Geodi LaForge was originally posted on the bridge of the USS Enterprise as Helmsmen . After many displays of his knowledge in Engineering , Captain Picard gave him the posistion of Cheif of Engineering . Along with a promotion to Lieutenant Commander .
Geordi's most prominent physical feature is his VISOR (Visual Instrument and Sensory Organ Replacement) . Being Blind from birth , the visor gives him the ablity to see . It uses direct neural implants to relay visual information to Geordi's brain . The technoligy of the VISOR lets Geordi not only see , but see things normal human eyes can't see . Such as the electromagnetic spectrum , from infared to ultraviolet .
Geordi is Data's closest "friend" , consistantly helping the android in his quest to be more human . He is known for his strong sence of humor , but over the years has imerged as a true leader of leaders , makeing him stand out among the crew .
February 16, 1957
In "Star Trek: The Next Generation," LeVar Burton plays the blind Lieutenant
Geordi La Forge. "He's been blind since birth, but 'sees' through the use
of the VISOR (Visual Input Sensory Optical Reflector) he wears over his eyes.
In fact, I am told that m~ character is named after a disabled 'Star Trek'
fan who passed away," explains LeVar.
LeVar presently serves as host and series producer of "Reading Rainbow,"
the highly-acclaimed Emmy Award-winning series on PBS, which recently celebrated
its tenth anniversary. This year, the series earned yet another Emmy Award
in the category of "Outstanding Children's Series," as well as an NAACP Image
Award for Outstanding Performance in a Youth or Children's Series/Special.
During the sixth season of "Star Trek: The Next Generation," LeVar made his
directorial debut with the episode entitled "Second Chances." He continued
his directing career with the seventh season episode entitled "The Pegasus."
As the president of Eagle Nation Films, LeVar is currently developing projects
for film and television, some of which he will direct as well as produce.
In November of 1996, Levar will once again become Geordi LaForge in the motion
picture Star Trek 8: First Contact
After applying for and winning a scholarship to USC, LeVar began working
toward a degree in drama and fine arts. During his sophomore year he auditioned
for his Emmy-winning role as Kunta Kinte in the award-winning miniseries,
"Roots."
Following "Roots," LeVar starred in a variety of television movies including
the Emmy-nominated "Dummy," "One in a Million: The Ron LeFlore Story,"
"Grambling's White Tiger," "The Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones,"
"Battered," "Billy: Portrait of a Street Kid," "A Roots Christmas: Kunta
Kinte's Gift" and the miniseries "Libery." Among his feature film credits
are "Looking for Mr. Goodbar," "The Hunter" with Steve McQueen and "The
Supernaturals."
LeVar recently starred in the ABC made-for-television movie "Firestorm: 72
Hours in Oakland" and has just finished production on the upcoming Showtime
movie "Parallel Lives." Produced and directed by Linda Yellen, "Parallel
Lives" is a follow-up project to last year's highly-acclaimed "Chantilly
Lace." The movie will premiered last spring at the Sundance Film Festival
before being entered in jury competition at the Cannes Film Festival.
Burton: on his favorite episode... ``Choosing my favorite or most
memorable episode is a difficult assignment. For obvious reasons, Second
Chances and The Pegasus, the episodes I have directed, occupy a special place
in my heart. Most memorable...crawling around the mud pit trying to find
the VISOR in the episode called "The Enemy" comes to mind. All in all though,
I would have to say some of the Holodeck shows are among my most favorite
episodes. In particular, Elementary Dear Data, Qpid and Hollow Pursuits.
After wearing our "space suits" day in and day out and being so serious so
much of the time, it was always fun to put on those great costumes and play!''
Television:
The Acorn People (81); Almos' a Man (76);
Anyone for Tennyson? {A Salute to the Brownings};
Batman: The Animated Series {The Worry Men} [Voice];
Battered (78); Billy: Portrait of a Street Kid (77);
Captain Planet and the Planeteers (series) [Voice];
Dummy (79); Emergency Room; Fantasy Island {Edward};
Firestorm: 72 Hours in Oakland (93); Grambling's White Tiger (81);
Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones (80); Houston Knights {Bad Girl};
The Jesse Owens Story (84); Liberty (86); The Love Boat;
Murder, She Wrote {Death Takes a Dive};
One in a Million: The Ron LeFlore Story (78); Parallel Lives (94);
The Reading Rainbow [Host] (83-??); Rebop [Host]; Roots (77);
Roots: The Gift (88); Sesame Street; A Special Friendship (87);
Star Trek: The Next Generation
(87-94);
Trapper John, M.D. {A Piece of the Action};
Wonderworks {Booker; And the Children Shall Lead}.
Pictures:
The Hunter (80); Looking for Mr. Goodbar (77); The Midnight Hour (85);
Mountains of the Moon (90); Parallel Lives (94);
Star Trek: Generations (94); The Supernaturals [Unreleased] (86).
Full filmography:
01. Parallel Lives (1994) 1994
02. Star Trek: Generations 1994 [Geordi La Forge];
03. Firestorm: 72 Hours in Oakland (TV) 1993 [Fire Chief J. Allan Mather]
04. Roots: The Gift (TV) 1988 [Kunta Kinte]
05. "Star Trek: The Next Generation
1987-1994 [Lieutenant Geordi LaForge]"
06. Special Friendship, A (TV) 1987 [Ben Sumner]
07. Liberty (1986) (TV) 1986
08. Supernaturals, The 1986 [Private Michael Osgood]
09. Midnight Hour, The (TV) 1985 [Vinnie Davis]
10. Jesse Owens Story, The (TV) 1984
11. "Reading Rainbow" 1983-
12. Emergency Room (TV) 1983
13. Acorn People, The (TV) 1981 [Rodney]
14. Grambling's White Tiger (TV) 1981
15. Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones (TV) 1980
16. Hunter, The (1980) 1980 [Tommy Price]
17. Dummy (1979) (TV) 1979
18. Battered (TV) 1978
19. One in a Million: The Ron LeFlore Story (TV) 1978
20. "Roots" (mini) 1977 [Kunta Kinte]
21. Billy: Portrait of a Street Kid (TV) 1977 [Billy Peoples]
22. Looking for Mr. Goodbar 1977 [Cap Jackson]
23. Almos' a Man 1976
For comments, suggestions, ideas etc.etc. please Mail-me.
by Mario Guatteri