Hollywood actor Kevin Bacon recently made headlines after discovering that his wife of nearly four decades, actress Kyra Sedgwick, is actually his distant cousin. The surprising revelation came not from a scandal or gossip column, but from a televised genealogy show that took the couple on an eye-opening journey into their shared family history.
The moment was featured on an episode of the PBS documentary series Finding Your Roots, hosted by historian Henry Louis Gates Jr. The show combines traditional historical records with modern DNA analysis to map the ancestral lineages of famous figures, often uncovering unexpected connections. On this particular episode, Bacon and Sedgwick agreed to explore their family backgrounds together — and learned something neither had anticipated: that they were distantly related.
From On-Set Romance to Long-Term Marriage
The story of Bacon and Sedgwick’s relationship began decades before the surprising discovery. The couple first met in 1988 while working together on the PBS drama Lemon Sky and quickly developed an undeniable connection. They married later that same year and went on to build one of Hollywood’s longest-lasting marriages. The pair share two adult children — a son and a daughter — and have consistently supported each other through both personal and professional milestones. While their marriage has spanned more than 35 years, the genealogical twist emerged only when they agreed to participate in Finding Your Roots more than a decade ago. As Gates Jr. guided them through historical documents and genetic results, Sedgwick’s ancestry was traced back several generations. Then came the moment that caught both actors off guard: the discovery that her ninth cousin once removed was none other than her husband, Kevin Bacon.
The Moment of Revelation
During the televised episode, the show’s host revealed the link by showing Sedgwick a photograph and announcing, “And his name is Kevin Bacon.” Sedgwick reacted with surprise, exclaiming that she had suspected something might come up but didn’t expect her husband’s name to appear. Bacon, who had been less privy to the details, was taken aback but laughed off the discovery, noting the irony given his long association with the concept of interconnectedness. Despite the initial surprise, both actors took the news in stride. The cousin relationship — ninth cousins once removed — places them far outside the range of close family ties that would typically raise concerns for most people. As Bacon later reflected, such distant connections are not uncommon in genealogical research and reinforced the idea that many individuals are more connected than they might realize.
How Close Are They Really?
Genetic and genealogical experts note that while many people can discover surprising links through DNA testing and family history programmes, the significance of such ties varies greatly based on the degree of relation. In the case of Bacon and Sedgwick, being ninth cousins once removed means they share a common ancestor several generations back, making their genetic connection minimal in terms of family relationships. Indeed, in discussions about distant cousin relationships, Sedgwick has been quoted in interviews acknowledging that she wasn’t too shocked by the news. At a Television Critics Association event, she joked that she expected some ancestral overlap — quipping that “most white people are related, ultimately” — and that she had a sense something like this might emerge.
A Long-Lasting Hollywood Partnership
Despite the unexpected genealogical twist, the revelation has done little to alter the dynamic of Bacon and Sedgwick’s enduring partnership. The couple continue to enjoy both professional and personal success, often appearing together at public events and supporting each other’s careers. Their marriage has been celebrated as one of Hollywood’s most stable, with fans frequently highlighting their mutual respect and sense of humour. Ultimately, the story serves as a fascinating reminder that sometimes family trees have unexpected branches — even for those who have shared a life together for decades. For Bacon and Sedgwick, the discovery became just another chapter in a long, intriguing journey of shared history.
