In a surprising turn of events, actors Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick discovered they are distant relatives. This revelation came during an episode of the genealogy show Finding Your Roots. While the news might sound unsettling, the details show that the connection is very remote.
Host Henry Louis Gates Jr. used DNA analysis to trace the couple’s family trees. He revealed that Sedgwick and Bacon are ninth cousins, once removed. This means their shared ancestor lived hundreds of years ago, placing them far outside what anyone would consider a close family circle.
The show also uncovered other impressive links in Kevin Bacon’s history. The actor learned he is a distant cousin of both Brad Pitt and former President Barack Obama. His ancestry even traces back 22 generations to King Edward I of England.
Kyra Sedgwick admitted she had a gut feeling about a potential link before the results were read. Upon hearing the news, she jokingly expressed relief that they were not closely related, noting that such a distant connection was “fine” by her.
Married since 1988, the couple is one of Hollywood’s most enduring pairs. Bacon took the news in stride, viewing it as a testament to his “six degrees of separation” theory. He remarked that it is a “beautiful concept” that we are all ultimately connected.