Chris Meloni Reacts to Family History in Finding Your Roots | Ancestry
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- Опубліковано 18 чер 2024
- Chris Meloni sits down with Ancestry expert Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr. where he learns a tragic story of his relative's upbringing in this clip from PBS' Finding Your Roots.
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00:00 Introduction
0:15 Chris Meloni explores his great-grandfather’s Italian roots
1:10 Chris Meloni’s heart-wrenching family story
3:34 Chris Meloni’s emotional reaction - Наука та технологія
Want more celebrity content? Check out the new season of Who Do You Think You Are? Sundays at 7/6c on NBC or stream on Peacock. visitancestry.com/3Pfkvq5
Oh my
He is 1 of my favorite, underrated actors.
Appreciate this show becoming diverse. Adding Jewish ppl and European families. Including all of us.
What a kindhearted man. YES, we owe all our ancestors a debt for the fact we even exist.
Hi, Heather. Thanks for your comment. It sounds like you enjoyed this segment of Finding Your Roots. You're right, learning about the lives of our ancestors can give us a real appreciation for what they did for us.
I really like Christopher Meloni. Think he is a wonderful actor. So sad about his grandfather, but he made it to America so he must have been a strong young man. Good for him 🦋🦋🦋
We're so glad you enjoyed the clip, Leslie! Thanks for sharing. 😊
Love Meloni!!
I want one!!😉
I always wonder why the producers never offer a tissue box or suggest that a guest have a hanky or bandana... really?!🤨
We're glad you enjoyed the video!
He does a great job playing a thug with a badge.
Hi, Leslie. Thanks for you comment. We're so happy to hear that you enjoyed this segment of 'Finding Your Roots.' We love hearing about the ancestors that impacted his life in a positive way.
"Oh!...I owe you a debt" .... That got me. 😥....Mind blowing when you realize all you ancestors life journeys lead to your existing moment.
I saw Chris's pain when he found out about the foundling wheel. His expression read, (how could someone abandon him, Who would not love a newborn?) This touched me.
Thank you for sharing with us.
It could actually mean “how could they love me so much, to not want à deeper suffering”? You may not actually know the depths of wanting more for the babe beneath the heart.
@@trishr.3986 That's what I'm thinking also.
It was about them saving him, not abandoning him. If they wouldn’t have done that, he could’ve died. Thankfully they didn’t have PP & ab0rtion clinics back then. Chris would be much less likely to be sitting there. They knew he deserved & needed a better life than what they could give him, and despite difficulties, it led to Chris being alive for his family... I think Chris knew he wouldn’t be sitting there unless they did that to save him. There need to be more Safe Haven baby boxes. Choose life
Foundling wheel, there still are these days, in exactly the same form, as well as you know, the firehouses, maybe the churchs(not sure as there is not always someone). But actual parochial establishments that have this rolling box in the outside wall.
Velva still exists! it's a "frazione" (meaning a smaller village within a small town) of Castiglióne Chiavarése, which is a province of the city of Genova (region Liguria). it has 144 inhabitants now :)
🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹
Grazie per la precisazione!
My 3rd GGF's first wife, Rosa Piana, came from the Liguria region. Mid to late 1840's. She died in childbirth with the last infant. In fact, all 3 or 4 of their children died young. Illness it seems took them. Sad story actually.
Eccoci quaaa
In Velva they cook a wonderful castagnaccio and they still speak Ligurian. My relatives are from Velva, but I've got them across all of the Levante Ligure.
Well, I was containing my emotions until Christopher started crying. Its truly amazing to find our ancestors and then discover how they lived and survived.
Well said, Roni. It was certainly an emotional episode. We're glad you enjoyed the clip! Thanks so much for watching.
I always get the urge to hug them
when I see that they are upset
@@AncestryUS where do we find the extended interview?
Same. This made me cry.
I remember this episode. Meloni plays some tough guy roles, but I get the feeling he’s a teddy bear type of nice guy. I saw him a few years ago getting off the A train in NYC during the holiday season and he looked too cool for school.
I've had a crush on him for years and that just makes him more attractive to me.
