Biography: From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Levardis Robert Martyn Burton, Jr. (born February 16, 1957, height 5' 7" (1,70 m)) professionally known as LeVar Burton, is an American actor, director, producer and author who first came to prominence portraying Kunta Kinte in the 1977 award-winning ABC television miniseries Roots, based on the novel by Alex Haley. He is also well known for his portrayal of Geordi La Forge on the syndicated science fiction series Star Trek: The Next Generation and as the host of the PBS children's program Reading Rainbow.