Edward Norton Discovers He’s Related To Pocahontas, Ancestors Owned Slaves

Edward Norton During a recent visit to his family, he made an unexpected discovery about his family’s history. episode The PBS Show “Finding Your Roots.”

The “Fight Club” actor Discovered that Pocahontas was the daughter of an 17th-century explorer Native American He is the 12th great-grandmother of his chief. She’s well-known for likely saving Captain John Smith from being executed. Disney animated the story in 1995. “Pocahontas.”

“You have a direct paper trail, no doubt about it, connection to your 12th great-grandmother and great-grandfather, John Rolfe and Pocahontas,” Norton was informed by Henry Louis Gates Jr. historian host per The Hollywood Reporter.

Gates is well-known for his contributions to the world of finance. participation in President Barack Obama’s “beer summit” 2009: Pocahontas’ death in Jamestown, Virginia in 1617, just three years after his marriage to Rolfe was noted.

“This is about as far back as you can go, unless you’re a Viking,” Norton spoke of the discovery. “Makes you realize what a small piece of the whole human story you are.”

But The actor wasn’t thrilled about some other details he learned. Norton did some of his own research before appearing on the show and discovered that his third-great-grandfather, John Winstead, owned a family of slaves, including a mother, father, and five daughters.

“When you read ‘slave aged eight,’ you just want to die,” the “Glass Onion” Actor spoke of his findings. 

“The short answer is these things are uncomfortable. And you should be uncomfortable with them,” Norton continued. “It’s not a judgment on you in your own life but it’s a judgment on the history of this country and it needs to be acknowledged first and foremost and then it needs to be contended with.”

Besides those individuals, Norton also discovered on the show that he was related to a wealthy iron manufacturer-turned-Union soldier who wrote to Abraham Lincoln, and a late 19th-century pro-union labor activist involved in the Pullman Strike. 

The same season 9 premiere episode also traced Julia Roberts’ roots and found that her ancestors were slave owners, too. The actress said she wasn’t surprised at that.

“You have to figure if you’re from the South, you’re on one side of it or the other,” Roberts spoke of the revelation, saying she believed it was necessary. “understand” And “not shy away from” These are the facets that make up her past. 

Next episode of “Finding Your Roots” Claire Danes, Jeff Daniels. “exploring primal scenes from America’s past.” It premieres January 10.