Michigan Natives Dax Shepard and Kristen Bell Appear On PBS Show ‘Finding Your Roots’

For many years, ancestry tests from places like 23andMe and AncestryDNA have become wildly popular as a fun gift to learn about your lineage, an infidelity detector, or a way to find out you were switched at birth. As informative as these tests are, they only tell so much.

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Genealogists (people who study and trace a person's lineage, history, and family connections) can give a much deeper look into your past. PBS has a show called "Finding Your Roots" dedicated to teaching celebrities about their lineage, and proud Michiganders Dax Shepard and Kristen Bell recently appeared on it.

Turns out, Dax is one of the most authentic Michiganders ever.

Dax Shepard's Deep Michigan Past

Dax Shepard is a comedian most known for his podcast Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard. He was born in Milford before moving to California for college, where he's stayed since. It's where he met fellow Michigan-native and wife Kristen Bell (Frozen, The Good Place), who also appeared on this episode of "Finding Your Roots" with Shepard.

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Find Your Roots, now in its 11th season, is hosted by Henry Louis Gates Jr. In the episode that aired on February 18th, the couple appeared on the show where Dax Shepard and Kristen Bell were introduced to soldiers, settlers, and criminals strung along their family lines.

In this short clip, we're introduced to Alexi, a relative on Shepard's mother's side who lived to over 80 years old. Dax doesn't claim to see a resemblance, but the comments on Gates Jr.'s Instagram post are in overwhelming agreement that Alexi and Dax share similar facial features.

Kristen Bell's Ancestor Was A Royal Spy

Kristen Bell was born in Huntington Woods. While Dax has a deep lineage in Michigan, Bell has deep roots in Scotland. Her 7th great-grandfather, William Bell, was revealed to be a loyalist spy during the American Revolution, loyal to the English crown. He relayed information about the Patriot troops, eventually thrown in prison. He was fortunate not to have been executed for his treason.

I have always been a major history nerd, so I love learning about how people have gotten to where they are today. The entire episode is available on pbs.org.