I love that you said “too cool for school”. My nana used to say that all the time and I did too for a long time. You brought back happy memories for me. Thank you ❤️
I saw him in the dairy section of the Big Y in New Milford, CT! I was too geeked out to bother him, but he was just a regular guy getting groceries like everyone else! 😇 I remember being crushed when he left SVU!
@@Sam-lb8xs I. Thought for years it was just me that found him so attractive then I found out one of my friends had a huge crush on him
These needs to be longer!!
We're glad to hear you're interested in learning even more, Dempsey! We're naturally big fans of the show and Dr. Gates too. Each episode takes the viewer on a fascinating journey into the past. Although you will need to check availability in your area, you may be able to catch full episodes over on the PBS website here www.pbs.org/weta/finding-your-roots . Enjoy and please call by and see us again anytime! 🌳
Thank you so much for providing the links !
We owe our forefathers so much! Thank you for this program!
We appreciate your feedback, Kathleen! We're so glad to know that this has been rewarding for you to watch. Thank you for getting in touch, we hope you have a wonderful day! 😊
I watched the full episode this morning on PBS. I didn't think it was possible for me to love Christopher Meloni any more than I did, but here I am. I cried during both men's reveals. So heartbreaking at times.
We're glad to hear you enjoyed the episode, Leslie. You're absolutely right, some of the discoveries made can certainly be heartbreaking. Thanks so much for watching, and for your comment as well!
Beautiful story of his grandfather rising above his circumstances ❤️
The 'wheel' is still commonly practiced in Germany. Friends of the family adopted 2 beautiful children who had both been left in a hole in the wall.
Wow that’s pretty interesting.
Predecessor to a ‘baby safe haven’ drop off location.
A feeling of debt, indeed. That's how I feel about almost all of my ancestors when discovering their stories. How can you not make the most of every day when you understand what they endured so that you might exist?
I believe that sudden emotion isn't just bc reading. They must be there with you as u learn. And they give u a hug, embracing family for the first time knowingly.
Mr. Meloni, Love is expressed in MANY WAYS! This act of your Grand Parents may have been a gift to your grandfather. They knew he would be cared for and sheltered, something his parents may not have had been able to provide at the time. God Bless you Brother!
I feel for Christopher. We never know what we are going to find out when we go in search of the unknown.
You're absolutely right, Toni - there's no doubt that some discoveries made on the family history journey can be difficult to grapple with. But it is none the less a beautiful and rewarding journey! Have you had the chance to research your own family history?
@@scully8950 I have found through doing genealogy over the years some children were given up to their own families and used different surnames. Others because one parent or another had the child out of wedlock. Often times ladies while their husbands were off to war or away in America they would have an affair or sometimes being raped would give up the child before they came back. Really sad some stories I have found out too through my own findings. I guess you shame that tree hard enough you never know what is going to fall out of it.
Must be scary. To hear that family members were giving up children is heartbreaking. My parents lost two, my sister from a brain tumor at 9 & 5 years later my 17 year old brother in a car accident
I love the way Gates pauses after he says "abandoned" and before that put an inflection on it just to make sure it hit Christopher the hardest. Unnecessary to do that and was just for sensationalism.
Thanks so much for taking the time to share your thoughts with us! We're glad to hear that you enjoyed this clip!
This is why in times when I feel down and want to give up, I think, wait. So many have sacrificed so that you are here. You have to continue honoring their sacrifice by doing the best you can.
I love Christopher and to see his emotions about his ancestors makes me love him more.
My heart hurts for him. I’m thankful we have technology like this to remind us of exactly how lucky we are to be alive. It’s amazing that our ancestors survived all this hardship for us to breathe air. I hope we can realize how precious life is.
I understand what he felt. I can't even imagine what my ancestors went through. They must have been so strong. It almost makes me feel a little guilty or unworthy I have so much compared to them. Such an easy, soft life by comparison.
When he’s acting he seems to be playing a very tortured spirit but now I see where that comes from. What an amazing actor and I absolutely love his vulnerability.
The overwhelming emotion of realizing, THIS is the one!
The one I owe everything to.....
So moving and powerful...
Our Italian people are just hard people plain and simple ✊🏻🇮🇹
@High Times your mammy
I can only imagine his feelings. I knew my grandparents and am aware of the debt of gratitude I feel for them, as well as the love and sense of honor I have for them. I can only imagine the feelings I would have if I did not know them, but found out about them in this way. I would like to imagine I’d have the same sense of honor and gratitude - along with a kind of sense of longing and loss for not knowing them.
