Sarah Jessica Parker is a celebrated icon in film and television as well as fashion, who recently served as a producer and reprised her Emmy Award-winning role as Carrie Bradshaw for the screen adaptation of the hit HBO series "Sex and the City." The actress took an emotional journey from coast to coast in search of her family's roots, crossing paths with the California Gold Rush and the Salem Witch Trials.
Emmitt Smith is an NFL Hall of Fame running back who, since retirement, has devoted himself to business and giving back to the community. But recently, he decided to embark on a journey inward, tracing his family's past. It was a journey that took him beyond his wildest expectations, discovering not only his African roots, but his connections to slave owners in Virginia.
Lisa Kudrow journeys to the small Jewish town of Ilya where she discovers how her great-grandmother died in the Holocaust. Yet, Lisa finds hope when she uncovers a 60-year old family mystery.
On his journey to learn more about his paternal roots, Matthew Broderick discovers the heroic story of his grandfather during World War I and finds the final resting place of his great-great-grandfather who fought in the Civil War.
Brooke learns a tragic secret about her grandmother and then discovers a connection to royalty through her paternal roots.
Susan leads an emotionally charged search for her family roots. Starting with her estranged grandmother Anita who abandoned Susan's mother in early childhood, Susan's journey takes her all the way to Tuscany, Italy. Back in America, Susan discovers a surprising connection to her grandmother.
Spike begins his journey in Atlanta, Georgia, where his grandmother Zimmie worked in the segregated Southern systems for many years. Here, Spike follows the trail of his ancestors dating back to the Civil War and discovers a shocking family connection.
Vanessa Williams sets out on a journey to find out if her ancestors were also trailblazers.
The country music superstar uncovers his father's heritage among the Founding Fathers.
The search for her mother's roots takes Rosie to Ireland, and uncovers a new branch of the family.
Kim Cattrall travels to her native England to discover what happened to her grandfather, who abandoned his family to poverty when Kim's mother was only eight years old. This episode is a rebroadcast from the BBC original series of "Who Do You Think You Are?"
Lionel Richie sets out to unlock the mystery of the man his beloved grandmother never spoke about - her father, John Louis Brown.
Steve Buscemi seeks a compelling story on his mother's side of the family, and finds it in his great-great-grandfather Ralph B. Montgomery.
Gwyneth Paltrow's exploration of both sides of her family shows her the importance of teaching her kids that where they come from is important.
Actress Ashley Judd discovers a connection to the first American settlers while investigating her ancestral past.
Martin Sheen tries to find out if his ancestors shared his activist passion. In Ireland, he investigates his uncle's ties to the Irish Civil War. In Spain, he uncovers another relative who also fought for social justice and was wrongfully imprisoned during Franco's fascist regime. As he continues to trace his Spanish roots back to the 1700s, he unearths an unexpected family secret.
Marisa Tomei grew up hearing that her great-grandfather was murdered for being a womanizer and gambler. In order to uncover the truth, she travels to Italy to sort through the facts and discover what really lead to his death.
Golden Globe nominated actor, director and producer Blair Underwood first became a household name for his portrayal of charismatic attorney Jonathan Rollins on the celebrated NBC drama, L.A. Law. Throughout his 25 year career, Blair has highlighted important African-American issues through his work with charitable organizations and by the roles he chooses. He is a five-time winner of the coveted NAACP Image Award. Blair lives in Los Angeles with his wife and their three children.
Singer and actress Reba McEntire follows her ancestry to the first member of her family to set foot on American soil, finding a young boy who came from England as an indentured servant.
Nicknamed "The Bus," star running back Jerome Bettis spent 13 years in the NFL. In 2006, he led the Pittsburgh Steelers to a decisive Super Bowl victory before retiring a champion. A committed humanitarian, Jerome founded the Bus Stops Here Foundation to serve underprivileged children. He's gone on to work as a football analyst on television and radio. Jerome currently lives in Atlanta, Georgia with his wife and their two children. "My family is everything to me," Jerome says. He grew up in a tight-knit family where his mother and father attended every NFL game he played in. His father passed away a few years ago, but Jerome was fortunate to learn about the Bettis side of the family before he passed. He knows very little about his mother's side, the Bougards, and would like to go back as far as he can on that side of the tree.
