LeVar Burton
Photo from TMDB

Person

LeVar Burton

Known for
Acting
Born
February 16, 1957
Place of birth
Landstuhl, Rhineland Palatinate, Germany
Also known as
Levar Burton, Levardis Robert Martyn Burton Jr.

IMDb

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.

Biography from TMDB, which often draws on Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source · CC BY-SA 4.0

In Catlg

2 Works in the catalog credit them.

Acting (2)

Filmography

  • One Night OnlyFilm · 2026 · as Rick
  • Strip LawTV · 2026 · as (voice) · 1 episode
  • Weather HuntersTV · 2025 · as Flexspecs (voice) · 1 episode
  • Butterfly in the SkyFilm · 2024 · as Self
  • To the Journey: Looking Back at Star Trek: VoyagerFilm · 2024 · as Self
  • Trivial PursuitTV · 2024 · as Self - Host · 43 episodes
  • 100 Years of Warner Bros.TV · 2023 · as Self · 3 episodes
  • Carol & the End of the WorldTV · 2023 · as (voice) · 1 episode
  • Star Trek: Picard - The IMAX Live Series Finale EventFilm · 2023 · as Commodore Geordi La Forge
  • Secrets of Sacred ArchitectureFilm · 2022 · as Narrator (voice)
  • The Legend of Vox MachinaTV · 2022 · as Undead Thordak (voice) · 2 episodes
  • The Shuttlepod ShowTV · 2022 · as Self · 1 episode
  • Tom SwiftTV · 2022 · as Barclay (voice) · 10 episodes
  • INVINCIBLETV · 2021 · as Suit AI (voice) · 2 episodes
  • Leverage: RedemptionTV · 2021 · as Mr. Blanche · 1 episode
  • NCIS: HawaiʻiTV · 2021 · Director · 4 episodes
  • The Problem with Jon StewartTV · 2021 · as Self · 1 episode
  • Beyond the SpotlightTV · 2020 · Acting · 1 episode
  • Definition PleaseFilm · 2020 · as LeVar Burton
  • Star Trek: PicardTV · 2020 · as Commodore Geordi La Forge · 5 episodes
  • The Kelly Clarkson ShowTV · 2019 · as Self · 1 episode
  • The Ready RoomTV · 2019 · as Self · 2 episodes
  • The Tamron Hall ShowTV · 2019 · as Self - Guest · 1 episode
  • Weird CityTV · 2019 · as Dr. Negari · 4 episodes
  • BrentwoodFilm · 2018 · as LeVar Burton
  • ExplainedTV · 2018 · as Narrator (voice) · 1 episode
  • OK K.O.! Let's Be HeroesTV · 2017 · as Kwame · 1 episode
  • Transformers: Rescue Bots - Rescue FamilyFilm · 2017 · Acting
  • RootsTV · 2016 · as Ephraim · 1 episode
  • School of the FutureFilm · 2016 · Acting
  • A Star Is Drawn: Rob Simone's Look Inside Comic-ConFilm · 2014 · as Self
  • Lennon or McCartneyFilm · 2014 · as Self
  • NCIS: New OrleansTV · 2014 · Director · 9 episodes
  • ScorpionTV · 2014 · Director · 1 episode
  • Star Trek: The Next Generation - All Good Things...Film · 2014 · as Lt. Cmdr. Geordi La Forge
  • Star Trek: The Next Generation - Chain of CommandFilm · 2014 · as Lt. Cmdr. Geordi La Forge
  • PBS News WeekendTV · 2013 · as Himself (voice) · 1 episode
  • Star Trek: The Next Generation - RedemptionFilm · 2013 · as Lt. Cmdr. Geordi La Forge
  • Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Best of Both WorldsFilm · 2013 · as Lt. Cmdr. Geordi La Forge (archive footage)
  • Star Trek: The Next Generation - UnificationFilm · 2013 · as Lt. Cmdr. Geordi La Forge
  • Finding Your RootsTV · 2012 · Acting · 1 episode
  • PerceptionTV · 2012 · as Paul Haley · 35 episodes
