Acting · Chicago, Illinois, USA · Born August 21, 1932
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!.
TVHollywood Black
2024
as Self (archive footage)
MovieSweet Black Film: The Birth of the Black Hero in Hollywood
2022
as Self
MovieOscar Micheaux: The Superhero of Black Filmmaking
2021
as Self
MovieArmed
2018
as Grandpa V.
MoviePeeples
2013
as Grandpa Peeples
MovieSalty Dog Blues
2012
as Self (Interviewee)
MovieRedemption Road
2011
as Elmo
MovieThe Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975
2011
as Self (voice)
MovieInfiltrating Hollywood: The Rise and Fall of the Spook Who Sat by the Door
2011
MovieAmerican Swing
2009
as Self
MovieDirectors on Directing
2009
as Self
MovieThe Black List: Volume Two
2009
as Self
Confessions of a Ex-Doofus-ItchyFooted Mutha
2008
as Melvin Van Peebles
Sex: The Revolution
2008
MovieBlackout
2007
as George
MovieHard Luck
2006
as Hospital Prophet
MovieSMUT
2006
as Elmoore
MovieMidnight Blue, Vol. 3: Celebrities Edition
2006
as Self (archive footage)
MovieHow to Eat Your Watermelon in White Company (and Enjoy It)
2005
Unstoppable
2005
as Self
MovieThe Hebrew Hammer
2003
as Sweetback
MovieThe Real Deal: What It Is
2003
as Self
MovieBaadAsssss Cinema
2002
as Self
TVGirlfriends
2000
as Kenneth Daly
MovieRené Vautier, le rebelle
2000
as Self
MovieLove Kills
1999
as Able
MovieClassified X
1998
as Self
MovieRiot
1997
as Vernon
TVThe Shining
1997
as Richard Hallorann
MovieCalm at Sunset
1996
as Mr. Bucket
MovieGang in Blue
1996
as Andre Speier
MoviePanther
1995
as Old Jail Bird
MovieFist of the North Star
1995
as Asher
MovieTerminal Velocity
1994
as Noble
TVLiving Single
1993
MovieFarewell, Babylon!
1993
as Self
MovieLast Action Hero
1993
as Self
MoviePosse
1993
as Papa Joe
TVHomicide: Life on the Street
1993
as Bennett Jackson
MovieBoomerang
1992
as Editor
MovieSatchmo: The Life of Louis Armstrong
1992
as Louis Armstrong (voice)
MovieTrue Identity
1991
as Taxi Driver
TVDream On
1990
as Norman Green
Making 'Do the Right Thing'
1989
as Self
MovieIdentity Crisis
1989
as The Inspector
TVSonny Spoon
1988
MovieTaking Care of Terrific
1988
as Hawk
MovieJaws: The Revenge
1987
as Mr. Witherspoon
MovieO.C. and Stiggs
1987
as Wino Bob
MovieAmerica
1986
as Man Interviewed
TVThe Sophisticated Gents
1981
as Walter 'Moon' Porter
MovieWattstax
1973
as Self
MovieSweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song
1971
as Sweetback
MovieWatermelon Man
1970
as Sign Painter (uncredited)
TVPour le plaisir
1964
as Self
TVSeize millions de jeunes
1964
as Self
MovieSunlight
1957
TVHallmark Hall of Fame
1951
as Bucket
