Image of Melvin Van Peebles

Melvin Van Peebles

1932-08-21 Chicago, Illinois, USA

Image of Melvin Van Peebles

Biografia

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!.

Películas

Naissance d'un héros noir au cinéma : Sweet Sweetback Self 2022-03-16
Oscar Micheaux: The Superhero of Black Filmmaking Self 2021-07-10
Armed Grandpa V. 2018-09-14
Peeples Grandpa Peeples 2013-05-09
Salty Dog Blues Self (Interviewee) 2012-01-01
The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975 Self (voice) 2011-04-01
Redemption Road Elmo 2011-08-26
Infiltrating Hollywood: The Rise and Fall of the Spook Who Sat by the Door 2011-01-01
American Swing Self 2009-10-17
Directors on Directing Self 2009-09-24
The Black List: Volume Two Self 2009-02-26
Confessions of a Ex-Doofus-ItchyFooted Mutha Melvin Van Peebles 2008-08-22
Blackout George 2007-10-01
Midnight Blue, Vol. 3: Celebrities Edition Self (archive footage) 2006-01-31
Hard Luck Hospital Prophet 2006-10-17
Unstoppable Self 2005-02-13
How to Eat Your Watermelon in White Company (and Enjoy It) 2005-04-07
The Real Deal: What It Is Self 2003-01-14
The Hebrew Hammer Sweetback 2003-12-05
BaadAsssss Cinema Self 2002-08-14
René Vautier, le rebelle Self 2000-04-29
Love Kills Able 1999-10-04
SMUT Elmoore 1999-01-01
Classified X Self 1998-10-16
Riot Vernon 1997-04-27
Gang in Blue Andre Speier 1996-09-08
Calm at Sunset Mr. Bucket 1996-12-01
Panther Old Jail Bird 1995-05-03
Fist of the North Star Asher 1995-04-22
Terminal Velocity Noble 1994-09-23
Posse Papa Joe 1993-05-14
Adieu, Babylone! Self 1993-08-28
Last Action Hero Self 1993-06-18
Satchmo: The Life of Louis Armstrong Louis Armstrong (voice) 1992-01-01
Boomerang Editor 1992-06-30
True Identity Taxi Driver 1991-08-23
Making 'Do the Right Thing' Self 1989-11-03
Identity Crisis The Inspector 1989-09-15
Taking Care of Terrific Hawk 1988-01-16
O.C. and Stiggs Wino Bob 1987-07-10
Jaws: The Revenge Mr. Witherspoon 1987-07-17
America Man Interviewed 1986-10-01
Wattstax Self 1973-02-04
Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song Sweetback 1971-03-31
Watermelon Man Sign Painter (uncredited) 1970-05-27
Sunlight 1957-01-01