Melvin Van Peebles

Q: Did Melvin Van Peebles win any awards?

Melvin Van Peebles received several accolades, including the Lifetime Achievement Award from the African-American Film Critics Association in 2016. His contributions to cinema have been recognized as groundbreaking.

Q: What was Melvin Van Peebles' first film?

His first film was 'The Story of a Three-Day Pass' released in 1968, which explored themes of race and identity. This film marked the beginning of his influential career in filmmaking.

Q: What are some of his most successful films?

'Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song' and 'Don't Play Us Cheap' are among his most successful films, both critically and financially, helping to establish the independent film movement in the 1970s.

Q: What is known about his personal life?

Melvin Van Peebles had a diverse personal life, having been married multiple times and fathering four children, including actor Mario Van Peebles. His family often supported his artistic endeavors.

Q: What was Melvin Van Peebles' estimated net worth?

Melvin Van Peebles was estimated to have a net worth of around $5 million, reflecting his successful career in film, television, and theatre.

Q: What are some milestones in Melvin Van Peebles' filmography?

Notable milestones include the release of 'Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song' in 1971, which was one of the first feature-length films directed by an African American. His other significant works include 'The Watermelon Man' and 'Bamboozled.'

Q: How did Melvin Van Peebles influence cinema?

Melvin Van Peebles influenced cinema by challenging racial stereotypes and creating a platform for African American stories. His innovative techniques and themes paved the way for future generations of filmmakers.

Known for

Last Action Hero (1993)

IMDb 6.5 / 10

1993 / Action, Adventure / 130 min

Following the death of his father, young Danny Madigan takes comfort in watching action movies featuring the indestructible Los Angeles cop Jack Slater. After...

Name

Melvin Van Peebles

Height

5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)

Born

21 August 1932, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Spouses

Melvin Van Peebles (1996–2003)

