Andrew Garfield Learns Holocaust Family History

Andrew Garfield became emotional while tracing his family's Holocaust history on the BBC’s 'Who Do You Think You Are?', learning that his Jewish great-grandfather Ludwig Garfinkel escaped to London in 1910, while three of Ludwig’s sisters—Szajndla, Dwojra, and Basia—remained in Poland and are believed to have been killed at Treblinka. During his visit to the Treblinka memorial for Kielce victims, Garfield paid tribute by placing remembrance stones and reflecting on the Nazi effort to erase the memory of their victims. The episode also revealed that Garfield’s great-great-grandmother Chaja escaped to Brazil and that he shares a family connection with Władysław Szpilman, the inspiration for 'The Pianist.' Garfield said the journey helped recover his family’s memory of the victims and inspired him to live more fully. He expressed gratitude for honoring and remembering his lost relatives and emphasized the importance of preserving their stories. The experience left Garfield visibly shaken and brought a new perspective to his life.