Levardis Robert Martyn Burton, Jr., better known as LeVar Burton, is an American actor, director, presenter and an author of many books as well. He is best known for his roles in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Reading Rainbow and Roots and other movies or TV shows that he has directed in. His first TV role was as a character named Kunta Kinte, in Roots, directed by ABC. Included in the list of Emmy for Best Actor in a Drama Series for that role, he acted in the same role when Roots: The Gist was later made.

His role, which was somewhat debatable, had made a lot of impact and when he was asked about it, he said in an interview. "It expanded the consciousness of people. Blacks and whites began to see each other as human beings, not as stereotypes. And if you throw a pebble into the pond, you're going to get ripples. I think the only constant is change, and it's always slow.

Anything that happens overnight is lacking in foundation. Roots is part of a changing trend, and it's still being played out.” He was son seen playing in other different roles in Fantasy Island, The Muppet Movie and also in the music video of son "Word Up!", by Cameo. With his successful involvement in different areas, he has made a large number of fan following on his Instagram as well as Twitter sites.

In 1983, he got his first major role in Reading Rainbow, which ran for a record of 23 seasons with more than 200 broadcasts, which won the Peabody Award, once and 26 Emmy Awards. As Burton was himself the host as well as the producer of the show, he won 11 Emmy Awards alone. After the show ended in 2006, he and his partners came up with an idea to form a media house for children, by the name RRKIDZ.

Working as the co- founder as well as kickstarter of the program, its “Application” which was launched in iTunes in 2012 was also a quick hit, titled as #1 Educational App within 36 hours. With the success of Star Trek and other shows, he started to be recognized throughout the world, and enjoyed fame at large. His net worth value of $6 million dollars is itself a reflection of his successful career.

Born on the 16th of February, 1957 his parents were U.S Army who were stationed in West Germany. He was born at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center and was raised along with two other children in Sacramento, California. At the age of 13, he wanted to become a priest and so got enrolled at St. Pius X seminary in Galt, California. He also attended the Christian Brothers High School, and graduated in 1974, which is where he had practiced drama and acting for the first time. At 17 years of age, he got into the University of Southern California, where he graduated with a degree in Theatre.

A man of average height, he measures only 5 feet and 7 inches tall, and belongs to black ethnicity. Although there is a massive search for his shirtless picture in the media, we have not been able to find a single one. There are also a lot of questions regarding his dating life, and rumors too that state him to be sexually gay. But that is not the case, as he is a married man and has been with his wife Stephanie Cozart since 1992. With more than 20 years of married life together, there seems to be no chance or reason for them getting divorced anytime soon.

He also has one girlfriend in the past, Joyce DeWitt around 1980, but broke up very early. He has got a daughter named Michaela Jean, who is 20 years of age. With no serious health issues till now, there was news regarding him being dead in some articles and blogs. To find out more about his life and work, you can read his biography that is available in sites like Wikipedia.