Melvin Van Peebles facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Melvin Van Peebles
Van Peebles in 2015
Born	Melvin Peebles (1932-08-21)August 21, 1932 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Died	September 21, 2021(2021-09-21) (aged 89) New York City, New York, U.S.
Other names	Brer Soul, Block
Occupation	Actor director screenwriter playwright producer composer
Years active	1955–2021
Spouse(s)	Maria Marx
Children	4, including Mario Van Peebles

Melvin Van Peebles (born Melvin Peebles; August 21, 1932 – September 21, 2021) was an American actor, filmmaker, writer, and composer. He was known for making movies, writing books, and creating music. He kept working as a filmmaker into the 2000s.

His first major film, The Story of a Three-Day Pass (1967), was based on his own French book. He filmed it in France because it was hard for Black American directors to find work in the U.S. at that time. This film won an award at the San Francisco International Film Festival. This success got Hollywood studios interested in him. It led to his first American film, Watermelon Man, in 1970.

After this, he decided to make his own films independently. In 1971, he released his most famous work, Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song. This movie is seen as one of the first and most important films in the blaxploitation genre. He also made musicals like Don't Play Us Cheap. Melvin Van Peebles continued to make films, write novels, and plays in both English and French for many years. His son, Mario Van Peebles, who is also a filmmaker and actor, appeared in some of his works. Mario also played his father in the 2003 movie Baadasssss!.

Melvin Van Peebles' Early Life and Education

Melvin Peebles was born in Chicago. His parents were Edwin Griffin and Marion Peebles. In 1953, Melvin finished college at Ohio Wesleyan University with a degree in literature. Soon after, he joined the Air Force and served for three and a half years. He added "Van" to his name later when he lived in the Netherlands in his late 20s.

Melvin Van Peebles' Career Journey

Starting Out in Film and Writing

Melvin Van Peebles first worked as a cable car operator in San Francisco. He later wrote about these experiences. His first book, The Big Heart, came from a small article and photos by Ruth Bernhard.

A passenger once suggested he should become a filmmaker. Van Peebles then made his first short film, Pickup Men for Herrick, in 1957. He made two more short films around the same time.

After making these short films, he went to Hollywood to find directing work. But he couldn't find anyone to hire him. So, Van Peebles decided to move his family to the Netherlands to study astronomy. On his way to Europe, in New York City, he met Amos Vogel. Vogel ran an art-house cinema called Cinema 16. He agreed to show two of Van Peebles's short films.

Later, Van Peebles was invited to Paris, France, because of his short films. In France, he made another short film, Les Cinq Cent Balles (500 Francs) (1961). He then became a writer, doing investigative reporting for France Observateur. He also wrote a monthly column for the humor magazine Hara-kiri.

Success in the 1960s and 1970s

In the mid-1960s, Van Peebles wrote plays in French. He used a style called sprechgesang, where lyrics are spoken over music. This style also appeared on his first album, Brer Soul.

He wrote many books and plays in France. His first full-length film, The Story of a Three-Day Pass (1968), was based on his own novel. This film got the attention of Hollywood producers. They thought he was a French "auteur" (a director with a unique style) after it won an award at the San Francisco International Film Festival.

Van Peebles's first Hollywood film was the 1970 comedy Watermelon Man. This movie stars Godfrey Cambridge. It tells the story of a white man who wakes up one day as a Black man. He then faces many challenges from his friends, family, and job.

After Watermelon Man, Van Peebles wanted full control over his next film. This led to his important film, Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song (1971). He funded it himself, partly with a loan from Bill Cosby. Van Peebles not only directed and wrote the film, but he also edited it, wrote the music, and managed its advertising. The film earned $15 million and was praised by groups like the Black Panther Party for its message about the Black struggle.

Van Peebles also wrote the music and lyrics for the stage musical Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death. It was a big hit on Broadway in 1971–72 and was nominated for seven Tony Awards. He also made the musical film Don't Play Us Cheap. When he couldn't find a distributor for the film, he turned it into a successful stage play first.

Later Career and Artistic Works

In the 1980s, Melvin Van Peebles worked on two more Broadway musicals. He also became an options trader on the American Stock Exchange. But he still continued to work in theater and film. In 1995, he acted in the movie Fist of the North Star.

In 2005, two documentaries were made about him: How to Eat Your Watermelon in White Company (and Enjoy It) and Unstoppable: Conversation with Melvin Van Peebles, Gordon Parks, and Ossie Davis. In 2008, Van Peebles finished his film Confessionsofa Ex-Doofus-ItchyFooted Mutha. He also appeared on the TV show All My Children as the father of a character played by his son, Mario.

In 2009, he started working on turning Sweet Sweetback into a musical. He also wrote and performed in a stage musical called Unmitigated Truth: Life, a Lavatory, Loves, and Ladies.

