Brendan Fraser: The Candy Man Can! Brendan Fraser Meets His ‘Sweet’ Ancestor

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Oscar-winning actor Brendan Fraser is overjoyed to find his ancestor’s trade of choice and grateful to know about his family history on PBS’s Finding Your Roots.

“His father was born in Ireland 1844 and his application for American citizenship describes a life that was far removed from the candy business. It says that he arrived in the United States before the year 1853 being then under the age of 11. You are looking at your great great grandfather’s petition for naturalization.

According to this petition Patrick immigrated in 1853 meaning that his childhood in Ireland overlay with what we now call the Great Famine a cataclysm that claim the lives of approximately 1 million people it’s one of the worst famines in history and your ancestors were right there.

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Watch all new episodes of Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. Tuesdays at 8/7c on PBS. Learn more or check your local PBS listings.