Helen Hunt fills in the missing branches of her family tree and discovers ancestors instrumental in the growth of America.
Rita Wilson travels to Greece and Bulgaria to learn the untold history of her late father and uncovers an emotional secret she never expected.
Emmy Award winner Edie Falco sets off on a mission to learn the truth about her mother's family history and discovers a tragic event in her ancestor's life.
Actor Rob Lowe ventures into his past and discovers an ancestor who battled against George Washington during the American Revolution
Rashida Jones strongly identifies with both her African American and Jewish heritage, but knows very little about her mother's roots. She was close to her grandmother, who was originally from Ireland, but had little details on her life before marrying her grandfather. In New York, Rashida uncovers the answers to her grandmother's missing years and interesting life in Manhattan. As her journey continues, a trip to Ireland reveals new information that lead to her family's origins in Eastern Europe.
Jason Sudeikis has almost no information about his grandfather who died when his father was a child. In Chicago, Jason researches the cryptic story of his grandfather's death and discovers new details about his life. As he continues to learn more, a surprising discovery is revealed about his great grandfather's family life. A trip to Pennsylvania brings Jason to the coal mines his great great grandfather worked in as an immigrant from Lithuania and the extreme dangers he faced each day.
Paula Deen lost both of her parents and has a lot of gaps in her family knowledge. A visit to her aunt in Albany, Georgia, provides Paula with information that takes her back 150 years in her family's history. As she digs deeper into her heritage she uncovers her ancestor's political ties and his connection to a dark time in America's history. Further exploration reveals a heartbreaking event that deeply impacted her ancestors during the Civil War.
Double-platinum singer Kelly Clarkson, explores her lineage and uncovers an ancestor deeply rooted in American history. Coming face-to-face with her 3x great grandfather’s wartime bravery and sacrifice, she finds a connection deeper than ever imagined.
Actress Christina Applegate investigates her paternal grandmother - a stranger to her and her father. Uncovering dramatic details along the way, Christina gains insight into the life and hardships of the woman she and her father loved, but never knew.
Media mogul Chelsea Handler confronts a deep family secret: her Grandfather’s rumored Nazi past. As she dives into her family’s struggle to survive in a desperate time, the details uncovered will finally confirm or deny his affiliation to the dark regime.
Actress Zooey Deschanel searches for rumored abolitionists in her father’s Ouaker family background. Her journey takes her around Pennsylvania where she uncovers, and follows, the story of a remarkable ancestor who sacrificed everything for her beliefs.
In memory of his late father, actor Chris O’Donnell investigates the paternal side of his family and finds ancestors on the frontlines of American history. Chris explores a patriotic legacy and a family devotion that extends deeper than he ever imagined.
Hollywood actress Minnie Driver is on a mission to find out more about her late father, Ronnie, and his family's background.
World famous supermodel Cindy Crawford takes a journey to discover her family origins. With travels to the UK and beyond, she discovers ancestors dating back to the English Civil War, and even finds a connection linking her to early European royalty!
Since her parents passed, country singer Trisha Yearwood knows little about her paternal side of the family. Her search for a deeper family connection takes Trisha to England, where she uncovers an ancestor’s history of crime, loss, and perseverance.
In tribute to his late father, actor Jim Parsons explores the ancestors on his paternal side of the family. The journey takes Jim to Louisiana and eventually France, where he discovers generations of his forefathers who made an indelible mark in history.
Actress Cynthia Nixon searches for answers in her paternal line, and truth becomes stranger than fiction when a mystery of deceit and murder slowly unfolds in relation her 3x great-grandmother.
Award winning actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson thought he came from a "nice, boring family" until he digs into his ancestry and follows the life of his great-grandfather; a gilded age hustler that trouble seemed to follow at every turn.
Rachel and Kayleen McAdams discover an English ancestor surrounded by a privileged world, but forced to separate from those he loved; they connect with relatives uprooted by war, and uncover the harrowing circumstances behind their Canadian roots.
