Levar Burton's Height
5ft 7 (170.2 cm)
American actor and director best known for playing Jordi LaForge on Star Trek: Next Generation, Kunta Kinte on Roots and presenting Reading Rainbow. In a 1978 tv superstars book he was described as 5ft 8 and weight 160 lbs. In this convention photo I had 1/3rd inch more sneaker than him.
5ft 8 Rob and Levar @ Collectormania 2011
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Add a Comment37 comments
Average Guess (34 Votes)
5ft 6.8in (169.7cm)
5ft 6.8in (169.7cm)
MD said on 11/Dec/21
@Rob, it is set in the future; by then, we Americans had finally surrendered to the good sense that is the metric system. ;)
Editor Rob
@Rob, it is set in the future; by then, we Americans had finally surrendered to the good sense that is the metric system. ;)
Editor RobThis site will probably retain imperial/metric for as long as America sticks with imperial...although within science I'm pretty sure it's all metric.
MD said on 10/Dec/21
Just saw the episode "Identity Crisis" from Star Trek: The Next Generation, and in the episode, he's doing a video analysis and tells the computer he's "about 1.70 meters" or 170 cms, I can't remember which, exactly, but he does mention that number and "about."
Kind of interesting, because you rarely get an actor saying their honest height as part of the character they are playing.
Editor Rob
Just saw the episode "Identity Crisis" from Star Trek: The Next Generation, and in the episode, he's doing a video analysis and tells the computer he's "about 1.70 meters" or 170 cms, I can't remember which, exactly, but he does mention that number and "about."
Kind of interesting, because you rarely get an actor saying their honest height as part of the character they are playing.
Editor RobAnd in metric too!
Miss Sandy Cowell said on 2/Oct/21
Yes, I see what you mean, Nik! Levar doesn't stand as tall as he could to look his tallest.
5ft7. 😃👌
Yes, I see what you mean, Nik! Levar doesn't stand as tall as he could to look his tallest.
5ft7. 😃👌
Jkiller said on 24/Feb/20
Always looked a weak 5'7, probably around 169.5cm
Always looked a weak 5'7, probably around 169.5cm
Jdubbz said on 27/Oct/19
Looks like a 4cm difference not taking the footwear difference into account. So about 3cm in reality. Given that Rob is 5'8 1/8, 5'7 or at worst 5'6 7/8 sounds reasonable.
Looks like a 4cm difference not taking the footwear difference into account. So about 3cm in reality. Given that Rob is 5'8 1/8, 5'7 or at worst 5'6 7/8 sounds reasonable.
Nik said on 7/Jun/18
I have no problem in believing that Levar Burton tops the 5'7" mark, he needs to stand at his tallest though!
I have no problem in believing that Levar Burton tops the 5'7" mark, he needs to stand at his tallest though!
Gnaw said on 23/Oct/17
Levar is a big chiller, a true hero. Them shades on star treck gotta love em definite 5'7
Levar is a big chiller, a true hero. Them shades on star treck gotta love em definite 5'7
Random said on 9/Jun/17
I see more than a 3 cm height difference regardless of the 0.4inch footware difference.
I see more than a 3 cm height difference regardless of the 0.4inch footware difference.
MJKoP said on 29/May/17
For the sake of anyone who was a kid between 1983 and 2006, please add "Reading Rainbow" to his list of greatest hits. After all, it only consists of one credit thus far!
For the sake of anyone who was a kid between 1983 and 2006, please add "Reading Rainbow" to his list of greatest hits. After all, it only consists of one credit thus far!
World Citizen said on 24/May/17
He looks 5 ft 6 on that picture with you. But that's because you have a footwear advantage.
He looks 5 ft 6 on that picture with you. But that's because you have a footwear advantage.
World Citizen said on 24/May/17
He looks 5 ft 6 on that picture with you.
He looks 5 ft 6 on that picture with you.
Teddy Bear Cruiser said on 6/Feb/17
I grew up watching Levar Burton as the host of Reading Rainbow, a children's television show on PBS. Levar often looks 5'9" in Reading Rainbow episodes but not any taller.
If he's shorter than 5'9" or 5'8" at all, it can be either the camera effects and particularly the lifts on his shoes.
I grew up watching Levar Burton as the host of Reading Rainbow, a children's television show on PBS. Levar often looks 5'9" in Reading Rainbow episodes but not any taller.
If he's shorter than 5'9" or 5'8" at all, it can be either the camera effects and particularly the lifts on his shoes.
Josh Jeffords said on 5/Sep/16
He looks under 5 7 in photo odd he looked average on tv.
He looks under 5 7 in photo odd he looked average on tv.
Kareem said on 4/Jun/16
In Roots he seemed small, 5'7 seems realistic
In Roots he seemed small, 5'7 seems realistic
CD said on 25/Jan/15
Rob would you say he looked similar height to G with his shoe disadvantage?
Editor Rob
Rob would you say he looked similar height to G with his shoe disadvantage?
Editor Rob I think he could look close to 5ft 6.5 when I seen him and then the next day he had a 1-inch shoe on so more similar footwear and he looked near 5ft 7.
TJE said on 3/Oct/14
He is most certainly 5'7 range.
He is most certainly 5'7 range.
Crypto139 said on 13/May/14
I think people forget the 0.4 inch of shoe advantage rob has on him.
170 cm is very possible for him.
I think people forget the 0.4 inch of shoe advantage rob has on him.
170 cm is very possible for him.
