Levar Burton

Birthplace: Landstuhl, Germany
Birthday: February 16, 1957

This handsome, compact African-American character lead of TV since the late 1970s made his acting debut at age 19 in the acclaimed landmark TV miniseries "Roots" (ABC, 1977). With his large expressive eyes and full lips, LeVar Burton convincingly conveyed the terror and rage of enslavement in his stirring portrayal of Kunta Kinte, an African youth captured by slavers after he leaves his village to find some wood to make a drum. The young actor had previously spent four years in a Catholic seminary after deciding to study for the pries…more

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Credits

Actor

Mission: Space
Billy: Portrait of a Street Kid
Billy Peoples
Firestorm: 72 Hours in Oakland
Fire Chief J Allan Mather
One in a Million: The Ron LeFlore Story
Ron LeFlore
Roots -- Celebrating 25 Years: The Saga of an American Classic

Director

Smart House
Director
Soul Food
Director
The Tiger Woods Story
Director
Enterprise
Director
Miracle's Boys
Director

Producer

Reading Rainbow
Co-Executive Producer
Reading Rainbow
Producer

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Career Milestones

2002
Again played the role of Geordi La Forge in the feature "Star Trek: Nemesis"
2001
Was briefly seen as Martin Luther King Jr in "Ali"
1999
Directed "Smart House" for The Disney Channel
1998
Helmed the Showtime biopic "The Tiger Woods Story"
1998
Reprised role of Geordi La Forge in "Star Trek: Insurrection"

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Awards

2002
NAACP Image Award: Outstanding Performance in a Youth or Children's Series
2001
Daytime Emmy: Outstanding Children's Series
2001
Daytime Emmy: Outstanding Performer in a Children's Series
2000
Grammy: Best Spoken Word Album
1998
Daytime Emmy: Outstanding Children's Series