Valerie Bertinelli goes on the hunt to unlock her family’s mysteries. She tracks down courageous ancestors who suffered through hardship and tragedy, and discovers a royal lineage dating back centuries that she never dreamed possible.
Kelsey Grammer takes a trip into the past to explore his beloved grandmother’s family. He uncovers the story of a woman haunted by demons, and finds a connection to family who risked everything in one of the greatest migrations in American history.
Julie Chen never knew her maternal grandfather; he died long before Julie was born. All she had heard was that he was a wealthy playboy with a rags-to-riches story. Julie sets out for rural China to learn more about his life and uncovers a dramatic tale.
Josh Groban traces his ancestors' roots to Germany and discovers a relative who was a deacon, music teacher & well known astronomer. But Josh's ancestors' predictions of cataclysmic doom put him in the crosshairs of the church.
Actress Angie Harmon discovers a daring ancestor who gave up his freedom to come to America, fought for his new country's independence, and risked everything at a pivotal point in America's history.
Actor/Producer Sean Hayes searches for the cause of his estranged father's troubled past and uncovers a shocking trail of tragedy and crime that reaches back generations
Beyond a family of Hollywood Legends, actor/director Tony Goldwyn explores his maternal lineage. He is introduced to a heritage of political activism; a couple ahead of their time proudly fighting for abolition, women's rights and westward expansion
America Ferrera searches for a connection to a father she barely knew, and discovers a great grandfather who led multiple revolts against the government and left an enduring mark on Honduran history.
Actor/Director Bill Paxton researches his paternal lineage, uncovering the captivating life of an ancestor who was a war hero in a historic battle and who shaped politics and society during a turbulent era.
Melissa Etheridge digs into her French roots and finds a family shaken by a scandalous lawsuit; a turbulent relationship entangled with tragedy; and an adventuresome ancestor who prospered in colonial America
In the Season 7 premiere, Ginnifer Goodwin hopes to connect her father with the grandparents he never knew, and uncovers a dark side of her family tree that includes instability and drug addiction.
JK Rowling sets off on a journey to uncover her maternal French roots. She stumbles upon a family mystery, and uncovers a harrowing tale of wartime heroism, then discovers the actions of a brave ancestor.
Alfre Woodard goes on a journey searching for her grandfather's roots, and finds a relative who endured one of the most horrifying periods in American history, but accomplished an extraordinary feat.
This special episode digs into its archives and features highlights throughout the seasons including triumphs and tragedies, delightful discoveries and sobering moments. It also unveils outtakes and never-before-seen footage from the "Who Do" vault.
Bryan Cranston's happy childhood shattered when his father abandoned the family when Bryan was just 11. Seeking answers, Bryan explores his paternal roots, finds a troubling pattern of desertion, a man of honor and an aunt he never even knew existed.
Television personality Tom Bergeron researches his paternal roots in France and discovers his nine-times great grandmother, Marguerite, who endured upheaval and faced going against her Protestant upbringing in order to survive.
Aisha Tyler's journey reveals an ancestor who, as a politician, struggled to keep his illegitimate son a secret. Against all odds, her 2x great-grandfather exemplifies bravery and determination during one of America's most tumultuous eras of racism.
Tracing his patriotic roots, Scott Foley finds a relative who risked his life for one of America’s founding fathers, and an ancestor who suffered unspeakably during one of this nation’s darkest times.
Katey Sagal has an emotional and insightful meeting with her mother's friend and fellow USO performer. Katey also finds a surprising link to the Amish and uncovers the harrowing story of her relative's daring escape from attackers.
Molly Ringwald explores family lore of Swedish royalty, which uncovers her ancestors' harrowing lives and reveals women who suffered through unspeakable tragedies, and one brave immigrant who forever changed her family's fate.
Chris Noth discovers the suffering endured by his ancestors in America, and tracks a relative from Spain to Ireland who eventually became a war hero.
Lea Michele digs into her Jewish roots and finds a heartbreaking story about her great-grandmother in addition to a family reunited after being separated for decades.
