Kevin Bacon has learned that he and his wife, Kyra Sedgwick, share a distant family connection after taking part in a DNA review on the PBS series Finding Your Roots. What began as a routine look into their ancestry quickly turned into an unexpected discovery for the longtime Hollywood couple.

Bacon and Sedgwick, who married in 1988 and share two children, appeared on the program hosted by historian Henry Louis Gates Jr. Both expected interesting family stories, but neither anticipated learning they were related. Sedgwick even admitted she feared the results, and her instinct proved correct.

Gates traced Bacon’s family line back to early Quaker settlers from Bristol, England, and revealed that the actor is connected to several notable figures, including King Edward I. He also told Bacon that he shares distant ties with Brad Pitt and former President Barack Obama. Bacon responded with humor, noting that he “knew” he deserved more respect.

Sedgwick’s ancestry showed deep roots in early New England and links to families involved in the creation of the American Republic. The turning point came when Gates presented a photo of her ninth cousin once removed and revealed the familiar name: Kevin Bacon. Sedgwick reacted with surprise, repeating that she had suspected something all along. She later reassured her husband that the connection was distant enough not to trouble her.

Bacon took the news in a reflective tone, saying the idea of shared ancestry highlights how connected people are. He called it a reminder that many families, even those who meet by chance, often cross paths in history.