LeVar Burton

LeVar Burton

Acting
Born 1957-02-16Landstuhl, Rhineland Palatinate, Germany

Biography

Levardis Robert Martyn Burton Jr. (born February 16, 1957) is an American actor, director, and television host. He played Geordi La Forge in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994), Kunta Kinte in the ABC miniseries Roots (1977), and was the host of the PBS Kids educational television series Reading Rainbow for 23 years (1983–2006). Burton received 12 Daytime Emmy Awards and a Peabody Award as host and executive producer of Reading Rainbow. His other roles include Cap Jackson in Looking for Mr. Goodbar (1977), Donald Lang in Dummy (1979), Tommy Price in The Hunter (1980), which earned him an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture, and Martin Luther King Jr. in Ali (2001). Burton received the Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album at the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards for his narration of the book The Autobiography of Martin Luther King Jr. In 1990, he was honored for his accomplishments in television with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. From 2017 until 2024, Burton created and hosted the podcast LeVar Burton Reads, often described as "Reading Rainbow for adults". In October 2024, Burton appeared as the host of the Trivial Pursuit television game show broadcast on The CW network and streaming online.

Movies (68)

One Night Only
7.0

One Night Only

2026Movie7.0
Star Trek: First Contact
7.3

Star Trek: First Contact

1996Movie7.3
Ali
6.7

Ali

2001Movie6.7
Star Trek: Nemesis
6.3

Star Trek: Nemesis

2002Movie6.3
Star Trek: Generations
6.5

Star Trek: Generations

1994Movie6.5
Star Trek: Insurrection
6.5

Star Trek: Insurrection

1998Movie6.5
Rise of the Zombies
4.2

Rise of the Zombies

2012Movie4.2
Trekkies
6.4

Trekkies

1997Movie6.4
Superman/Batman: Public Enemies
7.1

Superman/Batman: Public Enemies

2009Movie7.1
Looking for Mr. Goodbar
6.3

Looking for Mr. Goodbar

1977Movie6.3
The Hunter
5.9

The Hunter

1980Movie5.9
Central Park
7.5

Central Park

1990Movie7.5
The Muppets Go Hollywood
6.2

The Muppets Go Hollywood

1979Movie6.2
Blizzard
6.0

Blizzard

2003Movie6.0
Parallel Lives
5.7

Parallel Lives

1994Movie5.7
40 Years of Star Trek
3.8

40 Years of Star Trek

2006Movie3.8
Steve McQueen: The Essence of Cool
5.9

Steve McQueen: The Essence of Cool

2005Movie5.9
Our Friend, Martin
7.1

Our Friend, Martin

1999Movie7.1
Remembering Roots

Remembering Roots

2002Movie
The Midnight Hour
5.9

The Midnight Hour

1985Movie5.9
US Against the World

US Against the World

1977Movie
Lennon or McCartney
5.3

Lennon or McCartney

2014Movie5.3
Star Trek: 25th Anniversary Special
5.9

Star Trek: 25th Anniversary Special

1991Movie5.9
Roots: The Gift
7.3

Roots: The Gift

1988Movie7.3
I Love Liberty

I Love Liberty

1982Movie
Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Best of Both Worlds
7.6

Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Best of Both Worlds

2013Movie7.6
To the Journey: Looking Back at Star Trek: Voyager
10.0

To the Journey: Looking Back at Star Trek: Voyager

2024Movie10.0
Dummy
8.8

Dummy

1979Movie8.8
Firestorm: 72 Hours in Oakland
5.3

Firestorm: 72 Hours in Oakland

1993Movie5.3
Journey's End - The Saga of Star Trek: The Next Generation
7.0

Journey's End - The Saga of Star Trek: The Next Generation

1994Movie7.0
The Star Trek Saga: From One Generation to the Next
2.5

The Star Trek Saga: From One Generation to the Next

1988Movie2.5
And They're Off
4.1

And They're Off

2011Movie4.1
Mickey's 50
9.0

Mickey's 50

1978Movie9.0
The Supernaturals
4.2

The Supernaturals

1986Movie4.2
Make-Up Man: The Michael Westmore Documentary

Make-Up Man: The Michael Westmore Documentary

Movie
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Behind the Scenes
4.0

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Behind the Scenes

1993Movie4.0
And the Children Shall Lead
9.0

And the Children Shall Lead

1985Movie9.0
Star Trek: Picard - The IMAX Live Series Finale Event
7.8

Star Trek: Picard - The IMAX Live Series Finale Event

2023Movie7.8
Star Trek: The Next Generation - Chain of Command
9.0

Star Trek: The Next Generation - Chain of Command

2014Movie9.0
A Star Is Drawn: Rob Simone's Look Inside Comic-Con
2.0

A Star Is Drawn: Rob Simone's Look Inside Comic-Con

2014Movie2.0
Star Trek: The Next Generation - All Good Things...

Star Trek: The Next Generation - All Good Things...

