Michael Douglas received a surprising revelation about his familial connections during his appearance on the PBS series “Finding Your Roots.” Hosted by Henry Louis Gates Jr., the show delves into the genealogical backgrounds of various celebrities, and in this instance, it unveiled an unexpected link between Douglas and his fellow celebrity, Scarlett Johansson.
Gates disclosed to Douglas that Johansson is a “DNA cousin” of his, a revelation that left the actor visibly shocked. The discovery adds a new layer to Douglas’ understanding of his family tree, highlighting connections that he may not have been aware of previously.
For those unfamiliar with Douglas’ lineage, he is the son of the renowned actor Kirk Douglas and Diana Douglas. He has been married to Oscar winner Catherine Zeta-Jones since 2000, forming a prominent Hollywood power couple, told People.
The Ant-Man actor was stunned and asked, “Are you kidding?” “Oh, that’s amazing. All right. This is cool. This is so cool,” said the 79-year-old. In the book of Life, the show host opened up that the Fatal Attraction actor and the Black Widow actress “share identical branches of DNA on four different chromosomes”
Henry told Michael, “The two actors’ branches of shared DNA “appear on Scarlett’s maternal lines, which stretch back to Jewish communities in Eastern Europe.” “That’s incredible,” stated the Wall Street actor. Michael jokingly added, “Well, I look forward to seeing Scarlett next time!” To note, Scarlett and Michael together appeared in MCU’s Avengers: Endgame back in 2019.
The revelation of Douglas’ connection to Johansson is just one of the many surprising discoveries made in “Finding Your Roots.” The show has previously uncovered genealogical surprises for numerous celebrities, including Edward Norton, who learned that he shares genetic ties with Julia Roberts. Additionally, Kerry Washington discovered that she was conceived through a sperm donor, shedding light on her own personal history.
Other notable findings from the series include Bob Odenkirk’s connection to King Charles and Nathan Lane, as well as Viola Davis’ revelation that she is related to Anita Hill. These discoveries serve as a reminder of the interconnectedness of humanity and the diverse backgrounds that make up our collective heritage.
“Finding Your Roots” continues to captivate audiences with its exploration of celebrity genealogy, offering insights into the lives and backgrounds of some of the world’s most recognizable faces. The show’s ability to uncover unexpected connections and shed light on lesser-known aspects of celebrity lives adds depth and intrigue to our understanding of the individuals behind the fame.
