LeVar Burton

Biography

Levardis Robert Martyn Burton Jr., known as LeVar Burton, was born on February 16, 1957, and is a prominent figure in American entertainment as an actor, director, and television presenter. He is widely recognized for his role as Geordi La Forge in the iconic series Star Trek: The Next Generation, which aired from 1987 to 1994. Additionally, Burton gained fame for his portrayal of Kunta Kinte in the groundbreaking ABC miniseries Roots, released in 1977. He also dedicated 23 years (from 1983 to 2006) to hosting the beloved PBS Kids show Reading Rainbow, for which he won 12 Daytime Emmy Awards and a Peabody Award.

Burton's filmography includes various notable performances, such as Cap Jackson in Looking for Mr. Goodbar (1977), Donald Lang in Dummy (1979), and Tommy Price in The Hunter (1980), for which he received an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture. He also played Martin Luther King Jr. in the film Ali (2001). His narration of The Autobiography of Martin Luther King Jr. earned him a Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album during the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards. In 1990, Burton was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contributions to television.

From 2017 to 2024, he hosted the podcast LeVar Burton Reads, likened to "Reading Rainbow for adults." In October 2024, he took on the role of host for the Trivial Pursuit game show on The CW and streaming platforms.