Children

4 children, including Mario Van Peebles

Parents

Melvin Van Peebles Sr., Etta Van Peebles

Estimated Net Worth

$5 million

Year	Title	Character	Rating
2024	TV Hollywood Black The epic story of the actors, writers, directors, and producers who fought for their place on the page, behind the...	Self (archive footage)	TMDB 5.0 / 10
2022	Movie Sweet Black Film: The Birth of the Black Hero in Hollywood In 1971, director Melvin Van Peebles turned the figure of the black hero in US cinema upside down with Sweet...	Self	TMDB 8.0 / 10
2021	Movie Oscar Micheaux: The Superhero of Black Filmmaking A look at the extraordinary achievements and contemporary legacy of Oscar Micheaux, a pioneer of the African-American film industry.	Self	TMDB 6.2 / 10
2018	Movie Armed A former U.S. marshal discovers that all of the survivors of his old unit are experiencing the same symptoms simultaneously...	Grandpa V.	TMDB 4.3 / 10
2013	Movie Peeples Hoping to propose to his upper-crust girlfriend, Wade Walker crashes her family's annual reunion and lands in a face-off with...	Grandpa Peeples	TMDB 5.6 / 10
2012	Movie Salty Dog Blues The film looks at men and women of color in the U.S. Merchant Marine from 1938-1975. Through chronicling the lives...	Self (Interviewee)	Not rated
2011	Movie Redemption Road In Tennessee, Bailey, a debt-straddled blues guitarist, is escorted across the state by a man named Augy so that he...	Elmo	TMDB 5.0 / 10
2011	Movie The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975 Examines the evolution of the Black Power Movement in US society from 1967 to 1975. It features footage of the...	Self (voice)	TMDB 7.6 / 10
2011	Movie Infiltrating Hollywood: The Rise and Fall of the Spook Who Sat by the Door A documentary looking at the making and legacy of The Spook Who Sat by the Door (1973).	Unknown character	Not rated
2009	Movie American Swing Chronicles the rise and fall of 1970s New York City nightclub Plato's Retreat.	Self	TMDB 5.1 / 10
2009	Movie Directors on Directing A look at the development of film making and its contribution to the social and political times form the perspective...	Self	Not rated
2009	Movie The Black List: Volume Two THE BLACK LIST: VOL. 2 profiles some of today's most fascinating African-Americans. From the childhood inspirations that shaped their ambitions,...	Self	TMDB 6.0 / 10
2008	Movie Confessions of a Ex-Doofus-ItchyFooted Mutha A semi-autobiographical story about an adventurer whose journeys take him from Harlem to the high seas and back again	Melvin Van Peebles	TMDB 6.5 / 10
2008	TV Sex: The Revolution Sex: The Revolution was a four-part 2008 American documentary miniseries that aired on VH1 and The Sundance Channel. It chronicled...	Unknown character	TMDB 7.0 / 10
2007	Movie Blackout BLACKOUT takes you inside the personal journey of what went down and what it was really like in Brooklyn, NY...	George	TMDB 5.6 / 10
2006	Movie Hard Luck Three converging story lines involving bootleggers, a serial killer and drug dealers are followed. A former drug dealer tries to...	Hospital Prophet	TMDB 5.5 / 10
2006	Movie SMUT Wide eyed Marty O Neil (Lee Homes) takes to the road on a quest to give his life meaning. When...	Elmoore	TMDB 9.0 / 10
2006	Movie Midnight Blue, Vol. 3: Celebrities Edition Featuring Robert Crumb, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tiny Tim, Russ Meyer and more this volume of the “Midnight Blue” collection focuses on...	Self (archive footage)	Not rated
2005	Movie How to Eat Your Watermelon in White Company (and Enjoy It) Melvin Van Peebles was one of the first black directors to challenge the white establishment in his films, which include...	Unknown character	TMDB 7.2 / 10
2005	Movie Unstoppable An interview/overview on the influential careers of Gordon Parks, Ossie Davis, and Melvin Van Peebles.	Self	Not rated
2003	Movie The Hebrew Hammer When a psychotic Santa tries to destroy Chanukah by hypnotizing Jewish children with bootlegged copies of the Christmas classic "It's...	Sweetback	TMDB 5.5 / 10
2003	Movie The Real Deal: What It Is This twenty-two minute interview with Melvin Van Peebles has the cult filmmaker starting things off by lighting a cigar, which...	Self	Not rated
2002	Movie BaadAsssss Cinema With archive film clips and interviews, this brief look at a frequently overlooked historical period of filmmaking acts as an...	Self	TMDB 6.0 / 10
2000	TV Girlfriends A friend group of black women face life's tests and triumphs together. From dating to divorce, and friends to family...	Kenneth Daly	TMDB 7.3 / 10
2000	Movie René Vautier, le rebelle	Self	TMDB 10.0 / 10
1999	Movie Love Kills A masseur gets mixed up in the family plots at the mansion of a recently deceased Beverly Hills millionaire.	Able	TMDB 3.5 / 10
1998	Movie Classified X A history of the racially stereotyped portrayal of African Americans in cinema, hosted by film pioneer Melvin Van Peebles.	Self	TMDB 5.4 / 10
