LB
LeVar Burton
Actor, Director, Producer, Additional CreditsBorn February 16, 1957 (68 years)
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.
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.
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.
Movies & Shows on Plex
Known For
LeVar Burton Filmography
| 2026 | |
| 2025 | Weather Hunters (TV Series) · as Flexspecs |
| 2023 | The Imaginary · as The Old Dog |
| 2023 | Carol & the End of the World (TV Series) · as (voice) |
| 2022 | Good Night Oppy · as Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge |
| 2022 | Tom Swift (TV Series) · as Barclay (voice) |
| 2022 | The Legend of Vox Machina (TV Series) · as Undead Thordak (voice) |
| 2022 | Secrets of Sacred Architecture · as Narrator (voice) |
| 2021 | Leverage: Redemption (TV Series) · as Mr. Blanche |
| 2021 | Blindspotting (TV Series) · as Marvin Sulaiman |
| 2020 | Beyond the Spotlight (TV Series) |
| 2020 | Star Trek: Picard (TV Series) · as Commodore Geordi La Forge |
| 2019 | Nancy Drew (2019) (TV Series) · as Barclay |
| 2019 | Weird City (TV Series) · as Dr. Negari |
| 2018 | Explained (TV Series) · as Narrator (voice) |
| 2017 | |
| 2017 | OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes (TV Series) · as Kwame |
| 2016 | Roots (2016) (TV Series) · as Ephraim |
| 2015 | Mission Force One (TV Series) · as Dr. Consilium |
| 2014 | NCIS: New Orleans (TV Series) · as Rufus Nero |
| 2014 | |
| 2013 | Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Best of Both Worlds · as Lt. Cmdr. Geordi La Forge (archive Footage) |
| 2012 | Rise of the Zombies · as Dr. Dan Halpern |
| 2012 | Perception (TV Series) · as Paul Haley |
| 2012 | Finding Your Roots (TV Series) |
| 2011 | Transformers: Rescue Bots (TV Series) · as Doc Green (voice) |
| 2010 | The Jensen Project · as Kendrick |
| 2010 | Adventure Time (TV Series) · as Bubble (voice) |
| 2010 | |
| 2009 | Superman/Batman: Public Enemies · as Black Lightning (voice) |
| 2009 | The Super Hero Squad Show (TV Series) · as War Machine |
| 2009 | Taken in Broad Daylight · as Mike Timbrook |
| 2008 | Reach for Me · as Nathanial |
| 2005 | How William Shatner Changed the World · as Lt. Cmdr. Geordi La Forge |
| 2004 | |
| 2003 | Blizzard · as Night Watchman Elf (uncredited) |
| 2002 | Star Trek: Nemesis · as Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge |
| 2002 | Boomtown (TV Series) · as Marvin Lloyd |
| 2001 | Ali · as Martin Luther King, Jr. |
| 1999 | Ultimate Trek: Star Trek's Greatest Moments · as Lt. Cmdr. Geordi La Forge |
| 1999 | Futurama (TV Series) · as Unlicensed Hologram Of Levar Burton (voice) |
| 1999 | Family Guy (TV Series) · as Vern (voice) |
| 1999 | Our Friend, Martin · as Martin At Age 26 (voice) (as Levar Burton) |
| 1998 | Star Trek: Insurrection · as Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge |
| 1998 | Becker (TV Series) · as Mr. Haller |
| 1996 | Star Trek: First Contact · as Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge |
| 1996 | Yesterday's Target · as Winstrom |
| 1995 | Pinky and the Brain (TV Series) · as Murray |
| 1995 | Deadly Games (TV Series) · as Mr. Metcalf |
| 1995 | Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child (TV Series) · as The Monk (voice) |
| 1995 | Star Trek: Voyager (TV Series) · as Captain Geordi La Forge |
| 1994 | Star Trek: Generations · as Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge |
| 1994 | Gargoyles (TV Series) · as Anansi/poacher 2 (voice) |
| 1994 | Parallel Lives · as Dr. Franklin Carter |
| 1994 | Christy (TV Series) · as Daniel Scott |
| 1994 | Comic Relief VI · as Lt. Cmdr. Geordi La Forge |
| 1993 | Firestorm: 72 Hours in Oakland · as Fire Chief J. Allan Mather |
| 1993 | 'Star Trek: Deep Space Nine': Behind the Scenes · as Geordi La Forge |
| 1992 | Batman: The Animated Series (TV Series) · as Hayden Sloane (voice) |
| 1990 | Captain Planet and the Planeteers (TV Series) · as Kwame (voice) |
| 1988 | Roots: The Gift · as Kunta Kinte |
| 1987 | Star Trek: The Next Generation (TV Series) · as Geordi La Forge |
| 1987 | Houston Knights (TV Series) · as Jason Evans |
| 1986 | Liberty · as Robert Johnson |
| 1986 | The Supernaturals · as Pvt. Michael Osgood |
| 1985 | The Midnight Hour · as Vinnie Davis |
| 1985 | And the Children Shall Lead · as Glenn Scott |
| 1984 | Booker · as Davis |
| 1984 | Murder, She Wrote (TV Series) · as Reporter Dave Robinson |
| 1984 | The Jesse Owens Story · as Professor Preston |
| 1981 | Grambling's White Tiger · as Charles 'tank' Smith |
| 1981 | The Acorn People · as Rodney |
