Up Next
Back to Show
Finding Your Roots
Lena Dunham Uncovers Her Ancestor's Complex Legacy
We trace Lena Dunham's ancestry back to her paternal eighth great-grandfather, Stephanus van Cortlandt, a pivotal figure in the early history of New York City. Stephanus's life story unfolds as one of ambition, becoming the first native-born Mayor of New York. But Lena confronts the more troubling aspects of his legacy, including his dealings with the Lenape tribe and his involvement in slavery.
Support Provided By
Unlock with PBS Passport
52:09
Bob Odenkirk and Iliza Shlesinger—two very funny people whose family trees brim with drama
Unlock with PBS Passport
52:09
Sammy Hagar and Ed O’Neill discover the dramatic stories hidden within their own roots.
Unlock with PBS Passport
52:09
LeVar Burton & Wes Studi grew up fatherless, haunted by questions about their family trees
Unlock with PBS Passport
52:09
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. unearths the hidden roots of Valerie Bertinelli and Brendan Fraser.
Unlock with PBS Passport
52:09
Explore the roots of Alanis Morissette and Ciara and their hidden connections to history.
Unlock with PBS Passport
52:09
Henry Louis Gates uncovers the lost roots of actors Billy Crudup and Tamera Mowry-Housley.
Unlock with PBS Passport
52:09
Henry Louis Gates reveals the unexpected family trees of Angela Y. Davis and Jeh Johnson
Unlock with PBS Passport
52:09
Joe Manganiello and Tony Gonzalez discover close relatives whose names they’ve never heard