1997	TV The Shining A new caretaker moves with his family into the mysterious Overlook Hotel for the winter.	Richard Hallorann	TMDB 6.3 / 10
1997	Movie Riot In April 1992, following the notorious Rodney King verdict, the streets of Los Angeles became a battlefield, the backdrop to...	Vernon	TMDB 5.4 / 10
1996	Movie Calm at Sunset Drama about a young man who defies his parents by dropping out of college to pursue his dream of owning...	Mr. Bucket	TMDB 6.2 / 10
1996	Movie Gang in Blue A black police officer discovers a cell of white supremacist vigilantes within his department.	Andre Speier	TMDB 5.2 / 10
1995	Movie Panther In this sprawling, fictionalized history of the Black Panthers, 1960s Oakland becomes a war zone as the Panthers battle for...	Old Jail Bird	TMDB 6.3 / 10
1995	Movie Fist of the North Star From the immensely popular FIST OF THE NORTH STAR comic book series, comes a new hero. The fate of mankind...	Asher	TMDB 4.3 / 10
1994	Movie Terminal Velocity A maverick skydiver and a former KGB agent team up to stop the Russian mafia from stealing gold.	Noble	TMDB 5.4 / 10
1993	TV Living Single Living Single is an American television sitcom that aired for five seasons on the Fox network from August 22, 1993,...	Unknown character	TMDB 8.0 / 10
1993	Movie Farewell, Babylon! Arrabal's sixth film based on his novel from 1969 with the same name as the movie.	Self	Not rated
1993	Movie Last Action Hero After his father's death, a young boy finds solace in action movies featuring an indestructible cop. Given a magic ticket...	Self	TMDB 6.5 / 10
1993	Movie Posse A group of mostly black infantrymen return from the Spanish-American War with a cache of gold. They travel to the...	Papa Joe	TMDB 5.4 / 10
1993	TV Homicide: Life on the Street An American police procedural chronicling the work of a fictional version of the Baltimore Police Department's Homicide Unit.	Bennett Jackson	TMDB 8.1 / 10
1992	Movie Boomerang Marcus is a successful advertising executive who woos and beds women almost at will. After a company merger he finds...	Editor	TMDB 5.7 / 10
1992	Movie Satchmo: The Life of Louis Armstrong Satchmo. There are few people in this country - or around the world - who will not recognize that name....	Louis Armstrong (voice)	TMDB 7.0 / 10
1991	Movie True Identity In order to escape from the mob, an African-American man must disguise himself as a white man.	Taxi Driver	TMDB 5.6 / 10
1990	TV Dream On The family life, romantic life, and career of Martin Tupper, a divorced New York City book editor. The show distinctively...	Norman Green	TMDB 7.0 / 10
1989	Movie Making 'Do the Right Thing' The Behind-the-Scenes documentary of the dramatic comedy Do the Right Thing.	Self	TMDB 6.9 / 10
1989	Movie Identity Crisis A rapper finds himself possessed by the soul of a dead fashion designer; frequently switching personalities.	The Inspector	TMDB 2.3 / 10
1988	TV Sonny Spoon Sonny Spoon is a detective program aired in the United States on the NBC television network in 1988. The series...	Unknown character	TMDB 5.5 / 10
1988	Movie Taking Care of Terrific 14-year-old Enid Crowley hates her name and everything about her boring life. All this changes when she becomes a full-time...	Hawk	TMDB 5.5 / 10
1987	Movie Jaws: The Revenge After another deadly shark attack, Ellen Brody decides she has had enough of New England's Amity Island and moves to...	Mr. Witherspoon	TMDB 4.1 / 10
1987	Movie O.C. and Stiggs O.C. and Stiggs aren't your average unhappy teenagers. They not only despise their suburban surroundings, but they also plot against...	Wino Bob	TMDB 4.5 / 10
1986	Movie America The zany crew of a New York cable TV station accidentally bounce a signal off the moon, bringing them worldwide...	Man Interviewed	TMDB 4.0 / 10
1981	TV The Sophisticated Gents The 25-year reunion of members of a black athletic-social club brings together nine of its members for the first time...	Walter 'Moon' Porter	TMDB 8.5 / 10
1973	Movie Wattstax A documentary film about the Afro-American Woodstock concert held in Los Angeles seven years after the Watts riots. Director Mel...	Self	TMDB 6.9 / 10
1971	Movie Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song After saving a Black Panther from some racist cops, a black male prostitute goes on the run from "the man"...	Sweetback	TMDB 5.2 / 10
1970	Movie Watermelon Man A racist insurance agent lives in a typical suburban neighborhood, but his bigoted world of taunting and harassing black people...	Sign Painter (uncredited)	TMDB 6.3 / 10
1957	Movie Sunlight A black man steals to afford to marry the woman he loves. After being released from prison, he returns in...	Unknown character	TMDB 10.0 / 10
1951	TV Hallmark Hall of Fame Long-running anthology program sponsored by Hallmark Cards. Beginning in 1951 and continuing into 2019, the series received 80 Emmy Awards,...	Bucket	TMDB 8.8 / 10

