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Season 6 - Episode Guide

Episodes

Hollywood Royalty

Episode: 6x01 | Airdate: Oct 8, 2019

Hollywood Royalty

Three actors born into Hollywood royalty discover branches of their family trees that have been hidden from the public eye--and meet a cast of characters every bit as dramatic as the people they themselves have played on camera. 

Off the Farm

Episode: 6x02 | Airdate: Oct 15, 2019

Off the Farm

Two comic actors who grew up on farms in America's heartland--the descendants of generations of people who worked the land--retrace the journeys of their ancestors to see what they share with the men and women who literally laid the groundwork for their success. 

Homecomings

Episode: 6x03 | Airdate: Jan 7, 2020

Homecomings

Henry Louis Gates, Jr. helps actor Sterling K. Brown, comedian Sasheer Zamata and musician Jon Batiste discover the unexpected places their ancestors once called home, providing new insight into the people and places that made them who they are today. 

This Land Is My Land

Episode: 6x04 | Airdate: Jan 14, 2020

This Land Is My Land

Henry Louis Gates, Jr. reveals the unexpected family trees of entertainer Queen Latifah and actor Jeffrey Wright, redefining their sense of the black experience — and challenging preconceptions about America's past.

Beyond the Pale

Episode: 6x05 | Airdate: Jan 21, 2020

Beyond the Pale

Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the Jewish heritages of actor Jeff Goldblum, radio host Terry Gross, and comedian Marc Maron, uncovering previously unknown stories that show each share much more with their ancestors than a religious tradition.

Secrets and Lies

Episode: 6x06 | Airdate: Jan 28, 2020

Secrets and Lies

Henry Louis Gates, Jr. helps actors Sigourney Weaver, Justina Machado, and Amy Ryan unearth surprising revelations about their family histories, forever altering how they see themselves.

Science Pioneers

Episode: 6x07 | Airdate: Feb 4, 2020

Science Pioneers

Henry Louis Gates, Jr. traces the family trees of Francis Collins, Shirley Ann Jackson, and Harold E. Varmus — three pioneering scientists who've made dramatic contributions to our understanding of the world, all the while knowing little about their own ancestry. 

Slave Trade

Episode: 6x08 | Airdate: Feb 11, 2020

Slave Trade

Henry Louis Gates, Jr. journeys with film director Ava DuVernay, actor S. Epatha Merkerson, and musician Questlove to the unexpected places where their ancestors were scattered by slavery, upending their notions of African American history—and their own family trees. 

Italian Roots

Episode: 6x09 | Airdate: Feb 18, 2020

Italian Roots

Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the roots of talk show host Jimmy Kimmel and actors Marisa Tomei and John Turturro, introducing them to ancestors who made immense sacrifices to bring their families from Italy to America.

Criminal Kind

Episode: 6x10 | Airdate: Feb 25, 2020

Criminal Kind

Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the roots of actor Laura Linney and journalists Lisa Ling and Soledad O'Brien—telling them stories of tricksters, scoundrels, and outright criminals, who nevertheless laid the groundwork for their success.

Fashion's Roots

Episode: 6x11 | Airdate: Oct 13, 2020

Fashion's Roots

Henry Louis Gates, Jr. steps into the world of fashion and meets three icons of style — Diane Von Furstenberg, Narciso Rodriguez, and RuPaul Charles — introducing ancestors who were just as audacious as they are.

DNA Mysteries

Episode: 6x12 | Airdate: Oct 20, 2020

DNA Mysteries

Henry Louis Gates, Jr. uses DNA detective work to solve mysteries in the family trees of actor Téa Leoni, and radio host Joe Madison, introducing each of them to parents and grandparents whose names they've never heard before.

War Stories

Episode: 6x13 | Airdate: Nov 10, 2020

War Stories

Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the roots of actor Julianne Moore, comedian Bill Hader, and painter Kehinde Wiley, revealing how their ancestors' military service left an indelible mark both on their families and on their country. 

Flight

Episode: 6x14 | Airdate: Nov 17, 2020

Flight

Henry Louis Gates, Jr. meets actors Scarlett Johansson and Lupita Nyong'o, and chef Lidia Bastianich — three women whose families crisscrossed the globe to escape oppression and find opportunity, leaving them with questions about their relatives who stayed behind. 

Breaking Silences

Episode: 6x15 | Airdate: Jan 5, 2021

Breaking Silences

Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the family secrets of journalist Gayle King, film director Jordan Peele, and comedian Issa Rae, introducing them to ancestors who raise profound questions about the shape and meaning of their family trees.

Coming to America

Episode: 6x16 | Airdate: Jan 12, 2021

Coming to America

Henry Louis Gates, Jr. helps Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, news anchor Norah O'Donnell and fashion designer Zac Posen explore their immigrant roots, retracing the journeys of their ancestors who arrived in the United States with little more than a dream--and revealing why that dream is still so inspiring today.

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