Celebrities you didn’t know existed

America Ferrera and Ava DuVernay

In the trailer for season 12 of Finding your rootsAmerica Ferrera has learned that director Ava DuVernay is her cousin. Her reaction was simple and to the point: “Oh my God! I love it.”

Niecy Nash-Betts, Sterling K. Brown and Danielle Brooks

Clearly, talent runs in the family for this trio.

In 2024, after Brown and Brooks received Oscar nominations for their work in American fiction And The color purplerespectively, Nash shared a congratulatory message, revealing that they were all cousins.

“Both my COUSINS are OSCAR NOMINATES ‼️‼️ Yes! We are related by blood! REAL cousins!” she wrote on Instagram. “I’m so proud of my family! @thedaniellebrooks @sterlingkbrown I support you! 💜🎉💜🎉💜🎉💜🎉.”

Brooks spoke about their relationship for Live with Kelly and Mark last summer, saying, “I don’t remember who’s on which side. One is my mom’s side, the other is my dad’s side. I’m the connective tissue.”

“Someone make a movie or TV show and let’s do it!” she concludes.

Billy Crudup and Terry Crews

Following the discovery of Billy Crudup on Finding your roots that Terry Crews is his distant relative, the America’s Got Talent The host revealed that he was able to meet his new family member in New York.

“The fact that we are blood relatives, to me, is a statement about what America is,” Crews said on the show. Today to show. “It’s also a statement about humanity. Because we all think, you know, he’s white, I’m black. But the reality is we’re actual blood relatives.”

Sheryl Lee Ralph and Samuel L. Jackson

Gates informed Sheryl Lee Ralph that she shared a “long stretch of DNA” on her 16th chromosome with fellow actor Samuel L. Jackson, indicating a common ancestor.

“Are you kidding me?!” THE Abbott Elementary School said the actress. “And I love him so much!”

She added that the prolific star reminded her of her brother Timothy “for some reason.”

Michael Douglas and Scarlett Johansson

Michael Douglas was shocked to learn he is a ‘DNA cousin’ of Scarlett Johansson on Finding your rootsboth sharing “identical branches of DNA on four different chromosomes”.

“Well, I can’t wait to see Scarlett next time!” » the actor joked.

Whoopi Goldberg and Tony Gonzalez

After Whoopi Goldberg Finding your roots segment revealed that footballer Tony Gonzalez is her distant cousin, the actress invited the former athlete to The view.

Referring to Goldberg as “Cousin Whoopi,” the tight end jokingly asked for $5 and a place in his will. In exchange, the comedian demanded tickets to the Super Bowl.

Bob Odenkirk and King Charles

Bob Odenkirk has a distant relationship with the British royal family. THE You better call Saul The star discovered that he is the eleventh cousin of King Charles on his father’s side.

Before Gates revealed Odenkirk’s surprising parent, he hinted that there might be a royal connection, to which Odenkirk responded, “I’m not a monarchist.”

After the reveal, Odenkirk laughed, “Well, maybe I’ll change my mind about that.”

Ciara and Derek Jeter

Ciara had a “crazy” revelation on Finding your roots when she discovered that baseball legend Derek Jeter was her distant cousin.

“Ciara and Derek share a long, identical DNA sequence on their 14th chromosome, which we know Derek inherited from his mother,” a voiceover explained.

Pope Leo XIV, Justin Trudeau, Hillary Clinton, Justin Bieber, Angelina Jolie and Madonna

The new pope has many famous relatives, sharing a maternal ancestor born in the 1590s, according to Henry Louis Gates Jr.’s research on Finding your roots.

Gates visited Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican to confirm his relationship with Peter and Justin Trudeau, Hillary Clinton, Justin Bieber, Angelina Jolie and Madonna, previously reported by The New York Times. He is their ninth cousin several times removed, according to Gates.

Larry David and Bernie Sanders

The resemblance is uncanny.

“I was very happy about it,” Larry David said in July 2017 of his new family ties to Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, which he discovered during his appearance on Finding your roots. “I thought there must be a connection.”

Debra Messing and Bernie Sanders

Sanders shares another famous relative, Debra Messing. The actress learned that the Vermont senator was her DNA cousin during the 11th season of Finding your roots.

“What! Are you kidding? Bernie Sanders?” asked a shocked Messing. “No way! Oh my God… It’s mind blowing.”

Lena Dunham and Larry David

Meanwhile, David had another famous family connection with actress and screenwriter Lena Dunham. THE Girls the creator discovered it Finding your roots that the Limit your enthusiasm The star is his cousin on his mother’s side.

“My husband [Luis Felber] It’s going to freak out! It’s Larry David!” she exclaimed. “This is the hottest information I could ever get.”

Cory Booker and RuPaul

THE RuPaul’s Drag Race the host invited his cousin Cory Booker (the two discovered they were related in an episode of PBS’ Finding your roots) to make an appearance in the season 13 finale of the series.

Ashley Tisdale and Austin Butler

Ashley Tisdale discovered her family connection to Austin Butler during a 2022 episode of Ancestry 2 lies and a sheet series.

Surprisingly, the High school musical actress and Elvis star – both of whom starred in 2009’s Aliens in the attic and 2011 Sharpay’s fabulous adventure – are 10th cousins ​​when removed.

“No wonder we have such a connection!” Tisdale said when she heard the news. “We always said we were brother and sister! This is crazy. I’m literally going to cry.”

Lance Bass and Britney Spears

Former pop star Lance Bass and Britney Spears previously shared the Super Bowl stage in 2001, and the *NSYNC member later discovered that he and his old friend shared a family tree in a 2021 episode of the series. 2 lies and a sheet series.

“Look, I wanted to be related to the Queen,” he said. “Well, now I’m related to the Queen of Pop!”

Calling Spears his “little sister,” Bass said he always “felt like we were like family.”

Plus, “she’s like family to me,” he added, “so the fact that we’re related by blood is amazing.”