Quick Info
| Profession | Actor, director, television host |
|---|---|
| Nationality | American |
| Date of Birth | 16/02/1957 |
| Age | 69 years |
| Birthplace | Landstuhl, Rhineland-Palatinate, West Germany |
| Zodiac Sign | Aquarius |
Latest News about LeVar Burton
LeVar Burton's adult memoir, Take My Word for It, was published on 10 November 2026 by Random House. The book covers his childhood during the Civil Rights Movement, being raised by his mother, and his path to becoming a storyteller. A nationwide book tour and launch events accompany the release.
Burton was the guest of honor at Stanford Graduate School of Education's Cubberley Lecture, where he spoke with professor Maisha Winn about literacy, technology in education, and storytelling. He credited his mother's background as an English teacher and his sister for early reading influences.
Burton returned as host and executive producer of the revived Trivial Pursuit game show on The CW in 2026. He also joined the cast of the Universal Pictures romantic comedy One Night Only, scheduled for release on 07/08/2026.
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Bio/Wiki
| Full Name | Levardis Robert Martyn Burton Jr. |
|---|---|
| Overview | American actor, director and television host known for playing Kunta Kinte in the miniseries Roots, Geordi La Forge in Star Trek: The Next Generation, and hosting the PBS children's series Reading Rainbow. He is also an author, with his adult memoir Take My Word for It published in November 2026. |
| Early Life | Born on a U.S. Army base in West Germany, he was raised by his mother in Sacramento, California, after the family returned to the United States when he was about two. |
Physical Stats & More
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) |
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Educational Qualification(s)
| University | University of Southern California |
|---|---|
| Seminary | Attended St. Pius X Minor Seminary in Galt, California, as a teenager with the intention of becoming a priest |
Personal Life
| Religion | Raised Catholic; left the seminary path at 17 and turned to acting |
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| Notable Activities | Has been an education advocate and a supporter of children's literacy and development |
Relationships & More
| Spouse |
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|---|---|
| Met Spouse | During filming of Roots: The Gift (1988) |
Family
| Father | Levardis Robert Martyn Burton Sr., a U.S. Army non-commissioned officer who retired as a Sergeant First Class |
|---|---|
| Mother | Erma Jean Burton (née Christian) |
| Siblings | Two sisters |
| Children |
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Career
| Notable Roles |
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|---|---|
| Hosting | Host and executive producer of Reading Rainbow (1983–2006); hosted the podcast LeVar Burton Reads (2017–2024); hosted the Trivial Pursuit game show (2024); returned as host and executive producer of Trivial Pursuit on The CW (2026) |
| Directing | Directed the Disney Channel Original Movie Smart House |
| Awards |
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Some Lesser Known Facts
| 1. His Star Trek character Geordi La Forge was named after a fan of the original Star Trek who died from muscular dystrophy | |
| 2. He set a record of $167,500 for his charity Junior Achievement Southern California on the Weakest Link Star Trek special in 2001 | |
| 3. He holds the record for most Star Trek episodes directed by a Star Trek actor as of November 2003 | |
| 4. He narrated the audiobook of The Watsons Go to Birmingham: 1963 |
