Acting
Melvin Van Peebles
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
Hollywood Black
Series · 2024
Sweet Black Film: The Birth of the Black Hero in Hollywood
Film · 2022
Oscar Micheaux: The Superhero of Black Filmmaking
Film · 2021
Armed
Film · 2018
Peeples
Film · 2013
Salty Dog Blues
Film · 2012
The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975
Film · 2011
Infiltrating Hollywood: The Rise and Fall of the Spook Who Sat by the Door
Film · 2011
Redemption Road
Film · 2011
Directors on Directing
Film · 2009
The Black List: Volume Two
Film · 2009
American Swing
Film · 2009
Confessions of a Ex-Doofus-ItchyFooted Mutha
Film · 2008
Sex: The Revolution
Series · 2008
Blackout
Film · 2007
Hard Luck
Film · 2006
SMUT
Film · 2006
Midnight Blue, Vol. 3: Celebrities Edition
Film · 2006
Unstoppable
Film · 2005
How to Eat Your Watermelon in White Company (and Enjoy It)
Film · 2005
The Real Deal: What It Is
Film · 2003
The Hebrew Hammer
Film · 2003
BaadAsssss Cinema
Film · 2002
René Vautier, le rebelle
Film · 2000
Girlfriends
Series · 2000
Love Kills
Film · 1999
Classified X
Film · 1998
Riot
Film · 1997
The Shining
Series · 1997
Calm at Sunset
Film · 1996
Gang in Blue
Film · 1996
Fist of the North Star
Film · 1995
Panther
Film · 1995
Terminal Velocity
Film · 1994
Posse
Film · 1993
Last Action Hero
Film · 1993
Farewell, Babylon!
Film · 1993
Living Single
Series · 1993
Homicide: Life on the Street
Series · 1993
Boomerang
Film · 1992
Satchmo: The Life of Louis Armstrong
Film · 1992
True Identity
Film · 1991
Dream On
Series · 1990
Identity Crisis
Film · 1989
Making 'Do the Right Thing'
Film · 1989
Taking Care of Terrific
Film · 1988
Sonny Spoon
Series · 1988
O.C. and Stiggs
Film · 1987
Jaws: The Revenge
Film · 1987
America
Film · 1986
The Sophisticated Gents
Series · 1981
Wattstax
Film · 1973
Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song
Film · 1971
Watermelon Man
Film · 1970
Pour le plaisir
Series · 1964
Seize millions de jeunes
Series · 1964
Sunlight
Film · 1957
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Series · 1951