Episode 1
Hollywood Royalty
1h
Actresses Isabella Rossellini, Anjelica Huston and Mia Farrow explore their family histories, generations beyond their cinematic forebears.
Episode credits
Guest stars Mia Farrow, Anjelica Huston, Isabella Rossellini
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 6 episodes
Choose an episode, then use the watch options above for the show.
Where to watch Finding Your Roots
Episode 2
Off the Farm
1h
Actors Melissa McCarthy and Eric Stonestreet retrace their ancestral journeys.
Episode credits
Guest stars Melissa McCarthy, Eric Stonestreet, Jesse Tyler Ferguson
Episode 3
Homecomings
1h
Sterling K. Brown, Jon Batiste and Sasheer Zamata learn about the unexpected places their ancestors called home.
Episode credits
Guest stars Sterling K. Brown, Sasheer Zamata, Jon Batiste
Episode 4
This Land is My Land
1h
The unexpected family trees of Queen Latifah and Jeffrey Wright challenge preconceptions about America's past.
Episode credits
Guest stars Queen Latifah, Jeffrey Wright
Episode 5
Beyond the Pale
1h
Exploring the Jewish heritages of actor Jeff Goldblum, radio host Terry Gross and comic Marc Maron.
Episode credits
Guest stars Jeff Goldblum, Terry Gross, Marc Maron
Episode 6
Secrets & Lies
1h
Sigourney Weaver, Justina Machado and Amy Ryan explore their ancestry.
Episode credits
Guest stars Steve Carell, Amy Ryan, Sigourney Weaver, Justina Machado
Episode 7
Science Pioneers
1h
Tracing the family histories of scientists Harold Varmus, Francis Collins and Shirley Ann Jackson.
Episode credits
Guest stars Harold E. Varmus, Shirley Ann Jackson, Francis Collins
Episode 8
Slave Trade
1h
Questlove, S. Epatha Merkerson and Ava DuVernay explore the unexpected places where their ancestors were scattered by slavery.
Episode credits
Guest stars Ava DuVernay, Questlove, S. Epatha Merkerson
Episode 9
Italian Roots
1h
Marisa Tomei, Jimmy Kimmel and John Turturro learn about the sacrifices their ancestors made to bring their families from Italy to America.
Episode credits
Guest stars Jimmy Kimmel, John Turturro, Marisa Tomei
Episode 10
Criminal Kind
1h
The family histories of Laura Linney, Lisa Ling and Soledad O'Brien reveal tricksters, scoundrels and criminals.
Episode credits
Guest stars Soledad O'Brien, Lisa Ling, Laura Linney
Episode 11
Fashion's Roots
1h
Guests: Diane von Furstenberg, Narciso Rodriguez, RuPaul. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. steps into the world of fashion and meets three icons of style — Diane Von Furstenberg, Narciso Rodriguez, and RuPaul Charles — introducing ancestors who were just as audacious as they are.
Episode credits
Guest stars Diane von Fürstenberg, Narciso Rodríguez, RuPaul
Episode 12
DNA Mysteries
1h
Guests: Téa Leoni, Joe Madison. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. uses DNA detective work to solve mysteries in the family trees of actor Téa Leoni, and radio host Joe Madison, introducing each of them to parents and grandparents whose names they’ve never heard before. (Téa Leoni originally appeared in S04E08. Joe Madison originally appeared in S05E10.)
Episode credits
Guest stars Téa Leoni, Ann Curry, Joe Madison
Episode 13
War Stories
1h
Guests: Kehinde Wiley, Julianne Moore, Bill Hader. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the roots of actor Julianne Moore, comedian Bill Hader, and painter Kehinde Wiley, revealing how their ancestors’ military service left an indelible mark both on their families and on their country. (S03E06 was also titled "War Stories." Kehinde Wiley originally appeared in S05E09. Julianne Moore originally appeared in S03E06. Bill Hader originally appeared in S03E04.)
Episode credits
Guest stars Bill Hader, Julianne Moore, Kehinde Wiley
Episode 14
Flight
1h
Guests: Lupita Nyong’o, Lidia Bastianich, Scarlett Johansson. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. meets actors Scarlett Johansson and Lupita Nyong’o, and chef Lidia Bastianich — three women whose families crisscrossed the globe to escape oppression and find opportunity, leaving them with questions about their relatives who stayed behind. (Lupita Nyong’o originally appeared in S04E07. Lidia Bastianich originally appeared is S03E09. Scarlett Johansson originally appeared in S04E05.)
Episode credits
Guest stars Lidia Bastianich, Scarlett Johansson, Lupita Nyong'o
Episode 15
Breaking Silences
1h
Guests: Gayle King, Jordan Peele, Issa Rae. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the family secrets of journalist Gayle King, film director Jordan Peele, and comedian Issa Rae, introducing them to ancestors who raise profound questions about the shape and meaning of their family trees.
Episode credits
Guest stars Gayle King, Jordan Peele, Issa Rae
Episode 16
Coming to America
1hfinale
Guests: Nancy Pelosi, Norah O'Donnell, Zac Posen. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. helps Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, news anchor Norah O’Donnell and fashion designer Zac Posen explore their immigrant roots, retracing the journeys of their ancestors who arrived in the United States with little more than a dream--and revealing why that dream is still so inspiring today.
Episode credits
Guest stars Nancy Pelosi, Norah O'Donnell, Zac Posen
Episode 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