  • PerceptionTV · 2012 · Director · 2 episodes
  • Reunification - 25 Years After Star Trek: The Next GenerationFilm · 2012 · as Self
  • Rise of the ZombiesFilm · 2012 · as Dr. Dan Halpern
  • Stardate Revisited - The Origin of Star Trek: The Next GenerationFilm · 2012 · as Self
  • The Eric Andre ShowTV · 2012 · as Self · 1 episode
  • Transformers: Rescue BotsTV · 2012 · as Doc Green (voice) · 104 episodes
  • And They're OffFilm · 2011 · as Self
  • Adventure TimeTV · 2010 · as Bubble (voice) · 1 episode
  • The Jensen ProjectFilm · 2010 · as Kendrick
  • CommunityTV · 2009 · as LeVar Burton · 2 episodes
  • Superman/Batman: Public EnemiesFilm · 2009 · as Black Lightning (voice)
  • Taken in Broad DaylightFilm · 2009 · as Mike Timbrook
  • Watch What Happens Live with Andy CohenTV · 2009 · as Self - Guest · 1 episode
  • Reach for MeFilm · 2008 · as Nathanial
  • Reach for MeFilm · 2008 · Director
  • Shatner's Raw NerveTV · 2008 · as Self · 1 episode
  • The Big Bang TheoryTV · 2007 · as LeVar Burton · 3 episodes
  • Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!TV · 2007 · as Self · 1 episode
  • 40 Years of Star TrekFilm · 2006 · as Self
  • Hell's KitchenTV · 2005 · as Self - Restaurant Patron · 1 episode
  • Miracle's BoysTV · 2005 · Director · 1 episode
  • Steve McQueen: The Essence of CoolFilm · 2005 · as Self
  • BlizzardFilm · 2003 · as Night Watchman Elf (uncredited)
  • BlizzardFilm · 2003 · Director
  • Las VegasTV · 2003 · Director · 1 episode
  • BoomtownTV · 2002 · as Marvin Lloyd · 1 episode
  • Remembering RootsFilm · 2002 · as Self
  • Star Trek: NemesisFilm · 2002 · as Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge
  • AliFilm · 2001 · as Martin Luther King, Jr.
  • Star Trek: EnterpriseTV · 2001 · Director · 9 episodes
  • Soul FoodTV · 2000 · Director · 1 episode
  • Family GuyTV · 1999 · as Vern (voice) · 1 episode
  • FuturamaTV · 1999 · as Unlicensed Hologram of LeVar Burton (voice) · 1 episode
  • Our Friend, MartinFilm · 1999 · as Martin at Age 26 (voice)
  • Smart HouseFilm · 1999 · Director
  • BeckerTV · 1998 · as Mr. Haller · 1 episode
  • CharmedTV · 1998 · Director · 3 episodes
  • Star Trek: InsurrectionFilm · 1998 · as Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge
  • The Tiger Woods StoryFilm · 1998 · Director
  • The ViewTV · 1997 · as Self - Guest · 2 episodes
  • TrekkiesFilm · 1997 · as Self
  • Star Trek: 30 Years and BeyondFilm · 1996 · as Self
  • Star Trek: First ContactFilm · 1996 · as Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge
  • The Daily ShowTV · 1996 · as Self · 1 episode
  • Yesterday's TargetFilm · 1996 · as Winstrom
  • Deadly GamesTV · 1995 · as Mr. Metcalf · 1 episode
  • Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every ChildTV · 1995 · as The Monk (voice) · 1 episode
  • JAGTV · 1995 · Director · 1 episode
  • MADtvTV · 1995 · as Self · 1 episode
  • Pinky and the BrainTV · 1995 · as Murray (voice) · 1 episode
  • Star Trek: VoyagerTV · 1995 · as Captain Geordi La Forge · 1 episode
  • Star Trek: VoyagerTV · 1995 · Director · 8 episodes
  • ChristyTV · 1994 · as Daniel Scott · 7 episodes
