About
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...
Known for
GirlfriendsSeries • 2000
Homicide: Life on the StreetSeries • 1993
The Outer LimitsSeries • 1995
Living SingleSeries • 1993
Dream OnSeries • 1990
The ShiningSeries • 1997
CBS Schoolbreak SpecialSeries • 1984
Jaws: The RevengeMovie • 1987
PosseMovie • 1993
Fist of the North StarMovie • 1995
BoomerangMovie • 1992
PantherMovie • 1995
Terminal VelocityMovie • 1994
PeeplesMovie • 2013
Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss SongMovie • 1971
True IdentityMovie • 1991
Hard LuckMovie • 2006
Baadasssss!Movie • 2004
O.C. and StiggsMovie • 1987
The Hebrew HammerMovie • 2003
ArmedMovie • 2018
Greased LightningMovie • 1977
SloganMovie • 1969
Watermelon ManMovie • 1970