Known for
Biography
LeVar Burton, born 16 February 1957 in Landstuhl, is an American actor and director. He is recognised as Geordi La Forge in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987).
Early life
His education includes Christian Brothers High School, USC School of Dramatic Arts and University of Southern California.
Career
His screen career on record begins in 1977 with Looking for Mr. Goodbar. The 1970s brought Roots (1977, as Kunta Kinte) and One in a Million: The Ron LeFlore Story (1978). His 1990s credits include Star Trek Generations (1994, as Geordi La Forge) and Star Trek: Insurrection (1998, as Geordi La Forge). During the 2000s, he worked on Star Trek: Nemesis (2002, as Geordi La Forge) and Community (2009). Work from the 2020s includes Star Trek: Picard (2020, as Geordi La Forge) and One Night Only (2026).
LeVar Burton’s credits add up to 25 films and 8 TV series from 1977 to 2026. Science fiction is the most frequent genre among his listed titles (7), followed by adventure (5) and action (4). Of his four titles with worldwide box-office figures on record, Star Trek: First Contact (1996) has the highest, at $146 million. Behind the camera, he is listed as director on 4 titles, including Smart House.
Brent Spiner appears in seven of his listed titles, including The Best of Both Worlds (1990). Other co-stars who recur in his credits are Patrick Stewart (seven titles) and Whoopi Goldberg (three titles). Jonathan Frakes directed three of his titles on record. Among his other notable work are Reading Rainbow and LeVar Burton Reads.
Recognition
LeVar Burton’s wins include the Grammy Award for Best Audio Book, Narration & Storytelling Recording, awarded in 1999. The list of wins also includes a Daytime Emmy Award and the star on Hollywood Walk of Fame. A nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series in 1977 for Roots is also listed. In total, he has won 11 awards and earned 13 nominations.
Personal life
He is the father of Mica Burton, and has 2 children in total.
Filmography
33 credits| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | One Night Only | Film | |
| 2022– | Tom Swift | TV series | |
| 2020–2023 | Star Trek: Picard | Geordi La Forge | TV series |
| 2019– | Weird City | TV series | |
| 2014 | Lennon or McCartney | Film | |
| 2012– | Perception | TV series | |
| 2012 | Rise of the Zombies | Film | |
| 2010 | The Jensen Project | Film | |
| 2009–2015 | Community | TV series | |
| 2009 | Taken in Broad Daylight | Film | |
| 2008 | Reach for Me | Director | Film |
| 2004 | Imaginary Witness | Film | |
| 2003 | Blizzard | Director | Film |
| 2002 | Star Trek: Nemesis | Geordi La Forge | Film |
| 2001 | Ali | Martin Luther King Jr. | Film |
Show all 33 credits
| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Smart House | Director | Film |
| 1998 | Star Trek: Insurrection | Geordi La Forge | Film |
| 1998 | The Tiger Woods Story | Director | Film |
| 1996 | Star Trek: First Contact | Geordi La Forge | Film |
| 1994 | Parallel Lives | Film | |
| 1994 | Star Trek Generations | Geordi La Forge | Film |
| 1990 | The Best of Both Worlds | Geordi La Forge | Film |
| 1988– | Roots: The Gift | TV series | |
| 1987–1994 | Star Trek: The Next Generation | Geordi La Forge | TV series |
| 1986 | The Supernaturals | Film | |
| 1985 | The Midnight Hour | Film | |
| 1984 | Booker | Film | |
| 1980 | Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones | Film | |
| 1980 | The Hunter | Film | |
| 1979 | Dummy | Film | |
| 1978 | One in a Million: The Ron LeFlore Story | Film | |
| 1977 | Looking for Mr. Goodbar | Film | |
| 1977– | Roots | Kunta Kinte | TV series |
Awards and nominations
11 won, 13 nominated| Year | Award | For | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | National Humanities Medal | Won | |
| 2020 | Ignyte Award for Best Fiction Podcast | Won | |
| 2020 | The Ember Award | Won | |
| 2003 | NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Performance in a Youth/Children's Series or Special | Reading Rainbow | Won |
| 2002 | NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Performance in a Youth/Children's Series or Special | Reading Rainbow | Won |
| 1999 | Grammy Award for Best Audio Book, Narration & Storytelling Recording | Won | |
| 1999 | NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Performance in a Youth/Children's Series or Special | Reading Rainbow | Won |
| 1994 | NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Performance in a Youth/Children's Series or Special | Reading Rainbow | Won |
| 1980 | NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture | The Hunter | Won |
| Daytime Emmy Award | Won | ||
| star on Hollywood Walk of Fame | Won | ||
| 2006 | Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award | Nominated | |
| 2005 | Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award | Nominated | |
| 2005 | NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Performance in a Youth/Children's Series or Special | Reading Rainbow | Nominated |
| 2004 | Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award | Nominated |
Show all 24 entries
| Year | Award | For | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Performance in a Youth/Children's Series or Special | Reading Rainbow | Nominated |
| 2002 | NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Performance in a Youth/Children's Series or Special | Reading Rainbow | Nominated |
| 2001 | NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Performance in a Youth/Children's Series or Special | Reading Rainbow | Nominated |
| 1999 | Grammy Award for Best Audio Book, Narration & Storytelling Recording | Nominated | |
| 1999 | NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Performance in a Youth/Children's Series or Special | Reading Rainbow | Nominated |
| 1998 | NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Performance in a Youth/Children's Series or Special | Reading Rainbow | Nominated |
| 1994 | NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Performance in a Youth/Children's Series or Special | Reading Rainbow | Nominated |
| 1980 | NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture | The Hunter | Nominated |
| 1977 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series | Roots | Nominated |
LeVar Burton on Social Media
LeVar Burton Photos
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Photo: US Department of Education · CC BY 2.0 -
Photo: US Department of Education · CC BY 2.0 -
Photo: Tweigel59 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Frequently asked questions
How old is LeVar Burton?
LeVar Burton is 69 years old, born on 16 February 1957 in Landstuhl.
What is LeVar Burton known for?
LeVar Burton is known for playing Geordi La Forge in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987).
What is LeVar Burton’s nationality?
LeVar Burton is American, born in Landstuhl.
Has LeVar Burton won any awards?
Yes. 11 awards are on record, including National Humanities Medal (2023).
Sources
- Wikidata (Q312570), accessed October 2026
- Photo: Super Festivals from Ft. Lauderdale, USA · CC BY 2.0
Last checked by the Wiki of Celebs editorial team
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