Actor Edward Norton found out he has a very famous ancestor — Pocahontas.
in which host Henry Louis Gates reveals the genealogy of celebrities, Norton was told Pocahontas is his 12th great-grandmother. The actor was shocked.Norton, known for films like"American History X" and"Birdman," asked Gates how he could determine the relation, and the host replied:"Through the paper trail."
Gates explained that there is a record of Pocahontas and John Rolfe marrying on April 5, 1614, in Jamestown, Virginia. Through other documents, Gates said, Norton's genealogy could be traced back to them. Actor Edward Norton appeared on an episode of PBS'"Finding Your Roots," where he learned he was related to Pocahontas. "This is about as far back as you can go," Gates said. To put into perspective just how long ago that was, he added that William Shakespeare died two years after Pocahontas and Rolfe married.
After later being captured by the English, Pocahontas met widower John Rolfe and the two married. In 1614, she converted to Christianity, was baptized"Rebecca," and the pair had a baby named Thomas. The family moved to England in 1616. Several other celebrities have found interesting genealogical surprises through"Finding Your Roots." Christopher Meloni of"Law and Order: SVU" fame found out he was related to Nancy Pelosi. TV personality and producer Andy Cohen is a distant relative of Scarlette Johansson. Glenn Close learned she is related to both Princess Diana and Clint Eastwood.
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