Michael Douglas was left stunned after being told he is related to a former co-star.
The 79-year-old veteran actor, who is the son of three-time Oscar nominee Kirk Douglas and married to actress Catherine Zeta Jones, when he appeared on an episode of genealogy series Finding Your Roots, the US version of BBC show, Who Do You Think You Are?
At the end of each episode, host Henry Louis Gates JR. compares the DNA he collected from his guests with the DNA of other celebrities who have been on the show.
In this instance, he revealed that Douglas is distantly related to Scarlett Johansson, 39.
The actors both appeared in 2019’s superhero mash-up Avengers: Endgame – Douglas as Hank Pym and Johansson as Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow.
After being presented with a book containing his family tree, Douglas was visibly surprised to turn to the final page and see Johansson.
“Are you kidding? Oh, that’s amazing. Alright, this is cool. This is so cool. That’s incredible,” he exclaimed.
He went on to say that he “looks forward to seeing” Johansson again to inform her of their connection.
The same episode also featured Girls creator Lena Dunham, 37, who learned she had a famous distant cousin of her own in the shape of Curb Your Enthusiasm creator Larry David, 76.
“This is the hottest information I could have ever gotten,' Dunham said, as Gates explained she and David share, “multiple, long, identical segments of DNA with you and your mother.”
Gates added that meant that both David and her share, “at least one common ancestor” on her mother's side of the family tree.
“This is... I could not have turned the page and been more delighted. This is incredible. You saved the best for last,” Dunham said.