| 1980 | Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones · as Richard Jefferson |
| 1980 | The Hunter · as Tommy Price |
| 1980 | Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones (TV Series) · as Richard Jefferson |
| 1979 | Trapper John, M.D. (TV Series) |
| 1979 | Dummy · as Donald Lang |
| 1978 | One in a Million: The Ron LeFlore Story · as Ron Leflore |
| 1978 | Battered · as Andrew Sinclair |
| 1977 | Looking for Mr. Goodbar · as Cap Jackson |
| 1977 | Billy: Portrait of a Street Kid · as Billy Peoples |
| 1977 | The Love Boat (TV Series) · as Darnell Hall |
| 1977 | Almos' a Man · as Dave |
| 1977 | Roots (TV Series) · as Kunta Kinte |
| 1977 | Fantasy Island (TV Series) · as Edward Ross, Jr. |
| 1974 | NOVA (TV Series) · as Narrator |
| 2024 | |
| 2024 | Trivial Pursuit (2024) (TV Series) · as Self - Host |
| 2024 | Clipped (2024) (TV Series) · as Levar Burton |
| 2023 | 100 Years of Warner Bros. (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2022 | Butterfly in the Sky · as Self |
| 2021 | The Problem With Jon Stewart (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2020 | Definition Please · as Levar Burton |
| 2020 | Josh Gates Tonight (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2019 | The Kelly Clarkson Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2019 | Tamron Hall (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2019 | The Ready Room (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2018 | To Dine For with Kate Sullivan (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2016 | Scientism Exposed · as Self |
| 2015 | The Gospel Tradition: In Performance at the White House · as Self - Audience Member |
| 2015 | The Seventies (2015) (TV Series) · as Self - Actor, 'roots' |
| 2015 | The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore (TV Series) · as Self - Panelist |
| 2014 | |
| 2013 | PBS News Weekend (TV Series) · as Himself (voice) |
| 2013 | Welcome to Comic-Con! · as Self (in Salute To Star Trek Segment) |
| 2012 | Home & Family (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2012 | Marie (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2012 | Larry King Now (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2012 | The Eric Andre Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2012 | CBS Mornings (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2012 | CBS Mornings (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2011 | And They're Off · as Self |
| 2011 | Fresh Hell (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2011 | Face Off (TV Series) · as Self - Guest Judge |
| 2010 | The Talk (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2009 | Community (TV Series) · as Levar Burton |
| 2009 | Life After (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2009 | Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2009 | Kevin Pollak's Chat Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2009 | Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2008 | Shatner's Raw Nerve (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2008 | The Wendy Williams Show (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2008 | Pioneers of Television (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2007 | The Big Bang Theory (TV Series) · as Levar Burton |
| 2007 | The 5th Annual TV Land Awards · as Self - Winner |
| 2007 | Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2007 | The 59th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 2005 | Smosh (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2005 | The Colbert Report (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2005 | Steve McQueen: The Essence of Cool · as Self |
| 2005 | Hell's Kitchen (US) (TV Series) · as Self - Restaurant Patron |
| 2004 | The Soup (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2004 | The N Word · as Self |
| 2004 | Tavis Smiley (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2003 | Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards '03 · as Self |
| 2003 | World Poker Tour (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2002 | Tinseltown TV (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2002 | Roots: Celebrating 25 Years · as Self - Host |
| 2001 | The 28th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards · as Self - Winner |
| 2001 | Weakest Link (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2000 | Dancing in September · as Self |
| 1999 | 30th NAACP Image Awards · as Self |
| 1998 | 29th NAACP Image Awards · as Self |
| 1998 | The 50th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 1997 | |
