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IMDbPro

Melvin Van Peebles(1932-2021)

  • Actor
  • Writer
  • Director
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Melvin Van Peebles at an event for Catfish (2010)
We honor the life and legacy of Melvin Van Peebles, trailblazing director, who helped champion a new wave of modern Black cinema.
Play clip1:17
Remembering Melvin Van Peebles
11 Videos
43 Photos
Melvin Van Peebles was born on 21 August 1932 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He was an actor and writer, known for The Shining (1997), Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song (1971) and Don't Play Us Cheap (1972). He was married to Maria Marx. He died on 21 September 2021 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA.
BornAugust 21, 1932
DiedSeptember 21, 2021(89)
BornAugust 21, 1932
DiedSeptember 21, 2021(89)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • Awards
    • 11 wins

Photos43

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Known for

The Shining (1997)
The Shining
6.1
TV Mini Series
  • Richard Hallorann
Melvin Van Peebles in Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song (1971)
Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song
5.5
  • Sweetback
  • 1971
Mabel King, Avon Long, and Esther Rolle in Don't Play Us Cheap (1972)
Don't Play Us Cheap
5.6
  • Writer
  • 1972
Lorraine Gary and Bruce in Jaws: The Revenge (1987)
Jaws: The Revenge
3.0
  • Mr. Witherspoon
  • 1987

Credits

Edit
IMDbPro

Actor

  • Pile On!
    • Hobo
    • Post-production
    • Short
  • Armed (2018)
    Armed
    3.5
    • Grandpa V
    • 2018
  • Methane Momma (2017)
    Methane Momma
    Short
    • Mel
    • 2017
  • David Alan Grier, Craig Robinson, Kerry Washington, and Tyler James Williams in Peeples (2013)
    Peeples
    5.4
    • Grandpa Peeples
    • 2013
  • Melvin Van Peebles in Lilly Done the Zampoughi Every Time I Pulled Her Coattail (2012)
    Lilly Done the Zampoughi Every Time I Pulled Her Coattail
    Short
    • Narrator
    • 2012
  • We the Party (2012)
    We the Party
    4.2
    • Big D
    • 2012
  • Redemption Road (2010)
    Redemption Road
    5.6
    • Elmo
    • 2010
  • Kandiss Edmundson and Tony Naumovski in Us: A Love Story (2009)
    Us: A Love Story
    6.9
    Short
    • Narrator (voice)
    • 2009
  • Susan Lucci, Debbi Morgan, Rebecca Budig, Cameron Mathison, and Darnell Williams in All My Children (1970)
    All My Children
    6.8
    TV Series
    • Melvin Woods
    • 2008
  • Zoe Saldana, Melvin Van Peebles, and Jeffrey Wright in Blackout (2007)
    Blackout
    5.9
    • George
    • 2007
  • Wesley Snipes, Cybill Shepherd, and Mario Van Peebles in Hard Luck (2006)
    Hard Luck
    5.1
    Video
    • Hospital Prophet
    • 2006
  • Golden Brooks, Jill Marie Jones, Tracee Ellis Ross, and Persia White in Girlfriends (2000)
    Girlfriends
    7.4
    TV Series
    • Kenneth Daly
    • 2005
  • Baltimore (2003)
    Baltimore
    5.5
    Short
    • 2003
  • Adam Goldberg in The Hebrew Hammer (2003)
    The Hebrew Hammer
    6.1
    • Sweetback
    • 2003
  • Antilles sur Seine (2000)
    Antilles sur Seine
    3.8
    • L'Américain à la soirée
    • 2000
  • Time of Her Time (2000)
    Time of Her Time
    7.0
    • Thompson
    • 2000

Writer

  • Melvin Van Peebles in Lilly Done the Zampoughi Every Time I Pulled Her Coattail (2012)
    Lilly Done the Zampoughi Every Time I Pulled Her Coattail
    Short
    • Writer
    • 2012
  • Confessionsofa Ex-Doofus-ItchyFooted Mutha (2008)
    Confessionsofa Ex-Doofus-ItchyFooted Mutha
    6.8
    • screenplay
    • 2008
  • Classified X (2007)
    Classified X
    7.4
    TV Movie
    • Writer
    • 2007
  • Mario Van Peebles in Baadasssss! (2003)
    Baadasssss!
    7.3
    • book "Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song: A Guerilla Filmmaking Manifesto"
    • 2003
  • Bellyful (2000)
    Bellyful
    3.2
    • Writer
    • 2000
  • Panther (1995)
    Panther
    6.4
    • novel "Panther"
    • screenplay
    • 1995
  • Vrooom Vroom Vrooom (1995)
    Vrooom Vroom Vrooom
    3.7
    Short
    • written by
    • 1995
  • CBS Schoolbreak Special (1984)
    CBS Schoolbreak Special
    6.8
    TV Series
    • writer
    • 1987
  • The Sophisticated Gents (1981)
    The Sophisticated Gents
    8.1
    TV Mini Series
    • teleplay
    • 1981
  • Greased Lightning (1977)
    Greased Lightning
    6.4
    • written by
    • 1977
  • Just an Old Sweet Song (1976)
    Just an Old Sweet Song
    7.7
    TV Movie
    • written by
    • 1976
  • Mabel King, Avon Long, and Esther Rolle in Don't Play Us Cheap (1972)
    Don't Play Us Cheap
    5.6
    • writer
    • 1972
  • Melvin Van Peebles in Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song (1971)
    Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song
    5.5
    • written by
    • 1971
  • Slogan (1969)
    Slogan
    5.8
    • screenplay
    • 1969
  • The Story of a Three Day Pass (1967)
    The Story of a Three Day Pass
    7.2
    • writer
    • 1967

