Category: Entertainment | Title: LeVar Burton Movies and TV Shows: Complete Career Overview | Tag: LeVar Burton | Meta Description: Facts on LeVar Burton movies and TV shows, roles, awards, and recent projects.
LeVar Burton Early Career and Breakthrough Roles
LeVar Burton began acting as a child, making his film debut in the 1977 television movie Almos' a Man. He later studied at the University of Southern California before landing supporting parts in studio productions during the late 1970s and early 1980s. His first major screen role came in the 1977 ABC miniseries Roots, where he portrayed the young Kunta Kinte and earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Special emmys.com.
Burton's breakthrough continued with the 1983 television film Choices of the Heart and a recurring role in the 1980s drama Magnum, P.I.. He also appeared in the 1984 film The Wild Life and the 1986 comedy Good Morning, Vietnam. These roles established him as a versatile actor capable of handling both dramatic and lighter material, leading to greater visibility in Hollywood forbes.com.
LeVar Burton Iconic Television Hosting and Production Work
In 1983, Burton was cast as Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge in Star Trek: The Next Generation, a role he played for seven seasons across 178 episodes. The series, produced by Paramount Television and later remastered in high definition, became a global franchise and expanded Burton's international profile paramount.com.
Burton hosted and executive produced the PBS children's series Reading Rainbow from 1983 to 2006, with a brief revival in 2012. The show won multiple Daytime Emmy Awards and was recognized for increasing literacy among elementary school viewers. He later co-founded the digital platform LeVar Burton Kids to continue the mission through apps and interactive content pbs.org.
LeVar Burton Recent Projects and Current Status
Burton has remained active in film, television, and voice acting in the 2020s. He reprised the role of Geordi La Forge in Star Trek: Picard, which aired its final season in 2023 on Paramount+. He has also narrated documentaries, appeared in guest roles on series such as The Big Bang Theory, and participated in panels and conventions focused on science fiction and education startrek.com.
Burton continues to direct episodes of television series and is involved in producing new content through his production company. He advocates for STEM education and literacy, frequently speaking at universities and public events. His career is documented across entertainment databases, industry reports, and public broadcasting archives sec.gov.