Melvin Van Peebles
Born: 1932-08-21 in Chicago, Illinois, USA
Died: 2021-09-21
Known For: Acting
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. 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!.
Filmography
2021
2018
- Armed as Grandpa V.
2013
- Peeples as Grandpa Peeples
2012
- Salty Dog Blues as Self (Interviewee)
2011
2009
- American Swing as Self
- Directors on Directing as Self
- The Black List: Volume Two as Self
2008
- Confessions of a Ex-Doofus-ItchyFooted Mutha as Melvin Van Peebles
- Sex: The Revolution
2007
- Blackout as George
2006
- Hard Luck as Hospital Prophet
- Midnight Blue, Vol. 3: Celebrities Edition as Self (archive footage)
- SMUT as Elmoore
2004
- Baadasssss! ... (Writer)
2003
- The Hebrew Hammer as Sweetback
- The Real Deal: What It Is as Self
2002
- BaadAsssss Cinema as Self
2000
- Girlfriends as Kenneth Daly
- Bellyful ... (Writer)
- René Vautier, le rebelle as Self
1999
- Love Kills as Able
1998
- Classified X as Self
1997
- The Shining as Richard Hallorann
- Riot as Vernon
1996
- Gang in Blue as Andre Speier
- Calm at Sunset as Mr. Bucket
- Tales of Erotica ... (Director)
1995
- The Outer Limits ... (Director)
- Panther as Old Jail Bird
- Fist of the North Star as Asher
- Vrooom Vrooom Vroooom ... (Writer)
1994
- Terminal Velocity as Noble
1993
- Homicide: Life on the Street
- Living Single
- Last Action Hero as Self
- Posse as Papa Joe
- Farewell, Babylon! as Self
1992
- Boomerang as Editor
- Satchmo: The Life of Louis Armstrong as Louis Armstrong (voice)
1991
- True Identity as Taxi Driver
1990
- Dream On as Norman Green
1989
- Identity Crisis as The Inspector
- Making 'Do the Right Thing' as Self
- 976-STUD ... (Director)
1988
- Taking Care of Terrific as Hawk
- Sonny Spoon
1987
- Jaws: The Revenge as Mr. Witherspoon
- O.C. and Stiggs as Wino Bob
- The Day They Came to Arrest the Book ... (Writer)
1986
- America as Man Interviewed
1984
- CBS Schoolbreak Special ... (Writer)
1981
- The Sophisticated Gents as Walter 'Moon' Porter
1977
- Greased Lightning ... (Screenplay)
1976
- Just an Old Sweet Song ... (Writer)
1973
- Wattstax as Self
- Don't Play Us Cheap ... (Director)
1971
- Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song as Sweetback
1970
- Watermelon Man as Sign Painter (uncredited)
1969
- Slogan ... (Writer)
1968
- The Story of a Three-Day Pass ... (Director)
1961
- 500 Francs ... (Writer)
1957
- Sunlight
- Three Pick-Up Men for Herrick ... (Writer)
1951
- Hallmark Hall of Fame as Bucket