whose brave decisions forever reshaped their families.
Where to watch Finding Your RootsEpisode 5
Love & Basketball
1.0 / 10
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. maps the family trees of basketball stars Brittney Griner and Chris Paul—uncovering ancestors who had extraordinary talents.
Where to watch Finding Your RootsEpisode 6
Westward Bound
6.8 / 10
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. maps the roots of talk show host Sara Haines and playwright Tracy Letts from the American west to surprising places back east.
Where to watch Finding Your RootsEpisode 7
Family Harmonies
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. maps the roots of musicians Lizzo and Flea—traveling across the globe to find stories of the ancestors who inspired their work.
Where to watch Finding Your RootsEpisode 8
Artistic Roots
9.5 / 10
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. maps the roots of director Spike Lee and actor Kristin Chenoweth, meeting ancestors whose creativity built their families.
Where to watch Finding Your RootsEpisode 9
Song of the South
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the family secrets of Danielle Deadwyler and Rhiannon Giddens, uncovering stories their ancestors once hid.
Where to watch Finding Your RootsEpisode 10
Rags to Riches
53mfinale
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. maps the roots of actor Kate Burton and media mogul Barry Diller, meeting ancestors who made huge sacrifices to escape poverty.
Where to watch Finding Your RootsEpisode information updated Jul 23, 2026
Available now in United States
What to watch instead
These shows are available now and closely match Finding Your Roots.
Available nowMysteries at the Museum
Similar story and audience
Available nowThe Story of God with Morgan Freeman
Similar story and audience
Available nowAmerican Monster
Similar story and audience
Available nowDrain the Oceans
Similar story and audience
Available nowThe Food That Built America
Similar story and audience
Available nowThe UnXplained
Similar story and audience
More about Finding Your Roots
Cast
Henry Louis Gates, Jr.Self - Host
Derek JeterSelf
Anderson CooperSelf
Tom ColicchioSelf
Angela BassettSelf
Valerie JarrettSelf
Alan DershowitzSelf
Tony KushnerSelfCredits
- Written by
- Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
Production details
- Status
- Returning Series
- Series type
- Documentary
- Episodes
- 126
- Original language
- English
Networks & production
PBSUnited States- Kunhardt McGee Productions
Ark MediaUnited States- Inkwell FilmsUnited States
Themes
ancestrycelebritydnagenealogy