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Melvin Van Peebles

Melvin Van Peebles

Actor, Writer, Director

Born August 21, 1932 in Chicago, Illinois, USA

Died September 21, 2021

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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!.

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Melvin Van Peebles Photos

Melvin Van Peebles Videos

Quentin Tarantino talks Blaxploitation

SWEET SWEETBACK'S BAADASSSSS SONG Trailer [1971]

Bill Duke on SWEET SWEETBACK'S BADASSSSS SONG

Mario Van Peebles on Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song and Melvin Van Peebles's Legacy | NYFF59

Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song (1971) Trailer #2 | Melvin Van Peebles, Hubert Scales Movie

Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song (1971) Trailer #1 | Melvin Van Peebles, Hubert Scales Movie

Mark Kermode reviews Sweet Sweetback’s Baadassss Song (1971) | BFI Player

Filmography

Actor

98

Type

Year

My Memories of Melvin Van Peebles Poster

My Memories of Melvin Van Peebles Short Film2021Self

Oscar Micheaux: The Superhero of Black Filmmaking Poster

Oscar Micheaux: The Superhero of Black Filmmaking Feature Film2021Self

Sweet Black Film Poster

Sweet Black Film Feature Film2021Self

TCM Remembers 2021 Poster

TCM Remembers 2021 TV Special2021Self

Armed Feature Film2018Grandpa V

Methane Momma Poster

Methane Momma Short Film2017Mel

The Tanning of America Poster

The Tanning of America Mini-Series2014Self - Filmmaker

Peeples Feature Film2013Grandpa Peeples

Lilly Done the Zampoughi Every Time I Pulled Her Coattail Short Film2012Narrator

We the Party Poster

We the Party Feature Film2012Big D

Infiltrating Hollywood: The Rise and Fall of the Spook Who Sat by the Door Poster

Infiltrating Hollywood: The Rise and Fall of the Spook Who Sat by the Door Documentary2011Self

The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975 Poster

The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975 Documentary2011Self

Un voyage sur la Terre Feature Film2011

Fair Game? Poster

Fair Game? Documentary2010Self

Freakonomics Poster

Freakonomics Documentary2010Self - Narrator

Redemption Road Poster

Redemption Road Feature Film2010Elmo

Way Black When Poster

Way Black When TV Special2010Self

Directors on Directing Poster

Directors on Directing Documentary2009Melvin VanPeebles

Mario's Green House Poster

Mario's Green House TV Series2009

The Black List: Volume Two Poster

The Black List: Volume Two Documentary2009Self

Us: A Love Story Poster

Us: A Love Story Short Film2009Narrator

American Swing Poster

American Swing Documentary2008Self

Disappearing Voices: The Decline of Black Radio Poster

Disappearing Voices: The Decline of Black Radio Documentary2008Self

Sex: The Revolution Poster

Sex: The Revolution Mini-Series2008Self

Blackout Poster

Blackout Feature Film2007George

American Stag Poster

American Stag Documentary2006Melvin Van Peebles

Breaking the Rules Poster

Breaking the Rules Documentary2006Self

Hard Luck Poster

Hard Luck Video2006Hospital Prophet

Smut Feature Film2006Elmore

The 2006 Black Movie Awards Poster

The 2006 Black Movie Awards TV Special2006Self

How to Eat Your Watermelon in White Company (and Enjoy It) Poster

How to Eat Your Watermelon in White Company (and Enjoy It) Documentary2005Self

The 20th IFP Independent Spirit Awards Poster

The 20th IFP Independent Spirit Awards TV Special2005Self - Audience Member

Unstoppable: Conversation with Melvin Van Peebles, Gordon Parks, and Ossie Davis Poster

Unstoppable: Conversation with Melvin Van Peebles, Gordon Parks, and Ossie Davis Documentary2005Self