Director

  • Melvin Van Peebles in Lilly Done the Zampoughi Every Time I Pulled Her Coattail (2012)
    Lilly Done the Zampoughi Every Time I Pulled Her Coattail
    Short
    • Director
    • 2012
  • Confessionsofa Ex-Doofus-ItchyFooted Mutha (2008)
    Confessionsofa Ex-Doofus-ItchyFooted Mutha
    6.8
    • Director
    • 2008
  • The Real Deal (2003)
    The Real Deal
    6.3
    Video
    • Director
    • 2003
  • Bellyful (2000)
    Bellyful
    3.2
    • Director
    • 2000
  • The Outer Limits (1995)
    The Outer Limits
    7.7
    TV Series
    • Director
    • 1997
  • Mira Sorvino in Tales of Erotica (1996)
    Tales of Erotica
    4.5
    • Director (segment Vroom Vroom Vroooom)
    • 1996
  • Josh Brolin and Mario Van Peebles in Gang in Blue (1996)
    Gang in Blue
    5.6
    TV Movie
    • Director
    • 1996
  • Vrooom Vroom Vrooom (1995)
    Vrooom Vroom Vrooom
    3.7
    Short
    • Director
    • 1995
  • Identity Crisis (1989)
    Identity Crisis
    1.9
    • Director
    • 1989
  • Whodini, Jalil Hutchins, Grandmaster Dee, and John 'Ecstasy' Fletcher in Whodini: Funky Beat (1986)
    Whodini: Funky Beat
    5.2
    Music Video
    • Director
    • 1986
  • Mabel King, Avon Long, and Esther Rolle in Don't Play Us Cheap (1972)
    Don't Play Us Cheap
    5.6
    • Director
    • 1972
  • Melvin Van Peebles in Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song (1971)
    Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song
    5.5
    • Director
    • 1971
  • Watermelon Man (1970)
    Watermelon Man
    6.7
    • Director
    • 1970
  • The Bill Cosby Show (1969)
    The Bill Cosby Show
    6.1
    TV Series
    • Director
    • 1970
  • The Story of a Three Day Pass (1967)
    The Story of a Three Day Pass
    7.2
    • Director
    • 1967

Videos11

Remembering Melvin Van Peebles
Clip 1:17
Remembering Melvin Van Peebles
Blaxploitation Movies & Black Power in the 1970s
Clip 4:51
Blaxploitation Movies & Black Power in the 1970s
Version 1
Trailer 2:19
Version 1
Freakonomics
Trailer 2:32
Freakonomics
Sweet Sweetbacks Baadasssss Song
Trailer 1:30
Sweet Sweetbacks Baadasssss Song
Redemption Road
Trailer 2:18
Redemption Road
The Black List
Trailer 1:05
The Black List
Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song
Trailer 1:01
Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song
Calm at Sunset
Trailer 1:52
Calm at Sunset
Directors On Directing
Trailer 1:56
Directors On Directing
'SuperFly' Returns With New Style, Classic Swagger
Video 4:08
'SuperFly' Returns With New Style, Classic Swagger

Personal details

Edit
  • Official site
    • Facebook
  • Born
    • August 21, 1932
    • Chicago, Illinois, USA
  • Died
    • September 21, 2021
    • Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA(undisclosed)
  • Spouse
    • Maria MarxMay 31, 1956 - ? (divorced, 4 children)
  • Children
      Megan Van Peebles
  • Parents
      Edwin Griffin
  • Relatives
      Maya Van Peebles(Grandchild)
  • Other works
    Album: "The Melvin Van Peebles Collection".
  • Publicity listings
    • 2 Biographical Movies
    • 1 Portrayal
    • 6 Interviews
    • 3 Articles

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    Is portrayed by his son Mario Van Peebles in Baadasssss! (2003)
  • Quotes
    [about his somewhat eccentric taste in antiques] Some people get a sense of being alive by shopping and spending money. I get that feeling by giving unwanted things a new life.
  • Salary
    • Watermelon Man
      (1970)
      $70,000

FAQ13

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