Levar Burton
Although his first calling was in the Priesthood, Levar found that is would be in acting that he would reach his spiritual and emotional heights. LeVar's first professional audition, at the age of nineteen, led to his being cast as Kunta Kinte in the acclaimed miniseries Roots. The phenomenal success of Roots launched his career as an actor, and earned him an Emmy nomination for Best Lead Actor in a Mini Series. What followed were starring roles in a string of television movies, including Dummy, Grambling's White Tiger, The Guyana Tragedy, and A Roots Christmas: Kunta Kinte's Gift. His more recent work includes Parallel Lives, Yesterday's Target and Firestorm. He also performed a starring role in the television series Christie. Among his early feature film credits are Looking For Mr. Goodbar and The Hunter, with Steve McQueen. Levar is most internationally recognized, however, for his portrayal of Lt. Commander Geordi LaForge in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation.

He is currently celebrating his eighteenth season as the host and co-executive producer of the highly acclaimed PBS children's television series Reading Rainbow. Thus far, his role in producing and starring in the series has garnered him a total of seven Emmy Awards and multiple nominations. He is most proud of Reading Rainbow's ability to use the medium of television to help create "human beings who are passionate about literature". As a staunch advocate for children's literacy, LeVar is frequently called upon to lecture on the subject by organizations around the world.