| 1997 | The View (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1997 | 3rd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards · as Self |
| 1997 | 28th NAACP Image Awards · as Self |
| 1996 | No Spin News (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1996 | Star Trek: 30 Years and Beyond · as Self |
| 1996 | The Daily Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1996 | The Rosie O'Donnell Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1996 | 27th NAACP Image Awards · as Self |
| 1995 | MADtv (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1994 | WGN Morning News (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1994 | Extra (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1994 | |
| 1994 | 26th NAACP Image Awards · as Self |
| 1994 | Sidewalks Entertainment (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1993 | Late Night with Conan O'Brien (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1993 | Politically Incorrect (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1991 | Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1991 | Star Trek 25th Anniversary Special · as Self |
| 1990 | The 17th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards · as Self - Winner: Outstanding Children's Series |
| 1990 | Central Park · as Self |
| 1990 | The 11th Annual Black Achievement Awards · as Self |
| 1989 | Pat Sajak Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1989 | The Arsenio Hall Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1988 | 20th NAACP Image Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 1987 | Farm Aid '87 · as Self |
| 1987 | 19th Annual NAACP Image Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 1985 | The $100,000 Pyramid (TV Series) · as Self - Celebrity Contestant |
| 1985 | Larry King Live (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1984 | Jeopardy! (TV Series) · as Self - Host |
| 1983 | Sally Jessy Raphael (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1983 | Reading Rainbow (TV Series) · as Self - Host |
| 1982 | I Love Liberty · as Self |
| 1981 | Entertainment Tonight (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1981 | The 33rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 1980 | The Alan Thicke Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1980 | Hour Magazine (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1979 | The Muppets Go Hollywood · as Self |
| 1979 | CBS Sunday Morning With Jane Pauley (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1978 | Battle of the Network Stars V · as Self - Cbs Team |
| 1978 | The 30th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 1977 | An All-Star Tribute to Elizabeth Taylor · as Self - Audience Member |
| 1977 | Celebrity Challenge of the Sexes 2 · as Self |
| 1977 | Battle of the Network Stars II · as Self - Abc Team |
| 1977 | Shoot for the Stars (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1976 | The Captain and Tennille (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1975 | Good Morning America (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1974 | Dinah! (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1974 | The $25,000 Pyramid (1982) (TV Series) · as Self - Celebrity Contestant |
| 1973 | The $10,000 Pyramid (TV Series) · as Self - Celebrity Contestant |
| 1968 | Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1965 | The Hollywood Squares (TV Series) · as Self - Panelist |
| 1965 | The American Sportsman (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1962 | The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1961 | The Mike Douglas Show (TV Series) · as Self - Actor |
| 1952 | Today (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1925 | Scripps National Spelling Bee (TV Series) · as Self - Host |
| 2021 | NCIS: Hawai'i (TV Series) |
| 2014 | NCIS: New Orleans (TV Series) |
| 2014 | Scorpion (TV Series) |
| 2012 | Perception (TV Series) |
| 2008 | |
| 2005 | Miracle's Boys (TV Series) |
| 2003 | |
| 2003 | Las Vegas (TV Series) |
| 2001 | Star Trek: Enterprise (TV Series) |
| 2000 | Soul Food (TV Series) |
| 1999 | |
| 1998 | Charmed (TV Series) |
| 1998 | |
| 1995 | JAG (TV Series) |
| 1995 | Star Trek: Voyager (TV Series) |
| 1993 | Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (TV Series) |
| 1987 | Star Trek: The Next Generation (TV Series) |
| 2024 | Trivial Pursuit (2024) (TV Series) · as Executive Producer |
| 2023 | The Right to Read · as Executive Producer |
| 1983 | Reading Rainbow (TV Series) · as Executive Producer |
| 2016 | Roots (2016) (TV Series) · as Co-Executive Producer |