What Happened to Levardis Robert Martyn Burton?
LeVar Burton is an acclaimed American actor, director, and literacy advocate, best known for his iconic roles as Kunta Kinte in "Roots," Geordi La Forge in "Star Trek: The Next Generation," and as the beloved host of "Reading Rainbow." He continues to be active in entertainment and education, hosting the "Trivial Pursuit" game show, appearing in films, and publishing his memoir in 2026, while passionately advocating for literacy.
Quick Answer
LeVar Burton remains a prominent figure in entertainment and education as of May 2026. He is currently hosting the second season of "Trivial Pursuit" on The CW, continues his extensive work as a literacy advocate, and is set to release his adult debut memoir, "Take My Word for It," in November 2026. He also recently appeared in the third season of "Star Trek: Picard" in 2023 and has an upcoming film, "One Night Only," slated for an August 2026 release.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline16 events
Born in Landstuhl, West Germany
Levardis Robert Martyn Burton Jr. was born in Landstuhl, West Germany, where his father was stationed with the U.S. Army Signal Corps.
Stars as Kunta Kinte in "Roots"
Burton gained national prominence for his powerful portrayal of Kunta Kinte in the groundbreaking ABC miniseries "Roots" at just 19 years old, earning an Emmy nomination.
Begins hosting "Reading Rainbow"
Burton became the host and executive producer of the beloved PBS children's educational series "Reading Rainbow," a role he held for 23 years, inspiring millions of children to read.
Joins "Star Trek: The Next Generation"
He took on the role of Lieutenant Junior Grade Geordi La Forge in "Star Trek: The Next Generation," a character he would play for seven seasons and in subsequent feature films.
Receives Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
Burton was honored for his contributions to television with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Wins Grammy Award
He received a Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album for his narration of "The Autobiography of Martin Luther King Jr."
Launches "Reading Rainbow" Kickstarter
Burton initiated a highly successful Kickstarter campaign to bring back "Reading Rainbow" as a web-based and app-based platform, raising over $6.4 million.
Launches "LeVar Burton Reads" podcast
He began hosting "LeVar Burton Reads," a podcast where he reads short fiction for adult audiences, which ran for several years and garnered numerous awards.
Guest hosts "Jeopardy!"
Following a massive fan petition, Burton served as a guest host on "Jeopardy!" for a week, fulfilling a long-held aspiration.
Reprise Geordi La Forge in "Star Trek: Picard" and releases "The Right to Read" documentary
Burton reprised his role as Geordi La Forge in the third and final season of "Star Trek: Picard." He also premiered his documentary, "The Right to Read," addressing literacy as a civil rights issue.
"LeVar Burton Reads" podcast concludes
After a successful run, the "LeVar Burton Reads" podcast concluded with its final episode, featuring Ray Bradbury's "The Toynbee Convector."
Begins hosting "Trivial Pursuit" game show
Burton started hosting a revival of the classic game show "Trivial Pursuit" on The CW, with a second season expected in 2026.
Appears on "The View" to discuss PBS funding and book banning
Burton appeared on ABC's "The View" to promote the second season of "Trivial Pursuit" and his upcoming memoir, using the platform to speak out against federal cuts to public broadcasting and book banning.
Film "One Night Only" to be released
Burton is slated to appear in the romantic comedy film "One Night Only," directed by Will Gluck, which is scheduled for theatrical release.
Memoir "Take My Word for It" to be published
His adult debut memoir, "Take My Word for It," is scheduled for publication, offering a personal account of his inspiring journey and advocacy for literacy.
Addresses NCTE Annual Convention
Burton is scheduled to deliver a fireside chat at the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Annual Convention in Philadelphia, continuing his role as a literacy advocate.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
LeVar Burton's career began with a groundbreaking role that immediately cemented his place in American cultural history. In 1977, at the age of 19, he starred as Kunta Kinte in the critically acclaimed miniseries "Roots," earning him an Emmy nomination and widespread recognition. This powerful portrayal of an enslaved African man and his descendants set the stage for a career dedicated to storytelling and education. Following "Roots," Burton joined the cast of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" in 1987 as Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge, a blind engineer who sees with a VISOR. This role further expanded his global reach, making him a beloved figure in the science fiction community, a character he reprised in subsequent films and, notably, in the third season of "Star Trek: Picard" in 2023.
Perhaps his most enduring legacy, however, comes from his 23-year tenure as the host and executive producer of the PBS children's series "Reading Rainbow," which aired from 1983 to 2006. The show garnered numerous awards, including 12 Daytime Emmy Awards and a Peabody Award, and profoundly impacted generations of children by fostering a love for reading. After the show's initial run, Burton continued his mission to promote literacy. In 2014, he launched a highly successful Kickstarter campaign to revive "Reading Rainbow" as a digital platform, raising over $6.4 million to bring the service to classrooms. Although legal disputes with WNED, the brand owner, led to his company RRKidz no longer licensing the "Reading Rainbow" brand, his commitment to literacy remained unwavering.
In recent years, Burton has diversified his work across various media. From 2017 until May 2024, he hosted the popular podcast "LeVar Burton Reads," described as "Reading Rainbow for adults," where he read short fiction. In 2021, a massive fan petition led to him guest-hosting "Jeopardy!" for a week, a role he openly campaigned for and reflected on as a challenging but rewarding experience. He also launched a children's podcast, "Sound Detectives," in 2023. In 2023, Burton premiered his documentary "The Right to Read," which addresses the literacy crisis in America as a civil rights issue.
As of 2026, LeVar Burton continues to be highly active. He began hosting a revival of the game show "Trivial Pursuit" on The CW in October 2024, with a second season premiering in 2026. He is also slated to appear in the romantic comedy film "One Night Only," scheduled for release on August 7, 2026. A significant personal milestone for Burton in 2026 is the publication of his adult debut memoir, "Take My Word for It," set for release in November. He is also scheduled to address the 2026 NCTE Annual Convention in Philadelphia in November, further solidifying his role as a lifelong literacy advocate. In April 2026, he appeared on ABC's "The View," where he discussed PBS funding cuts and book banning, demonstrating his continued engagement with critical social issues.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Levardis Robert Martyn Burton made different choices?