That one ancestor goes through some crap so that you don't have to. They are that hero in your story.
I feel totally related to his tears, four of my grandparents* were poor italians, who emigrated trying a new life. I am grateful for what they built in a new country, starting literally from nothing.
*Edit: Great Grandparents.
Thank you so much for sharing, Ivan! We're sure your grandparents would be truly touched that you are still keeping their legacy in your thoughts and that you're grateful for the future they were able to build for their families. ❤️
Who would you like to see in an upcoming episode of Finding Your Roots on PBS? Let us know!
Mariah Carey
Mariska H. Of law and order stuff. The one who plays Olivia Benson.
Zoey Kravitz and Keanu Reeves.
Singers Fred Hammond and Kirk Franklin. Tom Hiddleston, Kate Winslet, Gerard Way, Jared Leto.
Mick Jagger and Keith Richards
and here we are with this beautiful man....
Thanks for sharing that, Cqmel. Congratulations! We're happy to hear that this has helped you with your research. We hope you'll continue to learn more and share your discoveries.
I crying and I can't get out of my emotions for such sadness. I understand his emotions
This is why I love doing genealogy. You can find out some very interesting, surprising and also sad things about your family history.
Hey ancestry! I am so happy i got to use your amazing platform. I was able to find my family roots all the way back to the year 285. I am so incredibly grateful that you offer this service!
285 wow that’s amazing
@@rocknroll20024 I got even further back now. however these people are legit mythical. I got to 270 BC :O
@Lesevesel Yea, I am still working on other parts of the tree and i have about 1050 people on my tree.
@Lesevesel Yea, I have some cool historical figures like King henri I of france, william the conqueror, and charlemagne.
Hearing about his. relative who was an orphan who had to defend for himself at age 12, you really forget all the struggling and sacrifice, and just hope for tomorrow that so much of the past was based on. Not a reflection on mr. meloni, but it makes me think, how many of our relatives struggled to survive, in part for us to be here, and this is what. we do with it. its really easy to disrespect a sacrifice if you didn't even know there was one, or if by the result you wonder if there was anything precious to begin with.
When I researched my own ancestors on Ancestry there were SO many amazing and wonderful things😐I learned, and SO many descendents that I have ! It brought me to tears many times.. to find out certain facts and deaths in the many wars they fought and died in , but those things are parts of the reason we..each of us.. are here.. And to think , that if one smile hadn't led to another and beyond , at that precise space and moment in time, that we may not even be here is mind blowing!
We're glad to hear that you've enjoyed this video so much! Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
3/4 of my family history goes back hundreds of years. The one missing part is my grandmother's family in Scotland.
Incredible story. Love this series. Thank you.
Very rarely parents would have abandoned a child like they did with Enrico. Most of the times they were children born out of wedlock or when a married man would get an unmarried woman pregnant. Enrico was probably an illegitimate child and his mom would have been young and forced to give him away.
No in Italy, especially in the north (where Velva is) the wheel process was common among poor people with a lot of children.
Was that or death to famine.
You’re correct on most points except one: every child is legitimate but not all children are conceived by love or by thought. More than a few are conceived by compulsion.
@@paolobera No, if it was poverty then the abandonment would not have been anonymous. He'd have been openly placed in a religious institution by his parents and their identity recorded. The wheel was normally used by the mom when the child's father wasn't her husband (she wasn't married or she was caught having an affair), and she didn't want to be traced in future.
You know where Meloni is gonna go once the pandemic is over! Love that guy.
Grande Enrico!! Senza il tuo coraggio non avremmo potuto godere del talento di Christopher!! 💟
Thanks for stopping in, Lucretia. We hope you'll continue find stories like this and gain inspiration for your own family history research.
Love him more than ever; such a good man
Thanks for sharing with us, Native-Kitty. We hope this encouraged you to research your family lines came. Please share what you learn with your family.
Wasn’t expecting to cry watching this but here I am
Hi Kelly. We hope this encourages you to continue your family history research and learning about the lives of your ancestors.