Year	Title	Role	Rating
2008	Movie Confessions of a Ex-Doofus-ItchyFooted Mutha A semi-autobiographical story about an adventurer whose journeys take him from Harlem to the high seas and back again	Director Directing	TMDB 6.5 / 10
2008	Movie Confessions of a Ex-Doofus-ItchyFooted Mutha A semi-autobiographical story about an adventurer whose journeys take him from Harlem to the high seas and back again	Writer Writing	TMDB 6.5 / 10
2004	Movie Baadasssss! Director Mario Van Peebles chronicles the complicated production of his father Melvin's classic 1971 film, "Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song." Playing...	Book Writing	TMDB 6.5 / 10
2003	Movie The Real Deal: What It Is This twenty-two minute interview with Melvin Van Peebles has the cult filmmaker starting things off by lighting a cigar, which...	Director Directing	Not rated
2000	Movie Bellyful Maverick director Melvin Van Peebles translates his own satirical novel to the screen with this multi-national portrait of race, class,...	Writer Writing	TMDB 8.0 / 10
2000	Movie Bellyful Maverick director Melvin Van Peebles translates his own satirical novel to the screen with this multi-national portrait of race, class,...	Original Music Composer Sound	TMDB 8.0 / 10
2000	Movie Bellyful Maverick director Melvin Van Peebles translates his own satirical novel to the screen with this multi-national portrait of race, class,...	Novel Writing	TMDB 8.0 / 10
2000	Movie Bellyful Maverick director Melvin Van Peebles translates his own satirical novel to the screen with this multi-national portrait of race, class,...	Executive Producer Production	TMDB 8.0 / 10
2000	Movie Bellyful Maverick director Melvin Van Peebles translates his own satirical novel to the screen with this multi-national portrait of race, class,...	Director Directing	TMDB 8.0 / 10
1998	Movie Classified X A history of the racially stereotyped portrayal of African Americans in cinema, hosted by film pioneer Melvin Van Peebles.	Writer Writing	TMDB 5.4 / 10
1996	Movie Gang in Blue A black police officer discovers a cell of white supremacist vigilantes within his department.	Director Directing	TMDB 5.2 / 10
1996	Movie Gang in Blue A black police officer discovers a cell of white supremacist vigilantes within his department.	Producer Production	TMDB 5.2 / 10
1996	Movie Tales of Erotica Four erotic short films, all with similar unexpected endings: 'The Dutch Master': a woman who enters a living painting; 'The...	Writer Writing	TMDB 3.9 / 10
1996	Movie Tales of Erotica Four erotic short films, all with similar unexpected endings: 'The Dutch Master': a woman who enters a living painting; 'The...	Director Directing	TMDB 3.9 / 10
1995	Movie Panther In this sprawling, fictionalized history of the Black Panthers, 1960s Oakland becomes a war zone as the Panthers battle for...	Novel Writing	TMDB 6.3 / 10
1995	Movie Panther In this sprawling, fictionalized history of the Black Panthers, 1960s Oakland becomes a war zone as the Panthers battle for...	Screenplay Writing	TMDB 6.3 / 10
1995	Movie Panther In this sprawling, fictionalized history of the Black Panthers, 1960s Oakland becomes a war zone as the Panthers battle for...	Producer Production	TMDB 6.3 / 10
1995	TV The Outer Limits Anthology series of composed of distinct story episodes, sometimes with a plot twist at the end, with occasional recurring story...	Director Directing	TMDB 7.7 / 10
1995	Movie Vrooom Vrooom Vroooom A young boy receives a mystical motorcycle that transforms into a woman when he rides it at night.	Writer Writing	TMDB 3.3 / 10
1995	Movie Vrooom Vrooom Vroooom A young boy receives a mystical motorcycle that transforms into a woman when he rides it at night.	Editor Editing	TMDB 3.3 / 10
1995	Movie Vrooom Vrooom Vroooom A young boy receives a mystical motorcycle that transforms into a woman when he rides it at night.	Director Directing	TMDB 3.3 / 10
