LeVar Burton Levardis Robert Martyn Burton , Jr . is the American actor who played Geordi La Forge on throughout the show ' s entire seven - year run , from to . He also played La Forge in the four TNG - era , in the TNG video game " " , and in the episode , which he directed . In addition , he directed two episodes for " Next Generation " as well as numerous episodes for , " Star Trek : Voyager " , and . Besides his affiliation with " Star Trek " , Burton is known for his star - making , Emmy Award - nominated performance as Kunta Kinte in the acclaimed 1977 mini - series . He is also well known as the long - time host of the popular , Daytime Emmy Award - winning children ' s educational program " Reading Rainbow " . Personal life . The child of a military family , Burton was born in Landstuhl , Germany , as that is where his father – an Army NCO – was stationed at the time . At the age of 13 , Burton entered a Catholic seminary to study for the priesthood but ultimately decided to pursue an acting career instead , graduating from the University of Southern California ' s ( USC ) School of Theater . In 1990 , he received a star on Hollywood ' s Walk of Fame for his work in the field of television . Burton married Stephanie Cozart , the make - up artist of " Reading Rainbow " , in 1992 . Their daughter , Michaela , was born in 1994 . Burton also has a son from a previous relationship , born in 1980 , whom Burton was given joint custody of following a paternity suit . On 13 July 2009 , Burton was involved in a five - car accident in Los Angeles . Burton was driving his 2006 Mercedes on Beverly Boulevard when a 74 - year - old woman in a 2006 Scion turned left in front of him . The cars collided , sending Burton ' s Mercedes into three parked cars . Neither Burton or the other driver were seriously injured , but both vehicles sustained major damage . Burton and his family currently reside in Sherman Oaks , California . An avid poker player , Burton has participated in the World Poker Tour . Burton currently serves on the advisory committee of the 100 Year Starship Initiative , which seeks the launching of an interstellar voyage within the next one hundred years . Astronaut Dr . Mae Jemison is heading the initiative . Burton recorded a public service announcement for NASA to explain the purpose of the mission to Mars , which launched on November 18 , 2013 . Career . The 1970s . Burton was an undergraduate in USC ' s drama department when he was discovered and chosen to play the key role of Kunta Kinte in " Roots " , which premiered in January 1977 . This groundbreaking mini - series became one of the most acclaimed and highest - rated programs in US television history , earning a total of 37 Emmy Award nominations ( winning 9 ) ; Burton himself earned an Emmy nomination for his performance . Among Burton ' s co - stars in this series were Madge Sinclair and Ben Vereen , who went on to play the parents of Burton ' s Geordi La Forge in . Sinclair and Vereen also received Emmy nominations for their performances in " Roots " . After " Roots " aired , Burton played the title role in the TV movie " Billy : Portrait of a Street Kid " . This movie aired in September 1977 , only eight months after " Roots " introduced Burton to television audiences . One month later , Burton was seen in his first feature film , " Looking for Mr . Goodbar " , which also starred Richard Kiley . The following year , Burton reunited with Madge Sinclair in the TV movie " One in a Million : The Ron LeFlore Story " , with Burton playing the title character – an ex - con who became a professional baseball player – and Sinclair playing his mother . Burton concluded the decade with the TV movie " Dummy " , in which he co - starred with Paul Sorvino and Gregg Henry . Burton and Sorvino worked together again on the TNG episode and the 1994 TV movie " Parallel Lives " , while Henry appeared with Burton in . The 1980s . The 1980 TV movie " Guyana Tragedy " again had Madge Sinclair and LeVar Burton playing mother and son . This movie also featured future " Trek " veterans Brad Dourif , Meg Foster , Albert Hall , and Ed Lauter . Burton next co - starred with in what proved to be the latter ' s final film , " The Hunter " ( 1980 ) . Burton subsequently appeared in a number of TV movies , including 1983 ' s " Emergency Room " ( featuring Gary Lockwood , Warren Munson , and Biff Yeager ) , 1984 ' s " The Jesse Owens Story " ( with Ronny Cox , James B . Sikking , Vic Tayback , and Burton ' s " Roots " co - star , Ben Vereen ) , 1985 ' s " The Midnight Hour " ( with Kurtwood Smith ) , and 1986 ' s " Liberty " ( co - starring Frank Langella and Chris Sarandon ) . In 1988 , he reprised the role of Kunta Kinte for the TV Christmas special " Roots : The Gift " , which also featured " Deep Space Nine " star Avery Brooks , " Voyager " stars Kate Mulgrew and Tim Russ , and TNG guest star Fran Bennett . Burton broke into episodic television in the 1980s , guest - starring on an episode of " Trapper John , M . D . " ( again working with Madge Sinclair , who was a regular on the series , as well as Miguel Ferrer and Louise Sorel ) and " Fantasy Island " ( starring Ricardo Montalban , in an episode with Janet MacLachlan ) . In addition , Burton co - starred with TOS actress Nichelle Nichols in the 1986 science fiction thriller , " The Supernaturals " , and appeared in a 1987 episode of " Murder , She Wrote " with Michael McGrady . " Reading Rainbow " . In 1983 , Burton began hosting " Reading Rainbow " , an educational program for the Public Broadcasting Service ( PBS ) aimed at encouraging children to read . As both host and executive producer of this series , Burton has earned a total of ten Daytime Emmy nominations , with six wins . He also earned seven Image Award nominations , winning four of them . For seven seasons of this show , Burton worked concurrently on this series and " Star Trek : The Next Generation " . The 1988 episode " The Bionic Bunny Show " of " Reading Rainbow " actually showed a behind - the - scenes look at the making of TNG ( specifically during the episode ) . " Reading Rainbow " ran for twenty - one seasons before financial troubles at PBS put the show on hiatus . In 2007 , Burton announced he had shot his last episode of " Reading Rainbow " and was retiring from the show , citing creative differences with the show ' s new owners . The last ( rerun ) episode of " Reading Rainbow " with Burton as its host aired on 28 August 2009 . Following the first presidential debate between President Barack Obama and former Massachusetts Republican governor Mitt Romney , Burton became enraged at Romney ' s campaign pledge to cut government funding for PBS . Burton targeted Romney , being quoted on TMZ as saying " " I am personally outraged that any serious contender for the White House would target as part of his campaign the children of America in this fashion . " " Burton further added " " Educators across the country , as well as millions of children and adults know that the programming on PBS has been responsible for significant improvements in education , literacy , math , science and life skills for generations of our children . " " Burton continued , " " Defunding PBS directly punishes the less fortunate by removing this trusted and extraordinary educational resource available to all . On behalf of America ' s children , I can ' t stay silent . I encourage you to join me in fighting this short - sighted and frankly mean - spirited attack on our children . " " In 2014 , Burton began a campaign through Kickstarter to " Bring " Reading Rainbow " Back for Every Child , Everywhere , " a program to help bring " Reading Rainbow " back to classrooms throughout the United States . As of June 26 , 2014 , the program had raised over $ 4 million , greatly exceeding its stated $ 1 million goal . That same day , Seth MacFarlane ( Rivers in ) announced that he would match up to one million dollars worth of pledges for the campaign . Burton also created " Reading Rainbow Live " featuring Burton himself and members of the " Star Trek " cast reading stories to parents and their children – " Reading Rainbow Live : The Men of Star Trek " ( featuring Jonathan Frakes , Brent Spiner , Michael Dorn , and Robert Picardo ) , " Reading Rainbow Live : The Women of Star Trek " ( featuring Kate Mulgrew , Marina Sirtis , Gates McFadden , and Jeri Ryan ) , " Reading Rainbow Live with Patrick Stewart " , and " Reading Rainbow Live with William Shatner " . " Star Trek " and beyond . In 1987 Burton was cast as Geordi La Forge , a blind Starfleet officer who utilizes a VISOR to see . Initially , the character was the flight controller of the with the rank of lieutenant junior grade . By the second season , however , La Forge was the ship ' s chief engineer , holding the rank of lieutenant and later lieutenant commander . Burton starred on the show throughout all seven seasons , appearing in all but four of the 177 episodes . Burton was later a member of the music band known as The Sunspots , along with his TNG castmates Jonathan Frakes , Michael Dorn , and Patrick Stewart . They appeared as the background vocals for " It ' s a Sin to Tell a Lie " on Brent Spiner ' s 1991 album " Ol ' Yellow Eyes is Back " . He can also be heard on The Orb ' s track " Little Fluffy Clouds " , which sampled an episode of " Reading Rainbow " , apparently without Burton ' s permission . Since he was working on both TNG and " Reading Rainbow " at the same time , Burton did little else during the early 1990s . He did supply the voice of Planeteer Kwame as well as the opening narration on the hit animated series " Captain Planet and the Planeteers " from 1990 through 1993 ; his TNG co - star Whoopi Goldberg also voiced on this series . In addition , he did voice work for an episode of " Batman : The Animated Series " entitled " The Worry Men " and played a fire chief in the 1993 TV movie " Firestorm : 72 Hours in Oakland " , co - starring Keone Young . In 1998 Levar appeared as Lt . Commander Geordi La Forge in " " at the Las Vegas Hilton . In 2001 , LeVar , along with several other " Star Trek " cast members including William Shatner , Wil Wheaton , Denise Crosby , and John de Lancie , competed for charity on the NBC quiz show , " The Weakest Link " . LeVar defeated " Voyager " actor Robert Picardo in the final round to win an impressive US $ 167 , 500 for his charity , Junior Achievement of Southern California . It was a record for the show . Several costumes and costume components worn by Burton throughout his performance as Geordi La Forge in " Star Trek " were sold off on the It ' s A Wrap ! sale and auction on eBay . In 2016 , Burton appeared at E3 to promote the virtual reality game " " . He also recorded a video with Jeri Ryan and Karl Urban of them playtesting the game . Directing . In addition to acting , Burton has directed many " Star Trek " episodes . In fact , he has directed the most episodes of any " Star Trek " actor and is one of only five directors to shoot at least one episode of every live - action " Star Trek " spin - off series , the others being James L . Conway , Winrich Kolbe , Mike Vejar , and David Livingston . It was during his time on TNG that Burton became interested in directing . He made his directorial debut with the sixth season episode . He then directed the , an episode of the seventh and final season . After TNG ended , Burton moved on to direct ten episodes of " Deep Space Nine " , eight episodes of " Voyager " , and nine episodes of " Enterprise " . In 1998 , he directed his first non - " Trek " project , " The Tiger Woods Story " . His other television directorial credits include multiple episodes of " Soul Food " and " Charmed " . He also directed the 2003 family film " Blizzard " , starring Christopher Plummer and featuring the voice of Whoopi Goldberg as the title reindeer . Burton himself made a cameo appearance in the movie as an elf . He recently directed and starred in the comic drama " Reach for Me " , working with performers Adrienne Barbeau , Seymour Cassel , and Alfre Woodard , and cameraman Kris Krosskove . Another directing project – a film called " Initiation " – is also in the works . Post - TNG acting career . After TNG , Burton had a recurring role on the CBS series " Christy " and made a guest appearance on Brent Spiner ' s new , short - lived series , " Deadly Games " ( co - starring Christopher Lloyd ) . In 1996 , Burton co - starred with Richard Herd and Malcolm McDowell in the Showtime Network ' s sci - fi thriller " Yesterday ' s Son " . Burton is one of many " Star Trek " actors to voice a character on the hit animated Disney series " Gargoyles " . His TNG co - stars Jonathan Frakes , Marina Sirtis , Brent Spiner , and Michael Dorn also did voice work on the series , as did Nichelle Nichols , Avery Brooks , Kate Mulgrew , Michael Bell , Clancy Brown , Matt Frewer , Gerrit Graham , Clyde Kusatsu , John Rhys - Davies , W . Morgan Sheppard , David Warner , and Paul Winfield . In 2000 , Burton guest - starred on " Becker " ( starring DS9 ' s Terry Farrell , in an episode with Andy Milder ) . The following year , he made a brief appearance as Martin Luther King , Jr . , in the 2001 biographical film " Ali " , which also featured the aforementioned Albert Hall and Bruce McGill . Burton ' s latest appearance as Geordi La Forge was in the film . Burton was not pleased with this supposedly final chapter in the TNG saga , remarking at DragonCon 2005 that the reason it failed at the box office was " because it sucked " . Burton also held contempt for " Nemesis " director Stuart Baird , who , according to Burton and his castmates , continually called Burton " Laverne " and erroneously referred to his character as an " alien " . However , Burton has recently softened his view on " Nemesis " and decided to give it another chance , acknowledging that some people actually like it . In 2003 , Burton had a guest spot on " Boomtown " ( starring Neal McDonough , in an episode with Vanessa Williams ) . In 2005 , he had a voice - over role in the " Petarded " episode of Seth MacFarlane ' s " Family Guy " . Burton later returned to " Family Guy " , when he and his TNG castmates voiced themselves for the 2009 episode " Not All Dogs Go to Heaven " . In the episode , Stewie Griffin ( voiced by creator Seth McFarlane ) kidnaps the cast of TNG and proceeds to spend the day with them , much to his own regret . Burton and fellow " Star Trek " alumni Greg Grunberg , Jennifer Morrison , and George Takei will supply voices for the upcoming animated series " The Super Hero Squad Show " , which features characters from Marvel Comics magazines . Burton , Grunberg , and Morrison will be voicing superheroes War Machine , Ant - Man , and The Wasp , respectively , while Takei voices the villainous Galactus . In 2009 , Burton starred in the Lifetime TV movie " Taken in Broad Daylight " . He then appeared in the 2009 independent film " Reach for Me " , which he also directed and produced . More recently , Burton voiced the DC Comics superhero Black Lightning in the upcoming direct - to - DVD animated movie " Superman / Batman : Public Enemies " , with Clancy Brown voicing Lex Luthor . In 2010 , he appeared as guest as himself in episode 17 of the fourth season of the CBS sitcom " The Big Bang Theory " . Among other " Next Generation " actors seen on this show as themselves are actor Wil Wheaton ( who appeared several times ) and Brent Spiner . Burton also appeared as himself in episode 9 of the fifth season of Adult Swim ' s " Tim and Eric Awesome Show , Great Job ! " . In 2011 , Burton guest starred as himself in episode 16 of season two on NBC ' s sitcom " Community " . Burton starred as Paul Haley on the TNT drama series " Perception " , created by Kenneth Biller and Mike Sussman , from 2012 to 2015 . Burton worked with Jonathan Scarfe , son of Alan Scarfe and step - son of Barbara March . The following year , he served as executive producer on a remake of " Roots " .