Thanks for sharing your perspective, Lieutenant B. We hope you'll follow other stories of discovery in family history.
His name on the show is Stabler
Thanks for stopping by, David. We hope you enjoy your family history research!
We hope you enjoyed it, Colin. What are you researching currently? Are there any figures in your family line who stand out? Good luck as you continue to discover new details about your ancestors.
I cannot wait to see this entire episode, as there are many instances of foundlings in my own (southern) Italian family tree. I am most interested in how the surname Meloni was attached to this poor child. In Sicily, foundlings were usually given the surname "Esposito" or "Esposita." This was a reference to the "esposito," where foundlings were lined up at the orphanage and "exposed" for inspection by prospective adoptive parents. More often than not, the "parents" were actually looking for cheap labor rather than new children.
The sacrifices and trials of ancestors deserve to be honored, even if only by their remembrance.
Meloni is a common surname in Sardinia, and many Sardinians moved to the mainland. Sometimes orphans were given the name of their saviour, in this case probably it was the nurse's name.
The reality of "The Comeback Kid". Enrico wanted better for his family and in that regard made it.
Love ❤ Christopher Meloni. I have been a fan since his days on NYPD through Oz and Law and Order. Great talent. Sad about Enrico's upbringing. It goes to show you how one person can persevere against all odds.
Makes you appreciate life and what you become and hopefully humble
Well said, Kelly! Thank you so much for watching. 🙏
Great story and thanks Chris for sharing.
Hi, Andrew. Thanks for letting us know that you enjoyed this episode of "Finding Your Roots." It was a great story.
Enrico's parents may have been very young, poor, having an illicit affair resulting in an illegitimate child and shame (in that day, nobody really cares today). Honestly, I'd love to know more about my own family history but I'd end up down a rabbit hole and broke because of all the fascinating things I might find. Squirrel!
I hope that Chris finds some peace and solace in the knowledge of the humble beginnings in his history.
We're glad you enjoyed the video!
This is a sad story, but it also reflects the strenght of Enrico's will to overcome so many difficulties and make a living in America and create a family.
Thanks for sharing your own thoughts on this story, RALDS. ❤️
This show never ceases to amaze and make us stop and reflect on the challenges many faced in the past. Thanks for dropping by to learn a little about Chris and his family history. Please call on us anytime you have a research query of your own.🌳
We hope you were able to see the rest of the episode, Gayle. Good luck as you research your family lines and record their stories.
Hi Paul. What else have you discovered about your ancestors? Good luck as you grow your family tree.
I love that the common theme is this people overcame incredible odds with only hope and belief to cling to. A great reminder to just keep going.
God, I’ve always loved him. He has such heart. Meloni has such wonderful empathy…
I can’t even imagine the pain. My ancestors were raised by at least one parent for past 200 years. My grandfather was raised by his grandmother when his parents went their separate ways when he was 11. But to have no knowledge of a parent is so much harder.
Feel so sad for Christopher. I love this show 😀. Would LOVE for Ancestry to find my Italian Grandfather's family history and how he came to America.
As humans we share determination and resiliency 👏🙋♀️
Wow. Chris Meloni's reaction choked me up.
Much respect to Christopher 🙏🙏
Waw! Good job !
His grandpa was a real man for sure !
What a touching story. Thank you
We're so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing this feedback with us. 🙂
Incredible. Bless his spirit's longing to live.
Thanks for taking the time to check out Chris' story, Nancy. Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr never fails to make us stop and reflect on the challenges faced by past generations and each episode tells a different story. Should you like to see what full episodes are available in your part of the world then check out the PBS website here www.pbs.org/weta/finding-your-roots. Thanks again and please call by and see us again anytime you need our support. Happy new year by the way! 🎆
It must be awesome to be able to trace your people. 💖
Well said!
What an amazingly strong man Enrico was!
That’s rough!😞
This is truly an example of the heart of a child turning to his father (Malachi 4:5-6).
I remember seeing such a "wheel" in an episode of MASH when they had no choice but leave a baby with the local monks. It's moving to learn such details about the people that came before us and yet they survived somehow and made life for themselves. It makes you more to determined to overcome whatever challenges you might be facing.
This is something to learn of our heritage. I wish I could know more about my father’s parentage.
when he said ‘ oh i owe you a debt ‘ that
hit hard . we do owe our ancestors 💕 .