2014Movie
Star Trek: 30 Years and Beyond
5.6

Star Trek: 30 Years and Beyond

1996Movie5.6
Star Trek: The Next Generation - Unification

Star Trek: The Next Generation - Unification

2013Movie
Brentwood
8.0

Brentwood

2018Movie8.0
Reach for Me
2.8

Reach for Me

2008Movie2.8
Battered
9.0

Battered

1978Movie9.0
The Jesse Owens Story
8.1

The Jesse Owens Story

1984Movie8.1
Star Trek: The Next Generation - Redemption

Star Trek: The Next Generation - Redemption

2013Movie
Taken in Broad Daylight
5.2

Taken in Broad Daylight

2009Movie5.2
Butterfly in the Sky
8.3

Butterfly in the Sky

2024Movie8.3
Stardate Revisited - The Origin of Star Trek: The Next Generation
5.5

Stardate Revisited - The Origin of Star Trek: The Next Generation

2012Movie5.5
School of the Future
7.0

School of the Future

2016Movie7.0
Booker
8.0

Booker

1984Movie8.0
The Acorn People
3.7

The Acorn People

1981Movie3.7
Yesterday's Target
4.0

Yesterday's Target

1996Movie4.0
Definition Please
3.2

Definition Please

2020Movie3.2
One in a Million: The Ron LeFlore Story
6.1

One in a Million: The Ron LeFlore Story

1978Movie6.1
Emergency Room
9.0

Emergency Room

1983Movie9.0
The Jensen Project
5.5

The Jensen Project

2010Movie5.5
Almos' a Man
10.0

Almos' a Man

1976Movie10.0
Grambling's White Tiger
7.0

Grambling's White Tiger

1981Movie7.0
Transformers: Rescue Bots - Rescue Family
10.0

Transformers: Rescue Bots - Rescue Family

2017Movie10.0
Billy: Portrait of a Street Kid
8.0

Billy: Portrait of a Street Kid

1977Movie8.0
Reunification - 25 Years After Star Trek: The Next Generation
7.0

Reunification - 25 Years After Star Trek: The Next Generation

2012Movie7.0
Liberty
6.0

Liberty

1986Movie6.0
Star Trek: Federation Science
1.0

Star Trek: Federation Science

1992Movie1.0
Secrets of Sacred Architecture
7.0

Secrets of Sacred Architecture

2022Movie7.0
A Special Friendship
9.0

A Special Friendship

1987Movie9.0

TV Shows (60)

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
4.9

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

2009Series4.9
Family Guy
7.4

Family Guy

1999Series7.4
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
7.5

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

1962Series7.5
The Daily Show
6.4

The Daily Show

1996Series6.4
The Kelly Clarkson Show
6.3

The Kelly Clarkson Show

2019Series6.3
Adventure Time
8.5

Adventure Time

2010Series8.5
Futurama
8.4

Futurama

1999Series8.4
Jeopardy!
6.9

Jeopardy!

1984Series6.9
Star Trek: The Next Generation
8.4

Star Trek: The Next Generation

1987Series8.4
Star Trek: Voyager
7.8

Star Trek: Voyager

1995Series7.8
INVINCIBLE
8.6

INVINCIBLE

2021Series8.6
The Love Boat
6.3

The Love Boat

1977Series6.3
The View
4.3

The View

1997Series4.3
Murder, She Wrote
7.5

Murder, She Wrote

1984Series7.5
Hell's Kitchen
6.8

Hell's Kitchen

2005Series6.8
Community
8.0

Community

2009Series8.0
The Big Bang Theory
7.9

The Big Bang Theory

2007Series7.9
Batman: The Animated Series
8.6

Batman: The Animated Series

1992Series8.6
The Legend of Vox Machina
8.2

The Legend of Vox Machina

2022Series8.2
Star Trek: Picard
7.2

Star Trek: Picard

2020Series7.2
Tamron Hall
4.5

Tamron Hall

2019Series4.5
Gargoyles
8.1

Gargoyles

1994Series8.1
Becker
7.2

Becker

1998Series7.2
Transformers: Rescue Bots
7.3

Transformers: Rescue Bots

2012Series7.3
PBS News Weekend
5.0

PBS News Weekend

2013Series5.0
Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!
7.2

Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!

2007Series7.2
Finding Your Roots
6.5

Finding Your Roots

2012Series6.5
OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes
8.0

OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes

2017Series8.0
Leverage: Redemption
7.2

Leverage: Redemption

2021Series7.2
Perception
7.2

Perception

2012Series7.2
Pinky and the Brain
7.7

Pinky and the Brain

1995Series7.7
Captain Planet and the Planeteers
6.9

Captain Planet and the Planeteers

1990Series6.9
Trapper John, M.D.
6.6

Trapper John, M.D.

1979Series6.6
The Eric Andre Show
7.9

The Eric Andre Show

2012Series7.9
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
6.3

Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child

1995Series6.3
Explained
7.5

Explained

2018Series7.5
Reading Rainbow
8.4

Reading Rainbow

1983Series8.4
Strip Law
7.0

Strip Law

2026Series7.0
Houston Knights
5.5

Houston Knights

1987Series5.5
Roots
7.4

Roots

1977Series7.4
100 Years of Warner Bros.
7.6

100 Years of Warner Bros.

2023Series7.6
The Ready Room
4.0

The Ready Room

2019Series4.0
Boomtown
6.4

Boomtown

2002Series6.4
Weather Hunters
8.3

Weather Hunters

2025Series8.3
Trivial Pursuit
4.8

Trivial Pursuit

2024Series4.8
Carol & the End of the World
7.3

Carol & the End of the World

2023Series7.3
Weird City
6.1

Weird City

2019Series6.1
Roots
6.9

Roots

2016Series6.9
The Problem with Jon Stewart
7.2

The Problem with Jon Stewart

2021Series7.2
Shatner's Raw Nerve
4.0

Shatner's Raw Nerve

2008Series4.0
The Shuttlepod Show
10.0

The Shuttlepod Show

2022Series10.0
Christy
8.4

Christy

1994Series8.4
The Captain and Tennille
7.0

The Captain and Tennille

1976Series7.0
Scripps National Spelling Bee

Scripps National Spelling Bee

Series
Tom Swift
4.2

Tom Swift

2022Series4.2
Deadly Games
7.0

Deadly Games

1995Series7.0
Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones
7.3

Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones

1980Series7.3
MADtv
7.1

MADtv

1995Series7.1
Beyond the Spotlight

Beyond the Spotlight

2020Series
Roots: The Complete Miniseries

Roots: The Complete Miniseries

1977Series