  • GargoylesTV · 1994 · as Anansi/Poacher 2 (voice) · 1 episode
  • Journey's End - The Saga of Star Trek: The Next GenerationFilm · 1994 · as Self
  • Parallel LivesFilm · 1994 · as Dr. Franklin Carter
  • Star Trek: GenerationsFilm · 1994 · as Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge
  • Firestorm: 72 Hours in OaklandFilm · 1993 · as Fire Chief J. Allan Mather
  • Star Trek: Deep Space NineTV · 1993 · Director · 10 episodes
  • Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Behind the ScenesFilm · 1993 · as Geordi La Forge
  • Batman: The Animated SeriesTV · 1992 · as Hayden Sloane (voice) · 1 episode
  • Star Trek: Federation ScienceFilm · 1992 · Acting
  • Star Trek: 25th Anniversary SpecialFilm · 1991 · as Self
  • Captain Planet and the PlaneteersTV · 1990 · as Kwame (voice) · 113 episodes
  • Central ParkFilm · 1990 · as Self
  • Roots: The GiftFilm · 1988 · as Kunta Kinte
  • The Star Trek Saga: From One Generation to the NextFilm · 1988 · as Self
  • A Special FriendshipFilm · 1987 · as Ben Sumner
  • Houston KnightsTV · 1987 · as Jason Evans · 1 episode
  • Star Trek: The Next GenerationTV · 1987 · as Geordi La Forge · 176 episodes
  • Star Trek: The Next GenerationTV · 1987 · Director · 2 episodes
  • LibertyFilm · 1986 · as Robert Johnson
  • The SupernaturalsFilm · 1986 · as Pvt. Michael Osgood
  • And the Children Shall LeadFilm · 1985 · as Glenn Scott
  • The Midnight HourFilm · 1985 · as Vinnie Davis
  • BookerFilm · 1984 · as Davis
  • Jeopardy!TV · 1984 · as Self - Host · 5 episodes
  • Murder, She WroteTV · 1984 · as Reporter Dave Robinson · 1 episode
  • The Jesse Owens StoryFilm · 1984 · as Professor Preston
  • Emergency RoomFilm · 1983 · as Ray Walden
  • Reading RainbowTV · 1983 · as Self - Host · 155 episodes
  • I Love LibertyFilm · 1982 · as Self
  • Grambling's White TigerFilm · 1981 · as Charles 'Tank' Smith
  • The Acorn PeopleFilm · 1981 · as Rodney
  • Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim JonesTV · 1980 · as Richard Jefferson · 2 episodes
  • The HunterFilm · 1980 · as Tommy Price
  • DummyFilm · 1979 · as Donald Lang
  • The Muppets Go HollywoodFilm · 1979 · as Self (uncredited)
  • Trapper John, M.D.TV · 1979 · Acting · 1 episode
  • BatteredFilm · 1978 · as Andrew Sinclair
  • Mickey's 50Film · 1978 · as Self
  • One in a Million: The Ron LeFlore StoryFilm · 1978 · as Ron LeFlore
  • Billy: Portrait of a Street KidFilm · 1977 · as Billy Peoples
  • Looking for Mr. GoodbarFilm · 1977 · as Cap Jackson
  • RootsTV · 1977 · as Kunta Kinte · 2 episodes
  • Roots: The Complete MiniseriesTV · 1977 · as Kunta Kinte · 1 episode
  • The Love BoatTV · 1977 · as Darnell Hall · 1 episode
  • US Against the WorldFilm · 1977 · as Self
  • Almos' a ManFilm · 1976 · as Dave
  • The Captain and TennilleTV · 1976 · as Self · 1 episode
  • The Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonTV · 1962 · as Self · 1 episode
  • Make-Up Man: The Michael Westmore DocumentaryFilm · as Self
  • Scripps National Spelling BeeTV · as Self - Host · 4 episodes

Filmography from TMDB. This product uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.

Sources