The BEST episodes of Who Do You Think You Are? (US)
Every episode of Who Do You Think You Are? (US) ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Who Do You Think You Are? (US)!
Celebrities trace their family trees with the help of historians and experts.
#1 - Rashida Jones
Season 3 - Episode 10 - Aired 5/4/2012
Rashida Jones strongly identifies with both her African American and Jewish heritage, but knows very little about her mother's roots. She was close to her grandmother, who was originally from Ireland, but had little details on her life before marrying her grandfather. In New York, Rashida uncovers the answers to her grandmother's missing years and interesting life in Manhattan. As her journey continues, a trip to Ireland reveals new information that lead to her family's origins in Eastern Europe.
#2 - Zooey Deschanel
Season 4 - Episode 4 - Aired 8/13/2013
Actress Zooey Deschanel searches for rumored abolitionists in her father’s Ouaker family background. Her journey takes her around Pennsylvania where she uncovers, and follows, the story of a remarkable ancestor who sacrificed everything for her beliefs.
Watch Now:Apple TV#3 - Marisa Tomei
Season 3 - Episode 2 - Aired 2/10/2012
Marisa Tomei grew up hearing that her great-grandfather was murdered for being a womanizer and gambler. In order to uncover the truth, she travels to Italy to sort through the facts and discover what really lead to his death.
#4 - Martin Sheen
Season 3 - Episode 1 - Aired 2/3/2012
Martin Sheen tries to find out if his ancestors shared his activist passion. In Ireland, he investigates his uncle's ties to the Irish Civil War. In Spain, he uncovers another relative who also fought for social justice and was wrongfully imprisoned during Franco's fascist regime. As he continues to trace his Spanish roots back to the 1700s, he unearths an unexpected family secret.
#5 - Rachel McAdams
Season 5 - Episode 3 - Aired 8/6/2014
Rachel and Kayleen McAdams discover an English ancestor surrounded by a privileged world, but forced to separate from those he loved; they connect with relatives uprooted by war, and uncover the harrowing circumstances behind their Canadian roots.
#6 - Jason Sudeikis
Season 3 - Episode 11 - Aired 5/11/2012
Jason Sudeikis has almost no information about his grandfather who died when his father was a child. In Chicago, Jason researches the cryptic story of his grandfather's death and discovers new details about his life. As he continues to learn more, a surprising discovery is revealed about his great grandfather's family life. A trip to Pennsylvania brings Jason to the coal mines his great great grandfather worked in as an immigrant from Lithuania and the extreme dangers he faced each day.
#7 - Rob Lowe
Season 3 - Episode 9 - Aired 4/27/2012
Actor Rob Lowe ventures into his past and discovers an ancestor who battled against George Washington during the American Revolution
#8 - Helen Hunt
Season 3 - Episode 6 - Aired 3/23/2012
Helen Hunt fills in the missing branches of her family tree and discovers ancestors instrumental in the growth of America.
#9 - Jerome Bettis
Season 3 - Episode 5 - Aired 3/9/2012
Nicknamed "The Bus," star running back Jerome Bettis spent 13 years in the NFL. In 2006, he led the Pittsburgh Steelers to a decisive Super Bowl victory before retiring a champion. A committed humanitarian, Jerome founded the Bus Stops Here Foundation to serve underprivileged children. He's gone on to work as a football analyst on television and radio. Jerome currently lives in Atlanta, Georgia with his wife and their two children. "My family is everything to me," Jerome says. He grew up in a tight-knit family where his mother and father attended every NFL game he played in. His father passed away a few years ago, but Jerome was fortunate to learn about the Bettis side of the family before he passed. He knows very little about his mother's side, the Bougards, and would like to go back as far as he can on that side of the tree.
#10 - Reba McEntire
Season 3 - Episode 4 - Aired 3/2/2012
Singer and actress Reba McEntire follows her ancestry to the first member of her family to set foot on American soil, finding a young boy who came from England as an indentured servant.
#11 - Gwyneth Paltrow
Season 2 - Episode 7 - Aired 4/1/2011
Gwyneth Paltrow's exploration of both sides of her family shows her the importance of teaching her kids that where they come from is important.
#12 - Lionel Richie
Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired 3/4/2011
Lionel Richie sets out to unlock the mystery of the man his beloved grandmother never spoke about - her father, John Louis Brown.
#13 - Rosie O'Donnell
Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired 2/18/2011
The search for her mother's roots takes Rosie to Ireland, and uncovers a new branch of the family.
#14 - Vanessa Williams
Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 2/4/2011
Vanessa Williams sets out on a journey to find out if her ancestors were also trailblazers.
#15 - Emmitt Smith
Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 3/12/2010
Emmitt Smith is an NFL Hall of Fame running back who, since retirement, has devoted himself to business and giving back to the community. But recently, he decided to embark on a journey inward, tracing his family's past. It was a journey that took him beyond his wildest expectations, discovering not only his African roots, but his connections to slave owners in Virginia.
#16 - Steve Buscemi
Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired 3/25/2011
Steve Buscemi seeks a compelling story on his mother's side of the family, and finds it in his great-great-grandfather Ralph B. Montgomery.
#17 - Blair Underwood
Season 3 - Episode 3 - Aired 2/24/2012
Golden Globe nominated actor, director and producer Blair Underwood first became a household name for his portrayal of charismatic attorney Jonathan Rollins on the celebrated NBC drama, L.A. Law. Throughout his 25 year career, Blair has highlighted important African-American issues through his work with charitable organizations and by the roles he chooses. He is a five-time winner of the coveted NAACP Image Award. Blair lives in Los Angeles with his wife and their three children.
Watch Now:Apple TV#18 - Jean Smart
Season 9 - Episode 6 - Aired 6/18/2018
Actress Jean Smart uncovers the curious tale of an unconventional ancestor in colonial Massachusetts, who got her children entangled in her own thievery ring and later faced execution when she was accused of witchcraft.
#19 - Molly Shannon
Season 9 - Episode 5 - Aired 6/11/2018
Actress Molly Shannon heads to Ireland in search of her mother's unknown family tree; her desperate ancestors were forced to choose between their faith and survival; a family legacy of bravery; meeting Irish cousins for the first time.
#20 - Hilary Duff
Season 9 - Episode 4 - Aired 6/4/2018
Actress Hilary Duff uncovers the tale of an ancestor who bravely led an American colony to battle a notorious gang of pirates; she dives centuries-deep into her Scottish roots and is shocked to discover that she descends from a heroic medieval king.
#21 - Megan Mullally
Season 9 - Episode 3 - Aired 5/28/2018
Megan Mullally explores a shocking pattern of dysfunction in her father's line; she finds her two-times great grandmother was bravely defying societal norms in order to fight for her family's survival, while struggling to hang on to her own sanity.
#22 - Laverne Cox
Season 9 - Episode 2 - Aired 5/21/2018
Actress and activist Laverne Cox pieces together the inspiring life of her African American ancestor, who challenged societal norms and bravely pushed the boundaries just years after emancipation.
#23 - Jon Cryer
Season 9 - Episode 1 - Aired 5/21/2018
Jon Cryer's journey takes him from America to Scotland as he uncovers the dramatic tale of an ancestor who survived a catastrophic battle, endured horrific conditions as a prisoner of war, and was forced to come to America as an indentured servant.
#25 - John Stamos
Season 8 - Episode 7 - Aired 4/16/2017
Actor John Stamos explores his Greek heritage for the first time and discovers an explosive feud that shattered his grandfather's childhood. He also meets a relative he never knew and hears firsthand about his family's enduring strength.