LeVar Burton: 11 of LeVar Burton’s Most Notable Acting Roles

As actor, director, and storyteller, LeVar Burton is best known for his dramatic roles as Kunta Kinte in the TV miniseries Roots (1977) and as Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge in the science fiction show Star Trek: The Next Generation (1986-1994), as well as being the host of the PBS Kids program Reading Rainbow (1983-2009).

LeVar Burton was born Levardis Robert Martyn Burton Jr. in 1957 in Landstuhl, Germany. His father was a U.S. Army Signal Corps photographer, but he was largely raised by his mother, Erma Gene Christian, in Sacramento, California. Erma Gene, an educator, instilled in her son a love of learning from an early age. Growing up, LeVar considered becoming a priest but ultimately relocated with his mother to Los Angeles to pursue a career in entertainment.

In addition to his acting and directing, LeVar Burton has authored two fiction books—Aftermath (1997) and The Rhino Who Swallowed a Storm (2014). He has also hosted the podcast LeVar Burton Reads since 2017, in which he reads short fiction by acclaimed authors.

While LeVar Burton is closely associated with the Public Broadcasting Service’s Reading Rainbow, for which he won several Emmy Awards, he appeared in films and television shows starting in the late 1970s. Here’s a look at some notable credits in LeVar’s lengthy filmography:

1. 1. Roots (1977): LeVar starred in the ABC miniseries adaptation of Alex Haley’s Roots, in which he played Kunta Kinte, an African man who was kidnapped, sold into slavery, and taken to the United States. Burton also reprised the role of Kunta Kinte for the 1988 TV movie Roots: The Gift.
2. 2. Dummy (1979): LeVar portrayed Donald Lang, a Black man with a speech disability who was charged with the murders of two sex workers in Chicago. Represented by an attorney (played by Paul Sorvino) who is deaf, Lang is ultimately acquitted. The film was based on Ernest Tidyman's nonfiction account of the same name.
3. 3. One in a Million: The Ron LeFlore Story (1978): LeVar Burton portrayed Major League Baseball player and Detroit Tiger Ron LeFlore in the made-for-TV sports drama, which depicts how LeFlore rose up out of the Michigan prison system to become an MLB star.
4. 4. The Jesse Owens Story (1984): LeVar Burton portrayed Professor Preston in this biopic about Jesse Owens, a track and field star and four-time Olympic gold medalist (played by Dorian Harewood).
5. 5. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994): LeVar Burton portrayed engineer Geordi La Forge in the sci-fi television series. Later, LeVar went on to direct more Star Trek episodes than any other former cast member.
6. 6. Captain Planet and the Planeteers (1990–1996): LeVar voiced Kwame in this animated series about five teenagers who join forces with a superhero to fight environmental disasters and promote ecologically conscious behaviors in others.
7. 7. Star Trek: Generations (1994): This film saw LeVar Burton reprise his role of Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge. LeVar and his castmates from Star Trek: The Next Generation, including Patrick Stewart, featured alongside three cast members from Star Trek: The Original Series (William Shatner, James Doohan, and Walter Koenig).
8. 8. Ali (2001): LeVar Burton portrayed Martin Luther King Jr. in this biopic about boxer Muhammad Ali, played by Will Smith. The film concentrates on 10 years—1964 to 1974—in Ali’s life and the history of the country, encompassing the Vietnam War, the assassinations of Malcolm X and King, among other pivotal events. The film also stars Jamie Foxx, Jon Voight, Jeffrey Wright, and Jada Pinkett Smith.
9. 9. Star Trek: Nemesis (2002): LeVar Burton once again played Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge alongside the characters of actors Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner. The film follows the USS Enterprise’s crew as they attempt to thwart a plan to attack Earth.
10. 10. The Big Bang Theory (2011–2014): LeVar Burton appeared as himself in three episodes of this CBS sitcom about a group of science-loving friends living in and around Pasadena, California.
11. 11. Perception (2012–2015): LeVar starred as Paul Haley along with Eric McCormack, Rachael Leigh Cook, and Kelly Rowan in this TNT show about an odd neurophysicist who helped the government solve crimes.

Burton has also appeared on Murder, She Wrote (1984-1996); Family Guy (1999–); and Fantasy Island (1977-1984); and in films such as Looking for Mr. Goodbar (1977); and The Hunter (1980).

In addition to acting, Levar Burton has also directed television shows and films for more than three decades. His projects include:

1. 1. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987-1994), two episodes
2. 2. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993-1999), 10 episodes
3. 3. Star Trek: Voyager (1995-2001), eight episodes
4. 4. JAG (1995–2005), one episode
5. 5. The Tiger Woods Story (1998), film
6. 6. Charmed (1998-2006), three episodes
7. 7. Smart House (1999), film
8. 8. Soul Food (2000–2004), two episodes
9. 9. Star Trek: Enterprise (2001–2005), nine episodes
10. 10. Blizzard (2003), film
11. 11. Las Vegas (2003–2008), one episode
12. 12. Miracle's Boys (2005), one episode
13. 13. Reach for Me (2008), film
14. 14. Perception (2012–2015), two episodes
15. 15. NCIS: New Orleans (2014–2021), eight episodes

Actor, director, and host LeVar Burton has also developed a podcast about short fiction and authored one novel and a children’s book:

• Aftermath (1997): LeVar’s novel is a post-apocalyptic thriller centered on an alternate future in which the United States battles a devastating earthquake, the assassination of the first Black president-elect, and convulsive racial tension.
• The Rhino Who Swallowed a Storm (2014): LeVar wrote this children’s book in reaction to gun violence in the US, and it was inspired in part by his mentor Fred Rogers, the host of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, who was renowned for having addressed societal calamities and tragedies in an age-appropriate way. For the book, LeVar partnered with child psychologists to develop prompts that caretakers and adults can use to engage children on issues and themes raised in the story.
• LeVar Burton Reads (2017–present): The podcast is a celebration of short fiction through readings of works by some of LeVar’s favorite authors, such as Ray Bradbury, Octavia Butler, Neil Gaiman, N.K. Jemisin, Haruki Murakami, Kurt Vonnegut, and more.
• Skybrary: LeVar Burton once again plays host in this reading app designed for children ages 2–9.

In his more than 50 years in entertainment, LeVar Burton has received awards for acting, writing, and education, including:

• Peabody Award: 1992 winner for Reading Rainbow, as executive producer of the episode "The Wall."
• Image Award: Five-time winner between 1994 and 2003 for Reading Rainbow, for Outstanding Performer in a Children's Series and Outstanding Youth or Children's Series/Special, as self and as executive producer.
• Grammy Award: 2000 winner for The Autobiography of Martin Luther King Jr., Best Spoken Word Album.
• Daytime Emmy: Ten-time winner between 1990 and 2007 for Reading Rainbow, for Outstanding Children’s Series, as executive producer; and 2001 and 2002 winner for Reading Rainbow, for Outstanding Performer in a Children’s Series, as self.
• Television Critics Association Award: 2003 winner for Reading Rainbow, for Outstanding Achievement in Children's Programming, as executive producer.
• Chicago International Children's Film Festival: 2004 winner for Blizzard, Best of Fest, as director.

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