In this week’s episode of Who Do You Think You Are? R&B superstar Lionel Richie set off to learn about the “giants” in his family – ancestors whose actions helped him succeed. His journey began when he found his great-grandfather’s name on a Social Security application. Using marriage records, city directories, a diary and a Read More
This week on Who Do You Think You Are? Actress Kim Cattrall started with just a name and a newspaper clipping, which led her to a marriage record that helped her solve a 70-year-old family mystery about her missing grandfather. Three steps to finding an ancestor you know very little about: Step 1: Talk to Read More
In this week’s episode of Who Do You Think You Are? Ashley Judd learned how her ancestors fought for their beliefs. Ashley used family trees and records from England to discover she descends from a famous Mayflower passenger who stood up for religious freedom. She searched military records on the Ancestry website (shown below) to find a great-great-great- grandfather Read More
In last night’s season premier of Who Do You Think You Are? actress Gwyneth Paltrow searched for the true stories of her ancestors. Passenger lists helped her prove a family line from Barbados. Censuses and other records revealed the many challenges her great-grandmother faced. And Jewish family history records helped her make a surprising and Read More
Coming from a family of strong females, Georgie Parker’s journey into her ancestry reveals the true strength and courage shown by the women on both sides of her family. Georgie’s quest starts with her mother Rosemary’s family. As a little girl, Georgie was particularly close to her maternal grandmother Grace. While Grace was very bright Read More
Actor, dancer and TV chef Paul Mercurio goes on a quest to uncover his past and discovers a story of mafia violence, murky political patronage and innocents caught in the crossfire. The second of four children, Paul grew up never really knowing his father, Gus Mercurio, who left when Paul was five. In seeking a Read More
With a history of absent fathers on both sides of the Bourne family, actor and comedian Shane Bourne embarks on a search for the missing man in his family tree, his paternal grandfather A.P. Freeman. Shane’s journey to find out more about A.P. Freeman, starts with a visit from his brother Dannie, who has collected Read More
Singer Tina Arena goes in search of the truth behind family secrets in a journey that takes her off to explore her Sicilian roots and the tough reality of her grandparents’ childhood. Tina suffered from racism as a child and felt confused about her identity. She has always wanted to find out more about where Read More
Knowing very little about his family history and intrigued by the mystery of his father’s adoption, Australian cricketing icon Rod Marsh embarks on a journey to discover his roots. Rod’s father, Ken, never knew who his biological parents were or the circumstances around his adoption. Armed with an old birth certificate from his Aunt Amy, Read More
Comedian and actress Magda Szubanski wants to better understand how world events have shaped her family. Tracing the lives of two ancestors, she discovers how both were forced to make grim choices and suffered the devastating consequences of war. Magda was born to Polish father Zbigniew Szubanski and Scottish mother Margaret McCarthy. The family emigrated Read More