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Finding Your Roots

The Butterfly Effect Preview

Season 11 Episode 8 | 30s

Henry Louis Gates, Jr. introduces actors Debra Messing & Melanie Lynskey to ancestors who made bold decisions that forever reshaped their family trees. Moving from shtetls in Eastern Europe to a fruit stand in NY City to the wilds of New Zealand, Gates introduces his guests to relatives who took great risks, overcame enormous hardships—and unwittingly transformed the lives of their descendants.

Corporate support for Season 11 of FINDING YOUR ROOTS WITH HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR. is provided by Gilead Sciences, Inc., Ancestry® and Johnson & Johnson. Major support is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Support is also provided by Ford Foundation; Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation; Candace King Weir; by the Inkwell Society together with many of its members; and by public television viewers.
Extras
Watch • 3:53
Finding Your Roots
Debra Messing's Polish Ancestors Voyaged to New York
Debra discovers her grandfather's earliest years in America after leaving Poland.
Clip: S11 E8 | 3:53
Watch • 4:21
Finding Your Roots
Melanie Lynskey Learns of a Long-Lost Relative
Melanie discovers a potential match for her great-grandfather.
Clip: S11 E8 | 4:21
Watch • 0:30
Finding Your Roots
Latin Roots Preview
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. meets musician Rubén Blades & journalist Natalie Morales.
Preview: S11 E6 | 0:30
Watch • 0:30
Finding Your Roots
Family Recipes Preview
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the ancestry of notable chefs José Andrés & Sean Sherman.
Preview: S11 E5 | 0:30
Watch • 0:30
Finding Your Roots
Dreamers One and All Preview
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. traces the ancestry of actor Sharon Stone & model Chrissy Teigen.
Preview: S11 E4 | 0:30
Watch • 0:30
Finding Your Roots
The Ties That Bind Preview
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. maps the roots of married actors Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard.
Preview: S11 E7 | 0:30
Watch • 5:10
Finding Your Roots
Kristen Bell Learns of Family's Generational Trauma
Kristen learns about her grandfather and great grandfather's generational trauma.
Clip: S11 E7 | 5:10
Watch • 4:56
Finding Your Roots
Dax Shepard's Ninth Great-Grandfather Journeyed to America
Dax hears about the life of his ninth great-grandfather who immigrated from France to Canada.
Clip: S11 E7 | 4:56
Watch • 4:05
Finding Your Roots
Rubén Blades Traces His Panamanian Heritage
Rubén learns about the difficult life of his African ancestor in Panama on his mother's side.
Clip: S11 E6 | 4:05
Watch • 3:59
Finding Your Roots
The Complex Chapter in Natalie Morales' Family History
Natalie learns about her maternal third great grandfather, Domingos.
Clip: S11 E6 | 3:59
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Watch • 52:10
Finding Your Roots
The Butterfly Effect
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. traces the family trees of actors Debra Messing & Melanie Lynskey.
Episode: S11 E8 | 52:10
Watch • 52:10
Finding Your Roots
The Ties That Bind
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. maps the roots of married actors Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard.
Episode: S11 E7 | 52:10
Watch • 52:10
Finding Your Roots
Latin Roots
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. meets musician Rubén Blades & journalist Natalie Morales.
Episode: S11 E6 | 52:10
Watch • 52:10
Finding Your Roots
Family Recipes
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the ancestry of notable chefs José Andrés & Sean Sherman.
Episode: S11 E5 | 52:10
Watch • 52:10
Finding Your Roots
Dreamers One And All
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. traces the ancestry of actor Sharon Stone & model Chrissy Teigen.
Episode: S11 E4 | 52:10
Watch • 52:10
Finding Your Roots
Stranger Than Fiction
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. reveals inspiring ancestors of novelist Amy Tan & poet Rita Dove.
Episode: S11 E3 | 52:10
Watch • 52:10
Finding Your Roots
Larger Than Life
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. connects Lea Salonga & Amanda Seyfried to their dramatic ancestors.
Episode: S11 E1 | 52:10
Watch • 52:10
Finding Your Roots
La Famiglia
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the Italian roots of Joy Behar & Michael Imperioli.
Episode: S11 E2 | 52:10
Watch • 52:09
Finding Your Roots
Viewers Like You
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. solves mysteries for 3 everyday Americans chosen to be guests.
Episode: S10 E10 | 52:09
Watch • 52:09
Finding Your Roots
In the Blood
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. uncovers the surprising roots of Michael Douglas & Lena Dunham.
Episode: S10 E9 | 52:09