‘It gave me an anchor’: LeVar Burton reveals how ‘Reading Rainbow’ helped him find purpose

The “Roots” star reflects on his mental health struggles, personal losses and the television program that became a source of stability during a difficult chapter of his life.

LeVar Burton says “Reading Rainbow” helped him find purpose during a mental health crisis, a chapter he revisits in his new memoir, “Take My Word for It.” The actor has also traced his family history on “Finding Your Roots,” while the children’s program he once hosted has returned with a new host.

People reported in its Nov. 10 interview with Burton, 69, that he experienced a mental breakdown during his years on the PBS series and has been diagnosed with bipolar II disorder. “It gave me an anchor and someplace to put my purpose,” Burton said of “Reading Rainbow.” The memoir was released Nov. 10 by Random House.

Burton was born in West Germany and grew up in Sacramento with his mother and sisters after his parents’ troubled marriage. He had planned to become a priest until performing in a high school production of T.S. Eliot’s “Murder in the Cathedral” prompted him to reconsider. He told People that acting and storytelling became another kind of calling.

At 19, Burton landed his first professional acting role as Kunta Kinte in the 1977 miniseries “Roots.” He said the experience made him more conscious of his ancestors and the importance of understanding his family’s history. Working on the series also placed him alongside established performers, including Cicely Tyson and Maya Angelou.

He began hosting “Reading Rainbow” in 1983 and stayed with the original series until 2006. Burton said he came to understand its influence when viewers who had grown up watching it approached him as adults. The show also gave him meaningful work during a period when he was seeking acting roles after “Roots.”

In 1987, while still hosting the children’s program, Burton joined “Star Trek: The Next Generation” as engineer Geordi La Forge. He recalled how much it meant to see Nichelle Nichols portray Uhura in the original “Star Trek” series when he was growing up. He continues to speak about the importance of Black representation on television.

“Take My Word for It” also looks at Burton’s relationship with his father, the loss of his sister Valencia and the women who helped shape his life. He credits his mother, older sister, wife and daughter with guiding him through his personal and professional struggles. Written with Tracey Michae’l Lewis-Giggetts, the memoir is available now.