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LeVar BurtonAmerican actor, director and writer
Date of Birth: 16.02.1957
Country:  USA |
Content:
Biography of LeVar Burton
Levardis Robert Martyn Burton Jr., better known as LeVar Burton, was born on February 16, 1957, in Landstuhl, West Germany. He is an American actor, director, and writer.
Early Life and Education
Burton grew up in Sacramento, California, with his two sisters under the care of his mother, Irma Jean Burton. He was raised as a devout Catholic and even entered seminary at the age of thirteen, with plans to become a priest. However, he later decided to pursue a career in the performing arts. He completed his high school education in 1974 and went on to study at the theater department of the University of Southern California.
Television Career
Burton's television career began with small roles in various TV shows. He appeared as a guest in "Fantasy Island" and participated in "Battle of the Network Stars." He also made appearances on "The Muppet Show" to promote the release of the show's film adaptation and became a frequent participant in various game shows.
In 1986, he appeared in the music video for the song "Word Up" by the funk-R&B group Cameo. He was later invited to host "Rebop," a multicultural series for children and teenagers aged nine to thirteen, produced by WGBH for the PBS channel. Burton also created and became the host and executive producer of the project "Reading Rainbow," which aired on PBS from 1983 to 2009.
In 1986, Gene Roddenberry invited Burton to play the role of Lieutenant Geordi La Forge in the television series "Star Trek: The Next Generation." He continued to portray his character in "Star Trek: Generations" in 1994 and "Star Trek: Nemesis" in 2002. Burton also directed an episode and made a guest appearance in one of the episodes of the fifth season of "Star Trek: Voyager." In the 1990s and early 2000s, Burton directed several episodes of various "Star Trek" series. He holds the record for directing the most episodes among the production crew.
Burton also directed episodes of other TV series such as "Charmed," "JAG," "Las Vegas," and "Soul Food: The Series." He directed the miniseries "Miracle's Boys" and the documentary film "The Tiger Woods Story." Burton is a member of the Directors Guild of America.
Film Career
Burton made his directorial debut with the film "Blizzard" in 2003. The film earned him the "Best of the Fest" award at the Chicago International Children's Film Festival and a nomination for the Genie Award for his work on the film's main song, "Center of My Heart." His most recent directorial project, "Reach For Me," was released in theaters in March 2008, in which he also had a supporting role.
Overall, LeVar Burton has had a successful career as an actor, director, and writer, making significant contributions to both television and film.
