Los Angeles Times Book Prize
1 appearances
-
Edition 35 (2014) Special Award
LeVar Burton
リーヴァー・バートン
LeVar Burton
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1957-02-16 （Landstuhl, West Germany）
- Nationality
- United States
- Languages
- English
- Residence History
- Sacramento, California, United States → Sherman Oaks, California, United States
Career
- Occupations
- Actor, Television host, Director, Author, Narrator
- Active Years
- 1976-
- Affiliations
- Directors Guild of America (board member), LeVar Burton Kids / RRKIDZ (co-founder)
- Memberships
- Directors Guild of America, AIDS Research Alliance (board member)
- Influenced By
- Family background and educators (ancestors)
- Influenced
- Creators and hosts in literacy and children's educational programming, Podcasting narrators and short-fiction reading shows
- Nominations
- Emmy Award (1977) – Outstanding Lead Actor for a Single Performance in a Drama or Comedy Series (Roots)
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Southern California | — | — | — | — | United States |
University of Southern California
Country:
United States
Won a starring role in Roots while an undergraduate
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Daytime Emmy Awards (Outstanding Children's Series etc.) | Reading Rainbow | Outstanding Children's Series | Academy of Television Arts & Sciences | winner |
| 1992 | Peabody Award | Reading Rainbow (episode "The Wall") | — | Peabody Awards | winner |
| 2000 | Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album | Narration of The Autobiography of Martin Luther King Jr. | — | The Recording Academy | winner |
| 1990 | Hollywood Walk of Fame (for television) | Television achievement | — | Hollywood Walk of Fame | winner |
| 2022 | Children's and Family Emmys – Lifetime Achievement Award | Lifetime achievement for literacy work and children's programming | Lifetime Achievement | Children's & Family Emmys | winner |
| 2023 | National Humanities Medal | For literacy work | — | National Endowment for the Humanities | winner |
| 2023 | Webby Award – Best Art and Culture Podcast | LeVar Burton Reads (podcast) | — | Webby Awards | winner |
| 2024 | Saturn Awards – Lifetime Achievement (with Star Trek: TNG cast) | Star Trek: The Next Generation (cast lifetime achievement) | Lifetime Achievement | Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films | winner |
Daytime Emmy Awards (Outstanding Children's Series etc.)
1990
Work:
Reading Rainbow
Category:
Outstanding Children's Series
Organization:
Academy of Television Arts & Sciences
Result:
winner
Peabody Award
1992
Work:
Reading Rainbow (episode "The Wall")
Organization:
Peabody Awards
Result:
winner
Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album
2000
Work:
Narration of The Autobiography of Martin Luther King Jr.
Organization:
The Recording Academy
Result:
winner
Hollywood Walk of Fame (for television)
1990
Work:
Television achievement
Organization:
Hollywood Walk of Fame
Result:
winner
Children's and Family Emmys – Lifetime Achievement Award
2022
Work:
Lifetime achievement for literacy work and children's programming
Category:
Lifetime Achievement
Organization:
Children's & Family Emmys
Result:
winner
National Humanities Medal
2023
Work:
For literacy work
Organization:
National Endowment for the Humanities
Result:
winner
Webby Award – Best Art and Culture Podcast
2023
Work:
LeVar Burton Reads (podcast)
Organization:
Webby Awards
Result:
winner
Saturn Awards – Lifetime Achievement (with Star Trek: TNG cast)
2024
Work:
Star Trek: The Next Generation (cast lifetime achievement)
Category:
Lifetime Achievement
Organization:
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films
Result:
winner
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
Aftermath
1997 NovelA novel by LeVar Burton. Detailed synopsis not provided.
RelationshipsRecovery
The Rhino Who Swallowed a Storm
2014 Children's bookA children's picture book encouraging imagination and courage.
ImaginationCourageNature
A Kids Book About Imagination
2021 Children's bookA children's book about fostering imagination.
CreativityEducation
Bibliography
- Aftermath (1997)
- The Rhino Who Swallowed a Storm (2014)
- A Kids Book About Imagination (2021)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Oral, reading-friendly narrative styleClear, gentle voice for children's material
- Recurring Motifs
- Importance of literacy and readingEducation and personal growthImagination
Legacy
As host and executive producer of Reading Rainbow, he made significant contributions to literacy education across generations. He has also had a broad career as an actor and director and promoted the culture of storytelling through narration and podcasts.
Academic Societies
- American Library Association (honorary involvement)
In Popular Culture
- Known for role as Geordi La Forge on Star Trek: The Next Generation, became a cultural icon
- Influenced adult short-fiction reading culture through the podcast LeVar Burton Reads
Quotes
-
Be a better person. Read.
Source: Webby Awards acceptance speech (2023) -
Roots expanded people's consciousness.
Source: Interview (1987)
Trivia
- Breakthrough role as Kunta Kinte in Roots (1977).
- Hosted Reading Rainbow for 23 years; the show won multiple Daytime Emmys and a Peabody.
- Won a Grammy in 2000 for narration of The Autobiography of Martin Luther King Jr.
- Guest-hosted Jeopardy! July 26–30, 2021.
- Led a successful 2014 Kickstarter to revive Reading Rainbow, raising over $5 million.