Melvin Van Peebles
Age: N/A | From: Chicago, Illinois, USA
Person Details
Birthday:
Aliases: No known aliases
Gender: Male
Place of birth: Chicago, Illinois, USA
Homepage:
Movie Involvements: 80
TV Involvements: 6
Most Famous Work
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!.
Most Famous Work
The Shining
(1997) Richard Hallorann
Hallmark Hall of Fame
(1951) Bucket
Jaws: The Revenge
(1987) Mr. Witherspoon
Terminal Velocity
(1994) Noble
The Sophisticated Gents
(1981) Walter 'Moon' Porter
Fist of the North Star
(1995) Asher
Posse
(1993) Papa Joe
Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song
(1971) SweetbackActing
| Year | Character | Movie/Tv |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Self | |
| 2021 | Self | |
| 2018 | Grandpa V. | |
| 2013 | Grandpa Peeples | |
| 2012 | Self (Interviewee) | |
| 2011 | Elmo | |
| Self (voice) | ||
| N/A | ||
| 2009 | Self | |
| Self | ||
| Self | ||
| 2008 | Melvin Van Peebles | |
| N/A | ||
| 2007 | Hospital Prophet | |
| George | ||
| 2006 | Self (archive footage) | |
| 2005 | N/A | |
| Self | ||
| 2003 | Sweetback | |
| Self | ||
| 2002 | Self | |
| 2000 | N/A | |
| Self | ||
| 1999 | Able | |
| 1998 | Self | |
| 1997 | Richard Hallorann | |
| Vernon | ||
| 1996 | Mr. Bucket | |
| Andre Speier | ||
| 1995 | Old Jail Bird | |
| Asher | ||
| 1994 | Noble | |
| 1993 | N/A | |
| Self | ||
| Self | ||
| Papa Joe | ||
| N/A | ||
| 1992 | Editor | |
| 1991 | Taxi Driver | |
| 1990 | N/A | |
| 1989 | Self | |
| The Inspector | ||
| 1988 | N/A | |
| Hawk | ||
| 1987 | Mr. Witherspoon | |
| Wino Bob | ||
| 1986 | Man Interviewed | |
| 1981 | Walter 'Moon' Porter | |
| 1973 | Self | |
| 1971 | Sweetback | |
| 1970 | Sign Painter (uncredited) | |
| 1957 | N/A | |
| 1951 | Bucket | |
| Elmoore | ||
| Year | Character | Movie/Tv |
Writing
| Year | Role | Movie/Tv |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Writer | |
| 2004 | Writer | |
| 2000 | Writer | |
| 1998 | Writer | |
| 1995 | Novel | |
| Screenplay | ||
| Writer | ||
| 1987 | Writer | |
| 1984 | Writer | |
| 1981 | Teleplay | |
| 1977 | Screenplay | |
| Writer | ||
| 1976 | Writer | |
| 1972 | Screenplay | |
| Theatre Play | ||
| 1971 | Screenplay | |
| 1969 | Writer | |
| 1968 | Writer | |
| 1961 | Writer | |
| 1957 | Writer | |
| Year | Role | Movie/Tv |
Directing
| Year | Role | Movie/Tv |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Director | |
| 2003 | Director | |
| 2000 | Director | |
| 1996 | Director | |
| Director | ||
| 1995 | Director | |
| Director | ||
| 1989 | Director | |
| Director | ||
| 1972 | Director | |
| 1971 | Director | |
| 1970 | Director | |
| 1968 | Director | |
| 1961 | Director | |
| 1957 | Director | |
| Director | ||
| Year | Role | Movie/Tv |
Production
| Year | Role | Movie/Tv |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Delegated Producer | |
| 1996 | Producer | |
| 1995 | Producer | |
| Producer | ||
| 1989 | Producer | |
| 1971 | Producer | |
| Year | Role | Movie/Tv |
Sound
| Year | Role | Movie/Tv |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Music | |
| 1995 | Original Music Composer | |
| 1972 | Music | |
| Songs | ||
| 1971 | Original Music Composer | |
| 1970 | Original Music Composer | |
| 1968 | Music | |
| 1961 | Original Music Composer | |
| Year | Role | Movie/Tv |
Editing
| Year | Role | Movie/Tv |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Editor | |
| 1989 | Editor | |
| 1972 | Editor | |
| 1971 | Editor | |
| Year | Role | Movie/Tv |