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LeVar Burton Biography
Birth Name:Levardis Robert Martyn Burton
Birth Place:Landstuhl, Germany
Profession Actor, Director, Producer, Soundtrack
Fast Facts
- Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his Television career in 1990
- After graduating from the University of Southern California’s School of Theater, Burton’s first audition of his professional career lead him to his Emmy Award-winning performance as Kunta Kinte in the drama series "Roots․"
- Known for promoting literacy in children, which he encouraged with his 1983 program "Reading Rainbow․"
- Entered a California seminary at age 13 with the goal of becoming a priest
- His interest in poker lead him to compete in the 2005 World Poker Tour
- Sits on the advisory committee of the 100 Year Starship Initiative, which sets out to make interstellar travel possible within the next 100 years
Awards
- 1977Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor for a Single Appearance in a Drama or Comedy Series: nominated
- 1980Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture: winner
- 1986Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Performer in Children's Programming: nominated
- 1987Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Performer in Children's Programming: nominated
- 1990Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Performer in a Children's Series: nominated
- 1990Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Children's Series: winner
- 1991Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Performer in a Children's Series: nominated
- 1991Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Children's Series: nominated
- 1992Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Performer in a Children's Series: nominated
- 1992Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Children's Series: nominated
- 1993Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Children's Series: winner
- 1993Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Performer in a Children's Series: nominated
- 1994Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Performer in a Children's Series: nominated
- 1994Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Children's Series: nominated
- 1995Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Children's Series: nominated
- 1995Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Performer in a Children's Series: nominated
- 1995Image Award-Outstanding Performance in a Youth or Children's Series/Special: nominated
- 1996Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Children's Series: winner
- 1996Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Performer in a Children's Series: nominated
- 1996Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Children's Program: nominated
- 1997Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Performer in a Children's Series: nominated
- 1997Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Children's Series: winner
- 1998Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Children's Series: winner
- 1998Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Performer in a Children's Series: nominated
- 1998Image Award-Outstanding Performance in a Youth or Children's Series/Special: nominated
- 1999Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Performer in a Children's Series: nominated
- 1999Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Children's Series: nominated
- 1999Image Award-Outstanding Performance in a Youth or Children's Series/Special: winner
- 2001Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Children's Series: winner
- 2001Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Performer in a Children's Series: winner
- 2001Image Award-Outstanding Performance in a Youth or Children's Series/Special: nominated
- 2002Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Children's Series: winner
- 2002Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Performer in a Children's Series: winner
- 2002Image Award-Outstanding Performance in a Youth or Children's Series/Special: winner
- 2003Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Children's Series: winner
- 2003Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Performer in a Children's Series: nominated
- 2003Image Award-Outstanding Performance in a Youth/Children's Series or Special: winner
- 2004Best of the Fest-: winner
- 2004Genie-Best Achievement in Music - Original Song: nominated
- 2005Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Performer in a Children's Series: nominated
- 2005Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Children's Series: winner
- 2005Image Award-Outstanding Performance in a Youth/Children's Series/Special: nominated
- 2006Black Reel-Best Director - Television: nominated
- 2007Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Performer in a Children's Series: nominated
- 2007Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Children's Series: winner
- 2007Anniversary Award-: winner
- 2013BTVA Television Voice Acting Award-Best Vocal Ensemble in a New Television Series: nominated
- 2015BTVA Television Voice Acting Award-Best Vocal Ensemble in a Television Series - Children's/Educational: nominated
- 2016Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Limited Series: nominated
- 2022Saturn Award-Best Guest Performance in a Streaming Series: nominated
- 2024Lifetime Achievement Award-: winner