Tavis Smiley Poster

Tavis Smiley TV Series2004Self

The Story Behind Baadasssss!: The Birth of Black Cinema Poster

The Story Behind Baadasssss!: The Birth of Black Cinema Documentary2004Self

Baltimore Poster

Baltimore Short Film2003

Hell Up in Hollywood: Soul Cinema and the 1970s Poster

Hell Up in Hollywood: Soul Cinema and the 1970s Documentary2003Self

The Hebrew Hammer Poster

The Hebrew Hammer Feature Film2003Sweetback

The Real Deal: What It is Poster

The Real Deal: What It is Documentary2003Self

Baadasssss Cinema Poster

Baadasssss Cinema Documentary2002Self

Jim Brown: All American Poster

Jim Brown: All American Documentary2002Self - Actor, Producer, Director

Anatomy of a Scene Poster

Anatomy of a Scene TV Series2001Self

Acapulco Black Film Festival Poster

Acapulco Black Film Festival Documentary2000Self

Antilles sur Seine Poster

Antilles sur Seine Feature Film2000L'Américain à la soirée

Girlfriends Poster

Girlfriends TV Series2000Kenneth Daly

René Vautier, le rebelle Poster

René Vautier, le rebelle Documentary2000Self

Time of Her Time Poster

Time of Her Time Feature Film2000Thompson

Des mots de minuit Poster

Des mots de minuit Mini-Series1999Self

Independent Lens Poster

Independent Lens TV Series19991 episode, 2012

Classified X Poster

Classified X Documentary1998Self

Love Kills Poster

Love Kills Feature Film1998Abel

The Shining Poster

The Shining Mini-Series1997Richard Hallorann

Calm at Sunset Poster

Calm at Sunset TV Movie1996Mr. Bucket

Gang in Blue Poster

Gang in Blue TV Movie1996Andre Speier

Riot TV Movie1996Vernon

Fist of the North Star Poster

Fist of the North Star Feature Film1995Asher

Lauren Hutton and... Poster

Lauren Hutton and... TV Series1995Self

Panther Feature Film1995Old Jail Bird

Terminal Velocity Poster

Terminal Velocity Feature Film1994Noble

Farewell, Babylon! Poster

Farewell, Babylon! TV Movie1993Self - cinéaste

Homicide: Life on the Street Poster

Homicide: Life on the Street TV Series1993Bennett Jackson

Last Action Hero Poster

Last Action Hero Feature Film1993Melvin Van Peebles

Living Single Poster

Living Single TV Series1993Warner Devant

Posse Feature Film1993Papa Joe

Boomerang Poster

Boomerang Feature Film1992Editor

Charlie Rose Poster

Charlie Rose TV Series1991Self

True Identity Poster

True Identity Feature Film1991Taxi driver

Dream On Poster

Dream On TV Series1990Norman Green

Family Figures TV Series1990Self - Host

Without Walls Poster

Without Walls TV Series1990Self

Identity Crisis Poster

Identity Crisis Feature Film1989The Inspector

In the Heat of the Night Poster

In the Heat of the Night TV Series1988Nathaniel Halwell

Sonny Spoon Poster

Sonny Spoon TV Series1988Mel Spoon

Taking Care of Terrific Poster

Taking Care of Terrific TV Movie1988Hawk

Jaws: The Revenge Poster

Jaws: The Revenge Feature Film1987Mr. Witherspoon

Showtime at the Apollo Poster

Showtime at the Apollo TV Series1987Self

America Feature Film1986Man Interviewed

American Masters Poster

American Masters TV Series1985Louis Armstrong

O.C. and Stiggs Poster

O.C. and Stiggs Feature Film1985Wino Bob

Ebony/Jet Showcase Poster

Ebony/Jet Showcase TV Series1982Self

The Sophisticated Gents Poster

The Sophisticated Gents Mini-Series1981Silky

Working in the Theatre Poster

Working in the Theatre TV Series1976Self

Bicentennial Minutes Poster

Bicentennial Minutes TV Series1974Self - Narrator

Broadway TV Movie1973Self

The 27th Annual Tony Awards Poster

The 27th Annual Tony Awards TV Special1973Self - Nominee

Wattstax Poster

Wattstax Documentary1973Self

The 26th Annual Tony Awards Poster

The 26th Annual Tony Awards TV Special1972Self - Nominee

The Midnight Special Poster

The Midnight Special TV Series1972Self

Soul Train Poster

Soul Train TV Series1971Guest

Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song Poster

Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song Feature Film1971Sweetback

