Debra Messing and Melanie Lynskey Shocked to Find Star-Studded Family Connections!
On the latest episode of Finding Your Roots, Debra Messing and Melanie Lynskey were taken aback when they uncovered distant, yet well-known, family members.
Debra, aged 56, discovered that she was distantly connected to a renowned American statesman and past presidential hopeful. On the other hand, Melanie, at 47, was thrilled when she uncovered a minor link to a significant musical figure.
Indeed, it turned out that these two relatives of mine had made an appearance on the PBS show beforehand. The presenter, Henry Louis Gates Jr., disclosed this fact.
As I reached the climax of the show, I found myself taken aback when I discovered an unexpected connection – I’m distantly related to Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont!
This longtime independent political figure, known for having served the longest term in U.S. Congressional history, had earlier attempted to secure the presidency during both the 2016 and 2020 election campaigns, aiming to represent the Democratic party’s nominee.
After discovering that a part of her DNA matches Senator Bernie Sanders, as reported by People, Debra exclaimed in disbelief, “Wow! You’ve got to be kidding me! Bernie Sanders?” She was taken aback, expressing her astonishment with, “I can’t believe it! Oh my goodness… That’s absolutely amazing.
Recently, Sanders has embarked on a nationwide ‘Anti-Oligarchy’ tour, where he travels to districts that just barely voted for Republicans, advocating for the residents there to express their anger over potential reductions in Medicaid and various public programs.
Moreover, he’s voiced concerns about the growing impact that wealthy individuals like Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Jeff Bezos are having on the administration.
Earlier in the show, Melanie seemed particularly thrilled when she discovered that Questlove from The Roots was distantly related to her.
Gates disclosed that he’s found a genetic relative who shares approximately 18% of his European ancestry.
He explained that both your father and Questlove, along with Questlove’s mother, have a significant stretch of the same DNA on chromosome number 15 that you also possess.
Overwhelmed with enthusiasm, I couldn’t contain my joy when I heard the incredible news! Turning to Gates, I eagerly asked him how astounded he was by the phenomenal results I had achieved. They were simply extraordinary!
Gates expressed disbelief when he discovered the link between her and Questlove, whose real name is Ahmir Thompson.
‘He’s such a sweet guy,’ Melanie said of the longtime Tonight Show drummer. ‘That’s incredible.’
They could have possibly discussed their shared experience of the discovery during the awards ceremony at the 2025 Independent Spirit Awards, which they both attended on a Saturday.
In 2017, Sanders made an appearance on Finding Your Roots. There he discovered that he shares a family tie with Larry David, the star of Curb Your Enthusiasm. This revelation brought joy to fans, as David had previously impersonated Sanders on Saturday Night Live during both the 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns.
During the very same season, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson found himself taken aback when Gate disclosed his ancestry; it turned out that Gate is a descendant of the last-known group of enslaved individuals transported to the United States from Ghana, who eventually settled near Mobile, Alabama.
The results of the DNA test showed that his ancestors were among one hundred enslaved people transported aboard the schooner known as the Clotilda, which was sailed in 1860. (Sometimes this ship’s name is misspelled as Clotilde.)
With astonishment, Questlove remarked that he wasn’t exaggerating when he heard the news. He was left speechless.
He said he was ‘overwhelmed’ because he never knew who he was, ‘I mean, until an hour ago.’
Finding Your Roots airs on Tuesdays on PBS at 8 p.m. ET.
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2025-02-26 07:18