Melvin Van Peebles
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!.
Personal Details
Movies (43)
Sweet Black Film: The Birth of the Black Hero in Hollywood
as Self
2022
Oscar Micheaux: The Superhero of Black Filmmaking
as Self
2021
Armed
as Grandpa V.
2018
Peeples
as Grandpa Peeples
2013
Salty Dog Blues
as Self (Interviewee)
2012
Redemption Road
as Elmo
2011
The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975
as Self (voice)
2011
Infiltrating Hollywood: The Rise and Fall of the Spook Who Sat by the Door
2011
American Swing
as Self
2009
Directors on Directing
as Self
2009
The Black List: Volume Two
as Self
2009
Confessions of a Ex-Doofus-ItchyFooted Mutha
as Melvin Van Peebles
2008
Blackout
as George
2007
Hard Luck
as Hospital Prophet
2006
SMUT
as Elmoore
2006
Midnight Blue, Vol. 3: Celebrities Edition
as Self (archive footage)
2006
How to Eat Your Watermelon in White Company (and Enjoy It)
2005
Unstoppable
as Self
2005
Baadasssss!
Writer (Writing)
2004
The Hebrew Hammer
as Sweetback
2003
The Real Deal: What It Is
as Self
2003
BaadAsssss Cinema
as Self
2002
Bellyful
Writer (Writing)
2000
René Vautier, le rebelle
as Self
2000
Love Kills
as Able
1999
Classified X
as Self
1998
Riot
as Vernon
1997
Calm at Sunset
as Mr. Bucket
1996
Gang in Blue
as Andre Speier
1996
Tales of Erotica
Director (Directing)
1996
Panther
as Old Jail Bird
1995
Fist of the North Star
as Asher
1995
Vrooom Vrooom Vroooom
Director (Directing)
1995
Terminal Velocity
as Noble
1994
Farewell, Babylon!
as Self
1993
Last Action Hero
as Self
1993
Posse
as Papa Joe
1993
Boomerang
as Editor
1992
Satchmo: The Life of Louis Armstrong
as Louis Armstrong (voice)
1992
True Identity
as Taxi Driver
1991
Making 'Do the Right Thing'
as Self
1989
Identity Crisis
as The Inspector
1989
976-STUD
Director (Directing)
1989
