LeVar Burton has been capturing the attention of both audiences and his industry peers for three decades and continues to enjoy longevity truly rare within the industry. His dexterity continues to be a hallmark of an incredibly diverse career. As an actor, director, producer and now an entrepreneur, LeVar has demonstrated that he can do it all. With almost 2 Million Twitter followers, his new TNT TV series, Perception, and in his role as Curator-in-Chief of the RRKIDZ/Reading Rainbow children’s brand, LeVar continues his enduring appeal and deep connection with his global audience.

LeVar’s first professional audition, while pursuing his undergraduate studies at USC in 1977, led to his being cast as Kunta Kinte in the acclaimed miniseries Roots. The phenomenal success of Roots launched his acting career and helped him earn lasting status as a worldwide icon, representing the indomitability of the human spirit. A science-fiction buff and devoted fan of the unique and inclusive vision of Gene Rodenberry, Burton considers his longtime association with the Star Trek franchise nothing short of a dream come true. Having both appeared in and directed a plethora of Trek incarnations over the years, LeVar adamantly adheres to his optimistic view of the future saying, “I’m betting on our ultimate success at rising to our highest level of human expression.”

For twenty-six years LeVar served as host and executive producer of the Peabody Award Winning PBS children’s television series Reading Rainbow. While taking great pride in the series’ role in garnering him a total of 12 Emmy Awards, five NAACP Awards and numerous other accolades, he continues to be proudest of Reading Rainbow’s ability to “use the medium of television to help create generations of Americans who are passionate readers.”

Behind the scenes, LeVar is a highly respected director, with credits that include all four Star Trek series, numerous commercials and TV series. His first dramatic television movie, The Tiger Woods Story, for Showtime received three Emmy nominations. His Disney Channel film Smart House remains one of the most popular original movies in the channel’s history. His first full-length feature film, Blizzard, was voted “Best of Fest” at the 2006 Chicago International Children’s Film Festival and has joined the pantheon of classic Holiday movies. “Reach For Me”, the most recent feature film directorial effort received global accolades for its empathetic, human portrayal of the issues surrounding the end of life and the meaning of a full life. LeVar continues to grow into a popular culture icon with appearances on The Big Bang Theory, Community, The Jimmy Fallon Show, Watch What Happens Live, and many others.

In 2011 Burton and his business partner, producer Mark Wolfe formed RRKIDZ, building the first all new cross media Children’s enrichment brand in decades. As worldwide rights holder to Reading Rainbow, RRKIDZ, Burton and Wolfe launched the beloved brand to new generations through their first product, the Reading Rainbow iPap App. The highly successful project (#1 Educational App) is just the latest in Burton’s lifelong advocacy of behalf children, literacy, education, entertainment, diversity and enrichment.