Arlington, VA — In the new season of FINDING YOUR ROOTS WITH HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR., 18 celebrities are joined by 3 non-celebrity guests, chosen for the series following a nationwide casting call. The series unravels their deep ancestral histories and solves family mysteries in the tenth anniversary season of the historic FINDING YOUR ROOTS,hosted by celebrated scholar Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. In recent years, the show has entered the mainstream cultural zeitgeist with questions on JEOPARDY!; Gates’s guest appearance on THE SIMPSONS; mention on RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE as RuPaul had his newly discovered cousin Cory Booker appear; inclusions on scripted shows including WATCHMEN and AND JUST LIKE THAT…; and countless mentions from celebrities in the press on the impact of the series. Season Tencontinues to attract some of the world’s biggest names in culture in 10 new episodes, premiering January 2024 on PBS, PBS.org, and the PBS App.
The acclaimed series continues its use of the latest DNA technology, along with genealogical detective work, to help new guests learn about their family’s past, often answering decades-old questions, uncovering mysteries, telling stories of unknown ancestors, and sometimes altering a guest’s life for the better. Season Ten includes actors Valerie Bertinelli (“One Day at a Time”), Danielle Brooks (“The Color Purple”), LeVar Burton (“Star Trek”), Michael Douglas (“Wall Street”), Lena Dunham (“Girls”), Brendan Fraser (“The Whale”), Tracy Morgan (“30 Rock”), Ed O’Neill (“Modern Family”), Bob Odenkirk (“Better Call Saul”), Anthony Ramos (“In the Heights”), Wes Studi (“The Last of the Mohicans”), Jesse Williams (“Grey’s Anatomy”); comedian Iliza Shlesinger; musicians Ciara, Sammy Hagar, Alanis Morissette and Dionne Warwick; and journalist Sunny Hostin.
Following years of overwhelming requests from viewers, season ten will also feature three non-celebrity guests in the final episode of the season. These special guests were chosen as part of a nationwide search in 2022 that garnered over 9,000 submissions from hopeful fans. The campaign was launched on social media inviting viewers of the series to submit an application and video for consideration. Series producers were looking for someone with a family mystery they hoped they could solve. Although the search initially launched to find one lucky viewer, three dynamic guests were ultimately chosen. Host Henry Louis Gates, Jr. sat down with each of them, presenting them with their book of life, and shared what was discovered. The viewers will appear together in the final episode of the new season airing on April 9, 2024.
At the center of it all, guiding every discovery, is host and executive producer Henry Louis Gates, Jr., the Alphonse Fletcher University Professor and director of the Hutchins Center for African & African American Research at Harvard University.
“The tenth season of Finding Your Roots is not only a milestone for the show. It signifies the bond we share with PBS and our viewers to tell stories that explore the fullness and diversity of humanity through the personal tales of our guests and their ancestors,” said Gates. “The family trees we unearth this season are especially fascinating and full of lessons and surprises from one generation to the next. It is an enormous privilege for all of us who work on the show to bring it to public television. After all these years, I continue to be amazed by the discoveries we make that in various ways illuminate how connected we truly are.”
The public can explore and share their family histories via social media using the hashtag #FindingYourRoots on Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok, via Facebook.com/FindingYourRootsPBS and @HenryLouisGates, and on the series companion site, pbs.org/FindingYourRoots.
