In a recent episode of the genealogy series “Finding Your Roots,” Hollywood veteran Michael Douglas was astonished to learn that his Marvel co-star Scarlett Johansson is his genetic cousin, sharing identical DNA segments on four different chromosomes. Hosted by Henry Louis Gates Jr., the episode aired on Tuesday, revealing the familial connection between the two actors.
Douglas’s reaction was evident as he expressed his surprise, exclaiming, Are you kidding? Oh, that’s amazing. Alright, this is cool. This is so cool. That’s incredible.”
DNA segments between Douglas and Johansson can be traced back to Scarlett’s maternal ancestors
Gates elaborated, explaining that the shared DNA segments between Douglas and Johansson can be traced back to Scarlett’s maternal ancestors, who hailed from Jewish communities in Eastern Europe.
The actors appeared together in the superhero movie “Avengers: Endgame,” with Douglas playing Hank Pym and Johansson portraying Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow. Douglas expressed his eagerness to share the news of their newfound connection with Johansson, saying, “Well, I look forward to seeing Scarlett next time!”
Amid the excitement surrounding this revelation, Douglas also reflected on the challenges of fame in the industry. Despite his success, he expressed caution regarding his children’s potential interest in acting, advising them against pursuing careers in Hollywood due to the perceived difficulties of making a mark with famous parents.
In addition to Douglas and Johansson’s finding, the episode of “Finding Your Roots” featured Lena Dunham, who discovered a similar connection.
Gates revealed that Dunham shares a distant ancestor with acclaimed filmmaker Larry David, prompting an enthusiastic response from the actress: “It’s Larry David—the other LD! This is the hottest information I could have ever gotten.”