“This is incredible”: Lena Dunham “delighted” after discovering she is related to Larry David on Finding Your Roots

During this week’s episode of Finding Your Roots, popular writer and director Lena Dunham was surprised to discover that she shares a family connection with Larry David. Host Henry Louis Gates Jr. revealed to Dunham that Larry is her cousin from her maternal side.

According to Gates Jr.,

“Larry shares multiple long identical segments of DNA with you and your mother. This means that you share at least one common ancestor, somewhere on your mother’s side of your family tree.”

Upon discovering her connection with David, Lena expressed her delight.

“No! My husband’s gonna freak out. It’s Larry David! The other LD. This is the hottest information I could have gotten. I could not have turned the page and been more delighted. This is incredible. You saved the best for last.”

The docuseries Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. premiered in March 2012 and is currently in its tenth season. Each episode showcases different celebrities receiving a “book of life”from professional genealogists, who uncover their ancestral history and reveal family connections.

Discovering Surprising Family Ties: Michael Douglas Uncovers Fascinating Family Connections

On April 2, 2024, viewers witnessed a surprising moment as Lena Dunham discovered that she is actually related to Larry David through her mother’s side. The news left Dunham feeling both thrilled and shocked, and it caused quite a buzz on social media as well, with many people expressing their surprise at the unexpected connection.

In addition to Lena, Larry David and Michael Douglas also discovered their roots and familial connection to fellow Marvel star, Scarlett Johansson. During the show, host Henry Louis Gates Jr. revealed that he and the actress were “DNA cousins.”

While on the show, the host disclosed that research has shown him and Johansson to have “matching segments of DNA on four distinct chromosomes,” establishing a familial connection between them. He also disclosed that both stars have maternal ancestry tracing back to Jewish communities in Eastern Europe.

Michael expressed his excitement at discovering the information, describing it as “incredible”and adding another layer to his professional knowledge. During the episode, it was also revealed that Michael shares a familial connection with George Washington, as Washington is Michael’s fourth great-grandfather on his mother’s side.

In the same vein, other celebrities who made appearances in different episodes of season 10, such as Alanis Morissette, Anthony Ramos, Bob Odenkirk, Brendan Fraser, Ciara and Danielle Brooks, were also surprised by news concerning their relationships with other stars.

According to Family Tree Magazine, researchers dedicate hundreds of hours to ensure that each guest appearing on the show is presented with accurate and reliable information. In addition, the use of techniques such as DNA profiling allows for the creation of a thorough and accurate family tree for each guest.

As the episode revealed previously unknown information about the DNA of Lena Dunham and Michael Douglas, social media users shared various reactions to the revelation. However, neither of the two celebrities has responded to the public’s comments. Similarly, Larry David, who is related to Dunham, and Scarlett Johansson have yet to make any statements about the reveal.