1995	Movie Vrooom Vrooom Vroooom A young boy receives a mystical motorcycle that transforms into a woman when he rides it at night.	Original Music Composer Sound	TMDB 3.3 / 10
1995	Movie Vrooom Vrooom Vroooom A young boy receives a mystical motorcycle that transforms into a woman when he rides it at night.	Producer Production	TMDB 3.3 / 10
1989	Movie Identity Crisis A rapper finds himself possessed by the soul of a dead fashion designer; frequently switching personalities.	Director Directing	TMDB 2.3 / 10
1989	Movie Identity Crisis A rapper finds himself possessed by the soul of a dead fashion designer; frequently switching personalities.	Producer Production	TMDB 2.3 / 10
1989	Movie Identity Crisis A rapper finds himself possessed by the soul of a dead fashion designer; frequently switching personalities.	Editor Editing	TMDB 2.3 / 10
1989	Movie 976-STUD Put your fingers in the holes and let them do the walking - right into the world of 976-STUD! New...	Director Directing	TMDB 8.0 / 10
1987	Movie The Day They Came to Arrest the Book A high school is rocked by a contentious debate over whether or not "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" should be...	Writer Writing	TMDB 8.0 / 10
1984	TV CBS Schoolbreak Special CBS Schoolbreak Special is an American anthology series for teenagers that aired on CBS from April 1980 to January 1996....	Writer Writing	TMDB 5.5 / 10
1981	TV The Sophisticated Gents The 25-year reunion of members of a black athletic-social club brings together nine of its members for the first time...	Teleplay Writing	TMDB 8.5 / 10
1977	Movie Greased Lightning The true life story of Wendell Scott, the first black stock car racing driver to win an upper-tier NASCAR race.	Writer Writing	TMDB 6.4 / 10
1977	Movie Greased Lightning The true life story of Wendell Scott, the first black stock car racing driver to win an upper-tier NASCAR race.	Screenplay Writing	TMDB 6.4 / 10
1976	Movie Just an Old Sweet Song Upon learning that their grandmother is not long for this world, Nate and Priscilla Simmons pack up their kids and...	Writer Writing	TMDB 7.0 / 10
1973	Movie Don't Play Us Cheap As an African American family and friends gather in an apartment for a house party, two mischief-making devil-bats take human...	Director Directing	TMDB 6.0 / 10
1973	Movie Don't Play Us Cheap As an African American family and friends gather in an apartment for a house party, two mischief-making devil-bats take human...	Songs Sound	TMDB 6.0 / 10
1973	Movie Don't Play Us Cheap As an African American family and friends gather in an apartment for a house party, two mischief-making devil-bats take human...	Original Music Composer Sound	TMDB 6.0 / 10
1973	Movie Don't Play Us Cheap As an African American family and friends gather in an apartment for a house party, two mischief-making devil-bats take human...	Editor Editing	TMDB 6.0 / 10
1973	Movie Don't Play Us Cheap As an African American family and friends gather in an apartment for a house party, two mischief-making devil-bats take human...	Theatre Play Writing	TMDB 6.0 / 10
1973	Movie Don't Play Us Cheap As an African American family and friends gather in an apartment for a house party, two mischief-making devil-bats take human...	Screenplay Writing	TMDB 6.0 / 10
1971	Movie Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song After saving a Black Panther from some racist cops, a black male prostitute goes on the run from "the man"...	Screenplay Writing	TMDB 5.2 / 10
1971	Movie Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song After saving a Black Panther from some racist cops, a black male prostitute goes on the run from "the man"...	Editor Editing	TMDB 5.2 / 10