Courteney Cox traces her maternal line back to ambitious and ruthless relatives who plotted and murdered their way to power in medieval times; and she's shocked to discover an ancestor who's one of European history's most famous characters
Julie Bowen makes a shocking discovery that a beloved relative lead a nefarious organization that triggered a dark chapter of U.S. history; and uncovers another ancestor who risked everything to fight for the lives and freedom of African Americans.
Jennifer Grey discovers much more about the grandfather she thought she knew as she uncovers how he survived adversity to become a beacon of his community; and discovers a great-grandmother whose devastating tragedy stopped her from making it to America.
Noah Wyle investigates his maternal family line, discovering an ancestor who was catapulted into one of America's biggest wars, and whose life spiraled out of control from remarkable success to a shocking and tragic end.
Jessica Biel hunts for the truth behind family lore surrounding the death of an ancestor. She also makes two shocking discoveries that shake everything she knows about her heritage to the core.
Motown legend and icon, Smokey Robinson tracks down a grandfather tangled in a swirl of controversy and connects to a relative's familiar struggle with oppression while coming face to face with the gruesome history he knew was inevitable.
Actor John Stamos explores his Greek heritage for the first time and discovers an explosive feud that shattered his grandfather's childhood. He also meets a relative he never knew and hears firsthand about his family's enduring strength.
Liv Tyler unravels the mystery of her father's maternal side, discovering ancestors who took part in famous American battles, and also learns shocking details that change the way she feels about herself and her family.
Jon Cryer's journey takes him from America to Scotland as he uncovers the dramatic tale of an ancestor who survived a catastrophic battle, endured horrific conditions as a prisoner of war, and was forced to come to America as an indentured servant.
Actress and activist Laverne Cox pieces together the inspiring life of her African American ancestor, who challenged societal norms and bravely pushed the boundaries just years after emancipation.
Megan Mullally explores a shocking pattern of dysfunction in her father's line; she finds her two-times great grandmother was bravely defying societal norms in order to fight for her family's survival, while struggling to hang on to her own sanity.
Actress Hilary Duff uncovers the tale of an ancestor who bravely led an American colony to battle a notorious gang of pirates; she dives centuries-deep into her Scottish roots and is shocked to discover that she descends from a heroic medieval king.
Actress Molly Shannon heads to Ireland in search of her mother's unknown family tree; her desperate ancestors were forced to choose between their faith and survival; a family legacy of bravery; meeting Irish cousins for the first time.
Actress Jean Smart uncovers the curious tale of an unconventional ancestor in colonial Massachusetts, who got her children entangled in her own thievery ring and later faced execution when she was accused of witchcraft.
Actress Mandy Moore is shocked to discover ancestors who lived in Australia and travels far, determined to unlock the mystery of how they got there. Moore is touched by the courage of those who made the journey and the sacrifice of those who were left behind.
Actor Josh Duhamel travels to England to investigate the extraordinary life of his twelve times great-grandfather and uncovers an astonishing, dark twist of interrogation and torture that rocks his belief system to the core.
Actress Regina King investigates her maternal family tree and uncovers an ancestor who was a passionate civil rights activist in Alabama; a man who came out of slavery, endured horrific violence, but never stopped fighting for his people.
Actor Matthew Morrison explores his American roots for the first time and is surprised to discover his family’s ties to the Revolutionary War. He learns of the bold lengths his ancestor went through to protect his allegiances and the brutality he faced on the battlefield.
Billy Porter uncovers the truth about his great-grandfather.
Nick Offerman traces his family to the Revolutionary War.
Allison Janney traces her maternal family tree and uncovers a remarkable story that ties her to some of America's first British settlers.
Actor Zachary Levi's journey into his family's past unearths a story of trauma that has been passed down through generations.
Actor and political activist Bradley Whitford learns about his grandmother's heritage, discovering why his ancestors immigrated to the United States in 1846.
Actor Zachary Quinto travels to Italy and the Midwest and discovers the story of his great-grandfather, who held a political career in Pittsburgh.