In 2011, Van Peebles began performing with members of the band Burnt Sugar. They called themselves Melvin Van Peebles wid Laxative. In 2012, he released a new album, Nahh... Nahh Mofo, on vinyl.

Van Peebles in front of his artwork, A Ghetto Mother's Prayer, in 2017

In 2013, Van Peebles showed his artwork to the public for the first time. One of his pieces was called "Ex-Voto Monochrome (A Ghetto Mother's Prayer)". In 2017, he was featured in the short film Methane Momma, where he narrated his poetic work.

Melvin Van Peebles' Family Life

Melvin Van Peebles married Maria Marx, a German woman. They lived in Mexico for a while in the late 1950s. Their son, Mario Van Peebles, was born there. The family later moved back to the United States.

Melvin Van Peebles passed away on September 21, 2021, at his home in Manhattan, New York. He was 89 years old. He is survived by his sons, Mario and Max, and his daughter Marguerite.

Awards and Honors for Melvin Van Peebles

Melvin Van Peebles received many awards for his work:

• 1967: Critics' Choice Award for The Story of a Three-Day Pass at the San Francisco Film Festival.
• 1972: Most Promising Book for Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death at the Drama Desk Awards.
• 1972: Two nominations for Best Score from an Original Cast Album for Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death at the 15th Annual Grammy Awards.
• 1972: Two Tony Award nominations for Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death.
• 1973: Tony Award nomination for Don't Play Us Cheap.
• 1976: Inducted into the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame.
• 1999: Lifetime Achievement Award at the Chicago Underground Film Festival.
• 2001: Named Commander of the Legion of Honour (a high French honor).
• 2008: Tribute Award from the Independent Filmmaker Project (IFP) and the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA).
• 2021: The "Melvin Van Peebles Trailblazer Award" was named in his honor by the Critics Choice Association.
• 2022: Honored at the Attorney Benjamin Crump Equal Justice Now Awards.

Melvin Van Peebles' Filmography

Peebles' 1971 film Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song was praised by Black rights groups and earned a lot of money.

Music Videos Directed by Melvin Van Peebles

• "Lilly Done the Zampoughi Every Time I Pulled Her Coattail"

Other Writing Credits by Melvin Van Peebles

• Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song: The Musical (2008) writer, singer
• Unmitigated Truth: Life, a Lavatory, Loves, and Ladies (2009) writer, performer

Melvin Van Peebles as Himself in Documentaries

• Unstoppable (2005)
• How to Eat Your Watermelon in White Company (2005)

Melvin Van Peebles' Acting Roles (Film and TV)

• O.C. and Stiggs (1987) as Bob 'Wino Bob'
• Jaws: The Revenge (1987) as Mr. Witherspoon
• Taking Care of Terrific (1987) (television film) as 'Hawk'
• Sonny Spoon (1988) (television series) as Mel Spoon
• Boomerang (1992) as Editor
• Posse (1993) as Joe 'Papa Joe'
• Terminal Velocity (1994) as Noble
• Fist of the North Star (1995) as Asher
• Living Single (1996) as Warner Devant
• The Shining (1997) (miniseries) as Dick Hallorann
• The Hebrew Hammer (2003) as Sweetback
• BlacKout (2007) as George
• Redemption Road (2010) as Elmo
• We the Party (2012) as 'Big D'
• Peeples (2013) as Grandpa Peebles
• Armed (2018) as Grandpa V

Plays Written by Melvin Van Peebles

• The Hostage (Dutch National Theatre Tour, actor, writer, 1964)
• Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death (writer, 1971)
• Don't Play Us Cheap (writer, 1972)
• Out There by Your Lonesome (one-man play, 1973)
• Reggae (co-librettist, 1980)
• Waltz of the Stork (actor, writer, 1982)
• Champeen (musical, writer, 1983)
• Waltz of the Stork Boogie (writer, director, 1984)
• Unmitigated Truth: Life, a Lavatory, Loves, and Ladies (musical, writer, 2009)

Melvin Van Peebles' Discography (Music Albums)

Studio Albums

• Brer Soul (1968)
• Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death (1970)
• As Serious as a Heart-Attack (1971)
• What the....You Mean I Can't Sing?! (1974)
• Ghetto Gothic (1995)
• Nahh... Nahh Mofo (2012)
• The Last Transmission (2014, with The Heliocentrics)

Compilation Albums

• X-Rated By an All-White Jury (1997) – includes Brer Soul, Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death and As Serious as a Heart-Attack

Soundtrack Albums

• Watermelon Man (1970)
• Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song (1971)
• Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death (1972)
• Don't Play Us Cheap (1972)

See also

In Spanish: Melvin Van Peebles para niños

• Works by Melvin Van Peebles