MP
Melvin Van Peebles
Actor, Director, Writer, Producer, Composer, Editor, Additional Credits
Born August 21, 1932Died September 21, 2021 (89 years)
Melvin Van Peebles (born Melvin Peebles; August 21, 1932 – September 21, 2021) was an American actor, filmmaker, writer, and composer. His feature film debut, The Story of a Three-Day Pass (1967), was based on his own French-language novel La Permission and was shot in France, as it was difficult for a black American director to get work at the time. The film won an award at the San Francisco International Film Festival which gained him the interest of Hollywood studios, leading to his American feature debut Watermelon Man, in 1970. Eschewing further overtures from Hollywood, he used the successes he had so far to bankroll his work as an independent filmmaker.
In 1971, he released his best-known work, creating and starring in the film Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song, which led to the creation of the blaxploitation genre. although critic Roger Ebert did not consider this example of Van Peebles' work to be an exploitation film. He followed this up with the musical, Don't Play Us Cheap, based on his own stage play, and continued to make films, write novels and stage plays in English and in French through the next several decades; his final films include the French-language film Le Conte du ventre plein (2000) and the absurdist film Confessionsofa Ex-Doofus-ItchyFooted Mutha (2008). His son, filmmaker and actor Mario Van Peebles, appeared in several of his works and portrayed him in the 2003 biographical film Baadasssss!.
In 1971, he released his best-known work, creating and starring in the film Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song, which led to the creation of the blaxploitation genre. although critic Roger Ebert did not consider this example of Van Peebles' work to be an exploitation film. He followed this up with the musical, Don't Play Us Cheap, based on his own stage play, and continued to make films, write novels and stage plays in English and in French through the next several decades; his final films include the French-language film Le Conte du ventre plein (2000) and the absurdist film Confessionsofa Ex-Doofus-ItchyFooted Mutha (2008). His son, filmmaker and actor Mario Van Peebles, appeared in several of his works and portrayed him in the 2003 biographical film Baadasssss!.
Known For
Featured Videos
Filmography
| 2018 | Armed · as Grandpa V. |
| 2013 | Peeples · as Grandpa Peeples |
| 2012 | We the Party · as Big D |
| 2010 | Redemption Road · as Elmo |
| 2008 | Sex: The Revolution (TV Series) |
| 2007 | Blackout · as George |
| 2006 | Hard Luck · as Hospital Prophet |
| 2005 | |
| 2003 | The Hebrew Hammer · as Sweetback |
| 2000 | Antilles sur Seine · as L'américain À La Soirée |
| 2000 | Time of Her Time · as Thompson |
| 2000 | Girlfriends (TV Series) · as Kenneth Daly |
| 1998 | Love Kills · as Able |
| 1997 | The Shining (TV Series) · as Richard Hallorann |
| 1996 | Riot · as Vernon |
| 1996 | Calm at Sunset · as Mr. Bucket |
| 1996 | Gang in Blue · as Andre Speier |
| 1995 | Panther · as Old Jail Bird |
| 1995 | Fist of the North Star · as Asher |
| 1994 | Terminal Velocity · as Noble |
| 1993 | Living Single (TV Series) |
| 1993 | Posse · as Papa Joe |
| 1993 | Homicide: Life on the Street (TV Series) · as Bennett Jackson |
| 1992 | Boomerang · as Editor |
| 1991 | True Identity · as Taxi Driver |
| 1990 | Dream On (TV Series) · as Norman Green |
| 1989 | Identity Crisis · as The Inspector |
| 1988 | In the Heat of the Night (TV Series) · as Nathaniel Halwell |
| 1988 | Sonny Spoon (TV Series) |
| 1987 | Taking Care of Terrific · as Hawk |
| 1987 | Jaws: The Revenge · as Mr. Witherspoon |
| 1986 | America · as Man Interviewed |
| 1985 | American Masters (TV Series) · as Louis Armstrong |
| 1985 | O.C. and Stiggs · as Wino Bob |
| 1981 | The Sophisticated Gents (TV Series) · as Walter 'moon' Porter |
| 1971 | Soul Train (TV Series) · as Guest |
| 1971 | Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song · as Sweetback |
| 1970 | Watermelon Man · as Sign Painter (uncredited) |
| 1970 | All My Children (TV Series) · as Melvin Woods |
| 1957 | |
| 1951 | Hallmark Hall of Fame (TV Series) · as Bucket |