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Melvin Van Peebles
Actor

Melvin Van Peebles

21 Aug 1932Born
21 Sep 2021Died
89Age at death
53Credits

Biography

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.

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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!.

Known for

Filmography

  1. 2018ArmedFilm: Grandpa V.
  2. 2013PeeplesFilm: Grandpa Peeples
  3. 2011Redemption RoadFilm: Elmo
  4. 2011Infiltrating Hollywood: The Rise and Fall of the Spook Who Sat by the DoorFilm
  5. 2008Confessions of a Ex-Doofus-ItchyFooted MuthaFilm: Melvin Van Peebles, Writer, Director
  6. 2007BlackoutFilm: George
  7. 2006Hard LuckFilm: Hospital Prophet
  8. 2006SMUTFilm: Elmoore
  9. 2005How to Eat Your Watermelon in White Company (and Enjoy It)Film
  10. 2003The Hebrew HammerFilm: Sweetback
  11. 2003The Real Deal: What It IsFilm: Director
  12. 2000GirlfriendsSeries: Kenneth Daly (2 episodes)
  13. 2000BellyfulFilm: Writer, Director, Novel
  14. 1999Love KillsFilm: Able
  15. 1998Classified XFilm: Writer
  16. 1997RiotFilm: Vernon
  17. 1997The ShiningSeries: Richard Hallorann (2 episodes)
  18. 1996Calm at SunsetFilm: Mr. Bucket
  19. 1996Gang in BlueFilm: Andre Speier, Director
  20. 1996Tales of EroticaFilm: Director, Writer
  21. 1995PantherFilm: Old Jail Bird, Screenplay, Novel
  22. 1995Fist of the North StarFilm: Asher
  23. 1995The Outer LimitsSeries: Director (1 episode)
  24. 1995Vrooom Vrooom VroooomFilm: Director, Writer
  25. 1994Terminal VelocityFilm: Noble
  26. 1993Living SingleSeries (1 episode)
  27. 1993PosseFilm: Papa Joe
  28. 1993Homicide: Life on the StreetSeries: Bennett Jackson (1 episode)
  29. 1992BoomerangFilm: Editor
  30. 1992Satchmo: The Life of Louis ArmstrongFilm: Louis Armstrong (voice)
  31. 1991True IdentityFilm: Taxi Driver
  32. 1990Dream OnSeries: Norman Green (1 episode)
  33. 1989Identity CrisisFilm: The Inspector, Director
  34. 1989976-STUDFilm: Director
  35. 1988Sonny SpoonSeries (15 episodes)
  36. 1988Taking Care of TerrificFilm: Hawk
  37. 1987Jaws: The RevengeFilm: Mr. Witherspoon
  38. 1987O.C. and StiggsFilm: Wino Bob
  39. 1987The Day They Came to Arrest the BookFilm: Writer
  40. 1986AmericaFilm: Man Interviewed
  41. 1984CBS Schoolbreak SpecialSeries: Writer (36 episodes)
  42. 1981The Sophisticated GentsSeries: Walter 'Moon' Porter (3 episodes)
  43. 1977Greased LightningFilm: Screenplay, Writer
  44. 1976Just an Old Sweet SongFilm: Writer
  45. 1973Don't Play Us CheapFilm: Director, Screenplay
  46. 1971Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss SongFilm: Sweetback, Director, Screenplay
  47. 1970Watermelon ManFilm: Sign Painter (uncredited), Director
  48. 1969SloganFilm: Writer
  49. 1968The Story of a Three-Day PassFilm: Director, Writer
  50. 1961500 FrancsFilm: Director, Writer
  51. 1957SunlightFilm: Director
  52. 1957Three Pick-Up Men for HerrickFilm: Director, Writer
  53. 1951Hallmark Hall of FameSeries: Bucket (1 episode)

Biography and credits from TMDB. This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.