All My Children Poster

All My Children TV Series1970Melvin Woods

Watermelon Man Poster

Watermelon Man Feature Film1970Sign Painter

The David Frost Show Poster

The David Frost Show TV Series1969Self

Black Journal Poster

Black Journal TV Series1968Self

Pour le plaisir Poster

Pour le plaisir TV Series1964Self

The Mike Douglas Show Poster

The Mike Douglas Show TV Series1961Self

The Irv Kupcinet Show Poster

The Irv Kupcinet Show TV Series1953Self

Pile On! Short FilmHobo

Writer

18

Type

Year

Lilly Done the Zampoughi Every Time I Pulled Her Coattail Short Film2012

Confessionsofa Ex-Doofus-ItchyFooted Mutha Poster

Confessionsofa Ex-Doofus-ItchyFooted Mutha Feature Film2008

Baadasssss! Poster

Baadasssss! Feature Film2003

Bellyful Poster

Bellyful Feature Film2000

Classified X Poster

Classified X Documentary1998

Panther Feature Film1995

Vrooom Vroom Vrooom Poster

Vrooom Vroom Vrooom Short Film1995

CBS Schoolbreak Special Poster

CBS Schoolbreak Special TV Series1984

The Sophisticated Gents Poster

The Sophisticated Gents Mini-Series1981

Greased Lightning Poster

Greased Lightning Feature Film1977

Just an Old Sweet Song Poster

Just an Old Sweet Song TV Movie1976

Don't Play Us Cheap Poster

Don't Play Us Cheap Feature Film1972

Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song Poster

Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song Feature Film1971

Slogan Feature Film1969

The Story of a Three-Day Pass Poster

The Story of a Three-Day Pass Feature Film1967

Cinq cent balles Poster

Cinq cent balles Short Film1963

Sunlight Poster

Sunlight Short Film1957

Three Pickup Men for Herrick Poster

Three Pickup Men for Herrick Short Film1957

Director

17

Type

Year

Lilly Done the Zampoughi Every Time I Pulled Her Coattail Short Film2012

Confessionsofa Ex-Doofus-ItchyFooted Mutha Poster

Confessionsofa Ex-Doofus-ItchyFooted Mutha Feature Film2008

The Real Deal Poster

The Real Deal Video2003

Bellyful Poster

Bellyful Feature Film2000

Gang in Blue Poster

Gang in Blue TV Movie1996

Tales of Erotica Poster

Tales of Erotica Feature Film1996

The Outer Limits Poster

The Outer Limits TV Series1995

Vrooom Vroom Vrooom Poster

Vrooom Vroom Vrooom Short Film1995

Identity Crisis Poster

Identity Crisis Feature Film1989

Don't Play Us Cheap Poster

Don't Play Us Cheap Feature Film1972

Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song Poster

Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song Feature Film1971

Watermelon Man Poster

Watermelon Man Feature Film1970

The Bill Cosby Show Poster

The Bill Cosby Show TV Series1969

The Story of a Three-Day Pass Poster

The Story of a Three-Day Pass Feature Film1967

Cinq cent balles Poster

Cinq cent balles Short Film1963

Sunlight Poster

Sunlight Short Film1957

Three Pickup Men for Herrick Poster

Three Pickup Men for Herrick Short Film1957

Producer

11

Type

Year

Confessionsofa Ex-Doofus-ItchyFooted Mutha Poster

Confessionsofa Ex-Doofus-ItchyFooted Mutha Feature Film2008

Bellyful Poster

Bellyful Feature Film2000

Classified X Poster

Classified X Documentary1998

Gang in Blue Poster

Gang in Blue TV Movie1996

Panther Feature Film1995

Vrooom Vroom Vrooom Poster

Vrooom Vroom Vrooom Short Film1995

Identity Crisis Poster

Identity Crisis Feature Film1989

The Sophisticated Gents Poster

The Sophisticated Gents Mini-Series1981

Don't Play Us Cheap Poster

Don't Play Us Cheap Feature Film1972

Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song Poster

Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song Feature Film1971

Sunlight Poster

Sunlight Short Film1957

Composer

12

Type

Year

Lilly Done the Zampoughi Every Time I Pulled Her Coattail Short Film2012

Smut Feature Film2006

Unstoppable: Conversation with Melvin Van Peebles, Gordon Parks, and Ossie Davis Poster

Unstoppable: Conversation with Melvin Van Peebles, Gordon Parks, and Ossie Davis Documentary2005

Bellyful Poster

Bellyful Feature Film2000

Vrooom Vroom Vrooom Poster

Vrooom Vroom Vrooom Short Film1995

Don't Play Us Cheap Poster

Don't Play Us Cheap Feature Film1972

Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song Poster

Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song Feature Film1971

Watermelon Man Poster

Watermelon Man Feature Film1970

The Story of a Three-Day Pass Poster

The Story of a Three-Day Pass Feature Film1967

Cinq cent balles Poster

Cinq cent balles Short Film1963

Sunlight Poster

Sunlight Short Film1957

Three Pickup Men for Herrick Poster

Three Pickup Men for Herrick Short Film1957

Thanks

9

Type

Year

The 28th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards TV Special2022

The Oscars Poster

The Oscars TV Special2022

The House I Live In Poster

The House I Live In Documentary2012

Kinyarwanda Poster

Kinyarwanda Feature Film2011

Fair Game? Poster

Fair Game? Documentary2010

C.S.A.: The Confederate States of America Poster

C.S.A.: The Confederate States of America Feature Film2004

Bamboozled Poster

Bamboozled Feature Film2000

Making Do the Right Thing Poster

Making Do the Right Thing Documentary1989

The Queendom V Poster

The Queendom V Feature Film

Editor

5

Type

Year

Lilly Done the Zampoughi Every Time I Pulled Her Coattail Short Film2012

Vrooom Vroom Vrooom Poster

Vrooom Vroom Vrooom Short Film1995

Identity Crisis Poster

Identity Crisis Feature Film1989

Don't Play Us Cheap Poster

Don't Play Us Cheap Feature Film1972

Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song Poster

Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song Feature Film1971

Music Department

2

Type

Year

Unstoppable: Conversation with Melvin Van Peebles, Gordon Parks, and Ossie Davis Poster

Unstoppable: Conversation with Melvin Van Peebles, Gordon Parks, and Ossie Davis Documentary2005

The Sophisticated Gents Poster

The Sophisticated Gents Mini-Series1981

Other Crew

2

Baadasssss Cinema Poster

Baadasssss Cinema Documentary2002

Wattstax Poster

Wattstax Documentary1973

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