Aspiring actor Matthew Modine was working as a chef in a New York City restaurant frequented by the city’s elites when a chance encounter with one particular customer changed his life.

“I’d never seen any creature like her in my life, and I just fell in love at first sight,” he said of Caridad Rivera, now his wife of more than 40 years, whom he credits for giving him the confidence to become one of the most successful actors of our time.

Another chance encounter with FamilySearch International CEO Steve Rockwood led the star of films such as Full Metal Jacket and the Netflix hit series Stranger Things to an invitation to share his stories of human connection with a worldwide RootsTech Connect 2022 audience on March 3–5, 2022.

“Can we create, as a human being, a little ripple of positivity and goodness that will impact other peoples’ [ripples]?” he asked. “And my ripple will connect with another ripple and create a great wave of change. That’s how you connect to people…don’t think that you’re above anybody else.”

At RootsTech Modine will recount his life’s journey as a young boy in California and Utah, share his delightful discovery how New York City is actually more of a homeland than an adopted home, and the connections he’s made along the way, including a special connection with an uncle whose US Air Force uniform Modine wore as a B-17 captain in Memphis Belle.

Enjoy more of Matthew Modine’s heartwarming story by registering for RootsTech Connect 2022 today for free at RootsTech.org, and by joining the virtual event March 3–5, 2022!