LeVar Burton

Levardis Robert Martyn Burton Jr., known as LeVar Burton, has captivated audiences with his talents as an actor, television host, director, and author. LeVar is vividly remembered for his iconic performances across various media. His journey began when he played Kunta Kinte in the 1977 ABC miniseries 'Roots', followed by Geordi La Forge in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994). As a television host, he is recognized for steering the educational television series Reading Rainbow on PBS Kids for a whopping 23 years (1983–2006), bagging 12 Daytime Emmy Awards and a Peabody Award for his efforts.

LeVar Burton's other notable roles are: Cap Jackson in 'Looking for Mr. Goodbar' (1977), Donald Lang in 'Dummy' (1979), Tommy Price in 'The Hunter' (1980), and Martin Luther King Jr. in 'Ali' (2001). His role in 'The Hunter' won him an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture. Moreover, he was honored with the Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album for narrating 'The Autobiography of Martin Luther King Jr.' In 1990, his pioneering work in television was recognized with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. LeVar stepped into a new venture in the form of podcast storytelling with 'LeVar Burton Reads' in 2017, attracting an adult fan base. His dedication to Reading Rainbow extended even after the series ended in 2006, buying the rights and transforming it into an iPad application under the banner RRKIDZ.