Summer 96 Volume I Issue 3

Luckily for us, LeVar Burton opted to become an actor instead of a priest. After a four-year stay at a Catholic seminary school, LeVar took up studies at the University of California at the age of 17. Since then, he has become a recognized actor, director, and literacy advocate. Currently in his 13th season as the host and co-executive producer of PBS's acclaimed Reading Rainbow, Burton continues to challenge the television industry to inspire children to embrace literature. In addition to playing his well-known character Geordi LaForge on Star Trek: The Next Generation, LeVar has been busy directing episodes of both Star Trek: Voyager and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. His company, Eagle Nation Films, has recently signed an exclusive deal with Paramount Pictures to produce several TV and feature films. , and he sold his first TV series to UPN -- a half-hour comedy entitled Daddy's Little Girl. Later this year, he will add the title "author" to his impressive

resume with his as-yet-untitled first novel that will be published by Warner Books. He's come a long way since playing his first role, Kunta Kinte in the acclaimed TV mini-series Roots. SMOKE finds out how he got there and where he's headed.

See the remainder of this article in SMOKE magazine - available at a tobacconist or newsstand near you!