Alex 6'0 said on 30/Apr/14
Looks like he'd measure the same as G. Strong 5'6.5
Looks like he'd measure the same as G. Strong 5'6.5
Adamz said on 14/Mar/14
shortest 170cm guy i've ever seen.
shortest 170cm guy i've ever seen.
Mathew said on 17/Dec/13
I see nothing less than 1.5" in the photo. Maybe even 2".
I see nothing less than 1.5" in the photo. Maybe even 2".
avi said on 29/Nov/13
Upper 5'6 area
Upper 5'6 area
Matt 184.7-186.7cm said on 3/Nov/13
reallly struggling with 5ft 7,
Rob is he taller than the infamous Glenn in person?
Editor Rob
reallly struggling with 5ft 7,
Rob is he taller than the infamous Glenn in person?
Editor Rob I think he's near 5ft 7 mark
Akmal said on 27/Jul/13
Rob he looks 168 here
Rob he looks 168 here
Yaspaa said on 20/Jul/13
Yeah, the shoe advantage makes me buy the 5'7. On one of TNG he describes himself as 1.7 meters. Hardly proof, just a point of interest. :)
Yeah, the shoe advantage makes me buy the 5'7. On one of TNG he describes himself as 1.7 meters. Hardly proof, just a point of interest. :)
Antonio said on 21/Jun/13
Met him a 2 different occasions in the 90s. He is 5-6 max. Both of you are crouching equally, but in different ways. Rob still has him by 2".
Met him a 2 different occasions in the 90s. He is 5-6 max. Both of you are crouching equally, but in different ways. Rob still has him by 2".
HellBoundPower said on 2/May/13
With the almost half inch shoe advantage that Rob has, and Levar's obvious lean, I would say that he looks more 5'7.5".
Editor Rob
With the almost half inch shoe advantage that Rob has, and Levar's obvious lean, I would say that he looks more 5'7.5".
Editor Rob my leaning head down to my right loses height...don't forget that ;)
he was no less than an inch shorter than Jenny (in same footwear as her) so I'll stick with 5ft 7, since he looked about 5ft 6.5 to me.
he was no less than an inch shorter than Jenny (in same footwear as her) so I'll stick with 5ft 7, since he looked about 5ft 6.5 to me.
runt said on 9/Apr/13
Did everybody forget that Rob has nearly a half inch footwear advantage? And that pose is nowhere near the way he normally stands.
Click Here
Did everybody forget that Rob has nearly a half inch footwear advantage? And that pose is nowhere near the way he normally stands.
Click Here
runt said on 22/Jan/13
obviously not standing at full height. I say as listed.
obviously not standing at full height. I say as listed.
DarkestKnight said on 17/Jan/13
Looks nearer the 5'6'' mark.
Looks nearer the 5'6'' mark.
miko said on 11/Jan/13
I think 5'6.5/5'6.75 is looking a bit more likely, him and G in a staredown would be interesting.
I think 5'6.5/5'6.75 is looking a bit more likely, him and G in a staredown would be interesting.
nrubsol said on 8/Apr/11
I rented him a car in the 90's and he is 5'7" to 5'8"
I rented him a car in the 90's and he is 5'7" to 5'8"
Antonio said on 27/Dec/08
I met him and I think 5'7" is close. If anything he might be .5" under that.
I met him and I think 5'7" is close. If anything he might be .5" under that.
MHouillon said on 28/Mar/08
During the TNG series:
Levar Burton: 169cm-170cm (5'6.5"-5'7")
Patrick Stewart: 175cm (5'9")
Jonathan Frakes: 193cm (6'4")
Michael Dorn: 192cm (6'3.5") [was always a bid shorter than Frakes]
Brent Spiner: 179cm-180cm (5'10.5"-5'11) [was always way taller than Burton and a tad taller than Stewart {who occasionally wore lifts}]
During the TNG series:
Levar Burton: 169cm-170cm (5'6.5"-5'7")
Patrick Stewart: 175cm (5'9")
Jonathan Frakes: 193cm (6'4")
Michael Dorn: 192cm (6'3.5") [was always a bid shorter than Frakes]
Brent Spiner: 179cm-180cm (5'10.5"-5'11) [was always way taller than Burton and a tad taller than Stewart {who occasionally wore lifts}]
EddieSpaghetti said on 23/Feb/08
Met Levar at a Trek Con, he was late and walked in through the crowd right past me. I am 5'8"and change and was wearing canvas deck shoes, Levar came to a little above my eyebrows. My estimate; 5'6". BTW, a super nice man, especially to my little boy.
Met Levar at a Trek Con, he was late and walked in through the crowd right past me. I am 5'8"and change and was wearing canvas deck shoes, Levar came to a little above my eyebrows. My estimate; 5'6". BTW, a super nice man, especially to my little boy.
Alex said on 17/Dec/06
No 5-8 sounds right, just a bit shy of Patrick Stewart on Next Gen
No 5-8 sounds right, just a bit shy of Patrick Stewart on Next Gen
Mr. R said on 6/Jun/05
When he first hit it big in Roots, he was listed at 5-9.
When he first hit it big in Roots, he was listed at 5-9.
JS said on 6/Jun/05
I think 5'7 is a stretch, he looks a bit shorter.. something like 168-169.
I think 5'7 is a stretch, he looks a bit shorter.. something like 168-169.
Heights are barefeet estimates, derived from quotations, official websites, agency resumes, in person encounters with actors at conventions and pictures/films.
Other vital statistics like weight or shoe size measurements have been sourced from newspapers, books, resumes or social media.
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