Henry and his team are excellent researchers. I wish they would do mine.
Wonderful story wonderful man.
I love Chris…..always heart on his sleeve.❤️❤️❤️❤️
We're so glad to hear you enjoyed this episode, S! Have you considered researching your own family history? The article below will address what you can expect from Ancestry. Please let us know if you have any questions and we'd be happy to help!
support.ancestry.com/s/article/Why-Use-Ancestry
Yes!!!! Now they need to do Mariska Hagerity ( I think I spelt her last name right).
Close! Hargitay
That's a great suggestion, Karen! ❤️
We're glad you found this short clip of interest. Make sure to check out availability of full episodes in your area by visiting the PBS site www.pbs.org/weta/finding-your-roots . Thanks again and please call on us anytime you have a research query of your own. 🌳
Well her mother was Jayne Mansfield who died along with two other people in a horror crash. A chauffeur was driving. And a 3 year old Mariska was also on the car with her brothers. So it’s highly unlikely that she would want to relive that terror in front of the cameras
Her name is Hungarian. That’s all I know.
@@personalcheeses8073 - Mariska and Jayne look identical. It’s super eerie. She looks so much like her mom! 🥰
This is beautiful story. Of resilience
Great episode
We agree wholeheartedly, Franca! Such episodes can really pull on our heartstrings. Make sure to call by again to check out our latest videos or if you ever need our assistance with your own research project. Thanks for stopping by.🌳
That's a great question! While this show focuses on celebrities, we do have many other shows that show everyday people learning more about their own heritage. Have a lovely day!
Would love to know info on it please, thanks.
Emotional 😭. Great actor. God bless. Amen 🙏.
We hope you enjoyed the video!
Chris is a good guy. Love these stories
We're delighted that you enjoyed this, Sevi, thanks for sharing! ❤️
Chris's great grandfather's story is so sad. Being abandoned in "the wheel" and then put on his own at the tender age of twelve. So sad.
By the way, M*A*S*H did an episode about a Korean baby that was abandoned at the 4077 and they end up taking the baby to a religious place where the the people inside don't see the outside world. They would raise the baby but her life would be horrible.
Who is this nice man who shows emotions like this ❤
Hi Therese, thank you for taking the time to engage with us today! We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed the content, please be sure to keep an eye out for more content like this in the near future!
Profound 😭😭,and exhilarating that Christopher's parents/ grandparents gave him life and a foundation to succeed.
Thank you so much for watching, Gilmore! We are glad to hear you enjoyed the clip. Have a great day!
Be happy Enrique was a strong and studious hustler who made his way to America and made his way in life and because of Enrique we have seen your talents and I'm sure your kids and the rest of your families offspring will continue to do great and wonderful things. I am adopted luckily by a great and loving family. I by no means have made a huge dent in this world but they say you are never dead if you are remembered so hopefully I will get a chance to do something memorable. Keep going Keep making your art and hustle as hard as Enrique did selling olive oil
Thank you for sharing this with us! We're glad you enjoyed the clip.
I love Chris Meloni ... wipe your tears, find joy in such a story bc possibly had he not been surrendered, he could have perished. His mother wanted better for her son than she could give and for a time he had it. We don't know for certain if he was truly on his own at 12, maybe another took him in. No matter, his will to survive, pushed him forward. The point is all roads led to your existence and for that, you can be grateful.
Hey ancestry I took your ancestry dna a few years ago it’s a no joke found out stuff I needed to and stuff I never expected to find out.
Hi Colton, thanks for stopping by. We are glad to hear that you were able to discover some new things about your roots. What insight would you say you have gained from your results?
To have a succesful descendant is a great achievement.🙂
Love him ❤️❤️❤️❤️
I wasn't trying to cry today.... EPIC FAIL!! 💔😥😥😥
Law & Order's SVU was never the same when Christopher Meloni left; I think he's great, and I figured he might have Italian Ancestry with his surname.
I didn't know Meloni wore glasses. Actually, now that I remember, he did wear them in an episode of SVU once. I think it was the episode: Blinded.
The crazy thing is when you think of it. Our ancestors had to have been tough to make it long enough for us to be here