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| LeVar Burton • Movies/TV | ||||||||
 This
handsome, compact African-American character lead of TV since the
late 1970s made his acting debut at age 19 in the acclaimed landmark
TV miniseries "Roots" (ABC, 1977). With his large expressive
eyes and full lips, Burton's face convincingly conveyed the terror
and rage of enslavement in his stirring portrayal of Kunta Kinte,
an African youth captured by slavers after he leaves his village
to find some wood to make a drum. The young actor had previously
spent four years in a Catholic seminary after deciding to study for
the priesthood at age 13. 5Burton became a frequent TV presence during
the late 70s and early 80s, appearing in various specials (generally
of the "Battle of the Network Stars" variety), serving
as a presenter at several award shows and starring in some high-minded
TV-movies. Among the latter were "Billy: Portrait of a Street
Kid" (CBS, 1977), "One in a Million: The Ron LeFlore Story" (CBS,
1978) and "Dummy" (1979). These early roles share some
common characteristics, namely, they capitalize on Burton's ability
to suggest virtuous potential complicated by unfortunate circumstances
including poverty, delinquency, illiteracy and physical disability.
Lead roles seemed to evaporate in the 80s so Burton shifted to character
parts in TV-movies, often playing cops, teachers and other middle-class
professionals. He began to concentrate on educational children's
programming and historical specials and TV-movies that celebrated
aspects of Black American history. Burton has devoted over a decade
to hosting and producing "Reading Rainbow" (PBS, 1982-
), an acclaimed children's show designed to instill an interest in
reading. The show has won many awards over its long run. 5Burton
regained widespread celebrity in the late 80s as a member of the
intergalactic ensemble of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (syndicated,
1987-94). As engineering whiz Lt. Cmdr. Geordi La Forge, he wore
a VISOR (Visual Input Sensory Optical Reflector) to compensate for
blindness, ironically hiding Burton's eyes — one of his strongest
attributes. Nonetheless, his Geordi registers as a memorable and
likeable character who is everyone's friend although unlucky in love.
Burton also directed several episodes late in the series' run. He
reprised the role of La Forge for the successful feature "Star
Trek Generations" (1994), thereby probably ensuring future work
in films. 5Since leaving his regular post on the bridge of the Enterprise,
Burton had a recurring role on the period family drama "Christy" (CBS,
1994-95) and took on occasional helming chores on the popular spin-offs "Star
Trek: Deep Space Nine" and "Star Trek: Voyager". |
Maude Adams |
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| 8" x 10" | Signed in 1996 at Broders, World Trade Center, New York, NY | |||||||
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