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When Roots premiered in 1977, the nation came to a standstill. Eighty million people tuned in to the miniseries that would become legendary. Thirty-five years later, Roots is still making a difference, and Oprah has opened the doors to her California home to reunite six of the cast members who made television history. Get reacquainted with these actors and find out what they're doing today.
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In this OWN special event, Oprah opens the doors to her home and reunites the legendary cast of Roots 35 years after they helped make television history. More...
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Did Roots open the door to a greater conversation about race in America? Watch as cast members John Amos, Leslie Uggams, Ben Vereen and Louis Gossett Jr. discuss why that door needs to be opened wider and where they think the country is today. More...
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The world was introduced to LeVar Burton as Kunta Kinte, but an entire generation now knows him from Reading Rainbow. Watch as LeVar discusses how Roots showed him the power of television and how he used that to connect children with literature. More...
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When Ben Vereen first heard about a project called Roots, he knew he wanted to be a part of it. His agent had other ideas. Watch as Ben shares how the role of "Chicken" George finally came his way thousands of miles from Hollywood. More...
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At age 13, LeVar Burton studied for the Catholic priesthood. Watch as he and Oprah discuss his journey through faith, how to find a spiritual center and why life is like a walking prayer for LeVar. More...
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It's the question no one has asked LeVar Burton before: What's your definition of God? Watch to see his answer and his discussion with Oprah about more of life's big questions. More...
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Louis Gossett Jr. won an Emmy® for Roots and was only the third African-American male to win an Oscar®, for An Officer and a Gentleman. Watch as he describes how his life changed after Oscar. More...
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In the iconic miniseries Roots, Cicely Tyson plays Binta, the mother of Kunta Kinte. During filming, Cicely lost her own mother. Watch as she discusses how being "broken open" influenced her onscreen portrayal of a mother whose son was taken from her. Plus, find out why Cicely says she treasures the negative experiences in her life more than the positive ones. More...
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The Middle Passage was the hellish 4,000-mile journey slaves were forced to endure across the Atlantic and a nightmare actor LeVar Burton had to portray on film as Kunta Kinte in the legendary miniseries Roots. Watch as he explains how he believes the ancestors helped protect him during the difficult shoot. More...
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It's a conversation you won't want to miss. Watch as Oprah welcomes cast members from Roots to her California home. More...
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It was one of the most chilling scenes of Roots. Watch as LeVar Burton, the actor who played Kunta Kinte, reflects on filming the whipping scene and the network's reaction to it. More...
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Even before Roots riveted Americans, cast members say they knew they were a part of something special. Watch as John Amos, Leslie Uggams, Louis Gossett Jr. and Ben Vereen describe the atmosphere of the set. More...
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Viewers haven't been able to forget the heart-wrenching scene in Roots when Sandy Duncan's villainous character Missy Anne doesn't stop Leslie Uggams' character Kizzy from being sold. Watch as Leslie and Sandy reflect on filming that scene and find out why Sandy has never watched Roots all the way through. More...
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After a day of filming, Oprah and cast members from Roots sat down for a "Back to Our Roots" dinner. Watch as Oprah and chef Art Smith consult on the menu. Then, join Oprah and cast members in a toast of thanks to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Alex Haley. More...
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They're part of the cast that made Roots the most watched drama in television history. Learn more about them and see what they're doing today. More...
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In honor of Roots' 35th anniversary, Oprah reunited cast members from the legendary miniseries at her California home. To commemorate their meeting, chef Art Smith whipped up a "Back to Our Roots" dinner menu that's legendary in it's own right. More...
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