1971	Movie Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song After saving a Black Panther from some racist cops, a black male prostitute goes on the run from "the man"...	Director Directing	TMDB 5.2 / 10
1971	Movie Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song After saving a Black Panther from some racist cops, a black male prostitute goes on the run from "the man"...	Producer Production	TMDB 5.2 / 10
1971	Movie Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song After saving a Black Panther from some racist cops, a black male prostitute goes on the run from "the man"...	Original Music Composer Sound	TMDB 5.2 / 10
1970	Movie Watermelon Man A racist insurance agent lives in a typical suburban neighborhood, but his bigoted world of taunting and harassing black people...	Original Music Composer Sound	TMDB 6.3 / 10
1970	Movie Watermelon Man A racist insurance agent lives in a typical suburban neighborhood, but his bigoted world of taunting and harassing black people...	Director Directing	TMDB 6.3 / 10
1969	Movie Slogan Commercial director Serge Faberge is having an affair with Evelyne, the 18 year old fiancee of friend Hugh. His own...	Writer Writing	TMDB 5.7 / 10
1968	Movie The Story of a Three-Day Pass Turner, a black American soldier, is given three days leave in Paris. Not knowing what to do with himself, he...	Music Sound	TMDB 6.4 / 10
1968	Movie The Story of a Three-Day Pass Turner, a black American soldier, is given three days leave in Paris. Not knowing what to do with himself, he...	Writer Writing	TMDB 6.4 / 10
1968	Movie The Story of a Three-Day Pass Turner, a black American soldier, is given three days leave in Paris. Not knowing what to do with himself, he...	Director Directing	TMDB 6.4 / 10
1961	Movie 500 Francs A boy sees a 500-franc note under a sewer grate and tries to retrieve it.	Original Music Composer Sound	TMDB 7.0 / 10
1961	Movie 500 Francs A boy sees a 500-franc note under a sewer grate and tries to retrieve it.	Writer Writing	TMDB 7.0 / 10
1961	Movie 500 Francs A boy sees a 500-franc note under a sewer grate and tries to retrieve it.	Director Directing	TMDB 7.0 / 10
1957	Movie Sunlight A black man steals to afford to marry the woman he loves. After being released from prison, he returns in...	Director Directing	TMDB 10.0 / 10
1957	Movie Three Pick-Up Men for Herrick The second short film Melvin Van Peebles made in San Francisco before decamping for Europe is a striking portrait of...	Director Directing	TMDB 7.0 / 10
1957	Movie Three Pick-Up Men for Herrick The second short film Melvin Van Peebles made in San Francisco before decamping for Europe is a striking portrait of...	Writer Writing	TMDB 7.0 / 10

Sweet Black Film: The Birth of the Black Hero in Hollywood

2022 / TMDB 8.0

Oscar Micheaux: The Superhero of Black Filmmaking

2021 / TMDB 6.2

Armed

2018 / TMDB 4.3

Peeples

2013 / TMDB 5.6

Salty Dog Blues

2012

Redemption Road

2011 / TMDB 5.0

Got a question about Melvin Van Peebles?

What are some career highlights of Melvin Van Peebles?

Melvin Van Peebles is known for his groundbreaking film 'Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song,' which is credited with launching the Blaxploitation genre. His work in theatre and literature also contributed to his reputation as a multifaceted artist.

Did Melvin Van Peebles win any awards?

What was Melvin Van Peebles' first film?

What are some of his most successful films?

What is known about his personal life?

What was Melvin Van Peebles' estimated net worth?

What are some milestones in Melvin Van Peebles' filmography?

How did Melvin Van Peebles influence cinema?

Melvin Van Peebles

Known for

Last Action Hero (1993)

Personal details

Credits

Latest Release

Sweet Black Film: The Birth of the Black Hero in Hollywood

Oscar Micheaux: The Superhero of Black Filmmaking

Armed

Peeples

Salty Dog Blues

Redemption Road

Got a question about Melvin Van Peebles?