https://wikimd.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=LeVar_BurtonLeVar Burton - Revision history2026-04-25T20:31:49ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.44.2https://wikimd.org/index.php?title=LeVar_Burton&diff=5791687&oldid=prevPrab: CSV import2024-05-17T01:01:25Z<p>CSV import</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>[[File:LeVar_Burton_Photo_Op_GalaxyCon_Raleigh_2023.jpg|thumb|LeVar Burton Photo Op GalaxyCon Raleigh 2023]] {{Short description|American actor, presenter, director, and author}}<br />
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2023}}<br />
{{Infobox person<br />
| name = LeVar Burton<br />
| image = <br />
| caption = <br />
| birth_name = Levardis Robert Martyn Burton Jr.<br />
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1957|2|16}}<br />
| birth_place = [[Landstuhl]], [[West Germany]]<br />
| occupation = [[Actor]], [[television presenter]], [[director]], [[author]]<br />
| years_active = 1976–present<br />
| spouse = [[Stephanie Cozart Burton]] (m. 1992)<br />
| children = 2<br />
| website = <br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''LeVar Burton''' (born February 16, 1957) is an American [[actor]], [[television presenter]], [[director]], and [[author]]. He is best known for his roles as [[Kunta Kinte]] in the [[ABC]] miniseries ''[[Roots (1977 miniseries)|Roots]]'', [[Geordi La Forge]] in ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'', and as the host of the long-running [[PBS]] children's series ''[[Reading Rainbow]]''.<br />
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== Early life ==<br />
LeVar Burton was born Levardis Robert Martyn Burton Jr. in [[Landstuhl]], [[West Germany]], where his father was stationed as a [[photographer]] for the [[United States Army]]. He was raised in [[Sacramento, California]], and attended [[Christian Brothers High School (Sacramento, California)|Christian Brothers High School]]. Burton later studied at the [[University of Southern California]]'s School of Theatre.<br />
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== Career ==<br />
=== Roots ===<br />
Burton's breakthrough role came in 1977 when he was cast as [[Kunta Kinte]] in the [[ABC]] miniseries ''[[Roots (1977 miniseries)|Roots]]''. The series was a critical and commercial success, earning Burton widespread acclaim and a nomination for an [[Emmy Award]].<br />
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=== Star Trek: The Next Generation ===<br />
In 1987, Burton began his role as [[Geordi La Forge]] in the [[syndicated]] science fiction television series ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]''. He portrayed the character, who is blind and uses a [[VISOR]] to see, for the series' entire run until 1994, and reprised the role in subsequent ''[[Star Trek]]'' films.<br />
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=== Reading Rainbow ===<br />
From 1983 to 2006, Burton hosted ''[[Reading Rainbow]]'', a [[PBS]] children's series that encouraged reading among young viewers. The show won numerous awards, including multiple [[Daytime Emmy Awards]] and a [[Peabody Award]].<br />
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=== Directing ===<br />
In addition to his acting career, Burton has directed episodes of various television series, including ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'', ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]'', ''[[Star Trek: Voyager]]'', and ''[[Star Trek: Enterprise]]''. He has also directed episodes of ''[[Charmed]]'', ''[[JAG (TV series)|JAG]]'', and ''[[NCIS: New Orleans]]''.<br />
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=== Writing ===<br />
Burton is also an accomplished author. He has written several books, including the children's book ''The Rhino Who Swallowed a Storm''.<br />
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== Personal life ==<br />
Burton married [[Stephanie Cozart Burton]], a professional [[makeup artist]], in 1992. They have two children together.<br />
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== Awards and honors ==<br />
Burton has received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including a [[Grammy Award]] for Best Spoken Word Album and a star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]].<br />
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== See also ==<br />
* [[List of Star Trek: The Next Generation cast members]]<br />
* [[List of Reading Rainbow episodes]]<br />
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== References ==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
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== External links ==<br />
<br />
{{Star Trek: The Next Generation}}<br />
{{Roots}}<br />
{{Reading Rainbow}}<br />
{{Authority control}}<br />
[[Category:1957 births]]<br />
[[Category:Living people]]<br />
[[Category:American male actors]]<br />
[[Category:American television directors]]<br />
[[Category:American television hosts]]<br />
[[Category:American children's writers]]<br />
[[Category:University of Southern California alumni]]<br />
[[Category:People from Sacramento, California]]<br />
[[Category:African-American male actors]]<br />
[[Category:African-American television directors]]<br />
[[Category:African-American television hosts]]<br />
[[Category:African-American children's writers]]<br />
[[Category:Grammy Award winners]]<br />
[[Category:Daytime Emmy Award winners]]<br />
[[Category:Hollywood Walk of Fame]]<br />
[[Category:People from Landstuhl]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]<br />
[[Category:21st-century American male actors]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century African-American people]]<br />
[[Category:21st-century African-American people]]<br />
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