While the beloved role of Geordi La Forge on “Star Trek: The Next Generation” may have been a major boost for Burton’s career, it certainly never came to define him. Between taking off his Communicator badge at the end of “Star Trek: Nemesis” and reattaching it for “Star Trek: Picard,” the German-born actor has enjoyed his period of “Star Trek” emeritus. His “Reading Rainbow” series, which teaches children the joys of literature, ran until 2006, and he relaunched it in 2014 as an interactive iPad app. A great love for science and books still guides much of his life, as he lately hosts a podcast on which he reads short stories. In 2019, he hosted the National Book Awards in Manhattan.
But fate brought Burton back to the bridge of a Starfleet vessel once again in Season 3 of “Star Trek: Picard.” This time around, “The Next Generation” has a whole new meaning, as Burton stars alongside his daughter, Mica Burton, who plays Geordi’s daughter Alandra La Forge. According to the elder Burton, returning to his “Star Trek” role after 20 years was cathartic. And now that he’s boldly gone exactly where he’s been before, the actor is ready to move on.