Burton was born in Landstuhl, West Germany. [2][3] His mother, Erma Gene (née Ward), [11] was a social worker, administrator, and educator. [3] Burton and his two sisters were raised by his mother in Sacramento, California, United States. [12] Burton's father, also named LeVar, was a photographer for the U.S. Army Signal Corps stationed at Landstuhl at the time of his son's birth. [2] His.