The two are sixth cousins, Ancestry.com discovered. “It all just comes together, you see,” Hanks told Access Hollywood when the show informed him of the relation.
Ancestry figured out the two are sixth cousins, and their common ancestor was Johannes Meffert. Their subsequent ancestors had the last name of Mefford.
“Fred Rogers and Tom Hanks are sixth cousins sharing the same 5x great-grandfather … who immigrated from Germany to America in the 18th century,” Ancestry spokeswoman Keri Madonna told CNN on Tuesday.
Hanks and Rita Wilson, his wife, couldn’t believe the news.
“No, impossible! You’re pulling our leg,” Wilson said when Access Hollywood told the duo.
Many fans have said Hanks makes a perfect Mister Rogers, and perhaps this is why.
The film premieres November 22.
