Genealogy sites have made researching one’s ancestral history an easier task, but “Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. ” offers far more fascinating details on ancestral history.
The PBS documentary, with Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. as the host, has explored the ancestry of dozens of affluent folks from diverse backgrounds.
Gates and his team use genealogical investigative work and cutting-edge DNA analysis to trace the family trees of their guests.
Last week, he explored the families of Award winning actress Danielle Deadwyler, whose movies include “The Harder They Fall” and “Till” where she played the mother of 14-year-old Emmett Till who was murdered in 1955 by white supremacists.
He was able to trace her family history back to 1840.
He traces the family history of prominent figures, often turning up fascinating details about their ancestors that they didn’t know they had.
Some of his past guests include Academy Award winning director Spike Lee, who discovered his great-great-grandmother, was born into slavery.
In the upcoming Season 12 Finale Episode premiering April 14th, Gates, Jr. maps the roots of actor Kate Burton and media mogul Barry Diller, meeting ancestors who made huge sacrifices to escape poverty.
Season 12 Finale Episode Premieres April 14th, 2026 at 8PM ET on PBS (check local listings) and stream on PBS.org, the PBS App, and the PBS Documentaries Prime Video Channel.
