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LeVar Burton

Actor

LeVar Burton

Born February 16, 1957 in Landstuhl, Rhineland Palatinate, Germany43 films

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.

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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.

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The best way into LeVar Burton's work
Star Trek: First Contact posterFirst watchStar Trek: First Contact19967.3as Lieutenant Commander Geordi La ForgeThe Borg, a relentless race of cyborgs, are on a direct course for Earth. Violating orders to stay away from the battle, Captain Picard and the crew of the newly-commissioned USS…View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach
Ali poster6.7Ali2001Star Trek: Generations poster6.5Star Trek: Generations1994Superman/Batman: Public Enemies poster7.1Superman/Batman: Public Enemies2009Star Trek: Insurrection poster6.5Star Trek: Insurrection1998Star Trek: Nemesis poster6.3Star Trek: Nemesis2002One Night Only poster6.5One Night Only2026Looking for Mr. Goodbar poster6.3Looking for Mr. Goodbar1977The Hunter poster5.9The Hunter1980

Filmography

43 films as actor
  1. 2026One Night OnlyRick
  2. 2023Star Trek: Picard - The IMAX Live Series Finale EventCommodore Geordi La Forge
  3. 2020Definition PleaseLeVar Burton
  4. 2018BrentwoodLeVar Burton
  5. 2017Transformers: Rescue Bots - Rescue Family
  6. 2014Star Trek: The Next Generation - All Good Things...Lt. Cmdr. Geordi La Forge
  7. 2014Star Trek: The Next Generation - Chain of CommandLt. Cmdr. Geordi La Forge
  8. 2013Star Trek: The Next Generation - UnificationLt. Cmdr. Geordi La Forge
  9. 2013Star Trek: The Next Generation - RedemptionLt. Cmdr. Geordi La Forge
  10. 2012Rise of the ZombiesDr. Dan Halpern
  11. 2010The Jensen ProjectKendrick
  12. 2009Taken in Broad DaylightMike Timbrook
  13. 2009Superman/Batman: Public EnemiesBlack Lightning (voice)
  14. 2008Reach for MeNathanial
  15. 2003BlizzardNight Watchman Elf (uncredited)
  16. 2002Star Trek: NemesisLt. Commander Geordi La Forge
  17. 2001AliMartin Luther King, Jr.
  18. 1999Our Friend, MartinMartin at Age 26 (voice)
  19. 1998Star Trek: InsurrectionLt. Commander Geordi La Forge
  20. 1996Star Trek: First ContactLieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge
  21. 1996Yesterday's TargetWinstrom
  22. 1994Star Trek: GenerationsLt. Commander Geordi La Forge
  23. 1994Parallel LivesDr. Franklin Carter
  24. 1993Firestorm: 72 Hours in OaklandFire Chief J. Allan Mather
  25. 1992Star Trek: Federation Science
  26. 1988Roots: The GiftKunta Kinte
  27. 1987A Special FriendshipBen Sumner
  28. 1986LibertyRobert Johnson
  29. 1986The SupernaturalsPvt. Michael Osgood
  30. 1985The Midnight HourVinnie Davis
  31. 1985And the Children Shall LeadGlenn Scott
  32. 1984BookerDavis
  33. 1984The Jesse Owens StoryProfessor Preston
  34. 1983Emergency RoomRay Walden
  35. 1981Grambling's White TigerCharles 'Tank' Smith
  36. 1981The Acorn PeopleRodney
  37. 1980The HunterTommy Price
  38. 1979DummyDonald Lang
  39. 1978One in a Million: The Ron LeFlore StoryRon LeFlore
  40. 1978BatteredAndrew Sinclair
  41. 1977Looking for Mr. GoodbarCap Jackson
  42. 1977Billy: Portrait of a Street KidBilly Peoples
  43. 1976Almos' a ManDave