Melvin Van Peebles
American filmmaker (1932-2021) · United States · On the map · Directors · Died at 89
Melvin Van Peebles 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.
Melvin Van Peebles is read about 482 times a day, in 16 languages.
A typical day, 30 days to 10 November 2026
The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 112 days, one point a day.
Something wrong?A life in dates
ArmedFilm, Grandpa V.2009
American SwingFilm2008Sex: The RevolutionSeries2006
Hard LuckFilm, Hospital Prophet2003
The Hebrew HammerFilm, Sweetback2001Commander of the Legion of HonourAward1998
Classified XFilm, Writer1997
The ShiningSeries, Richard Hallorann1996
Calm at SunsetFilm, Mr. Bucket1995
The Outer LimitsSeries, Director1994
Erotic TalesSeries, Director
Terminal VelocityFilm, 1994Noble1992
BoomerangFilm, Editor1990
Dream OnSeries, Norman Green1988
Sonny SpoonSeries
Taking Care of TerrificFilm, 1988Hawk1986
AmericaFilm, Man Interviewed1984
CBS Schoolbreak SpecialSeries, Writer1976Black Filmmakers Hall of FameAward
Just an Old Sweet SongFilm, 1976Writer1970
Watermelon ManFilm, Director1968
The Story of a Three-Day PassFilm, Director, Writer1964
Pour le plaisirSeries1951
Hallmark Hall of FameSeries, Bucket1932Born21 August 1932People around Melvin
Chris Rock Melvin produced Panther (1996)
J. T. Walsh Melvin directed Gang in Blue (1996)
David Alan Grier Also in Tyler Perry Presents Peeples (2015)
Minnie Gentry Also in Just an Old Sweet Song (1976)
Charles Lane Directed True Identity (1991)
Cynda Williams Melvin directed Gang in Blue (1996)
Pierre Doris Melvin directed The Story of a Three-Day Pass (1967)
Stephen King Produced The Shining
Robert Altman Directed O.C. and Stiggs (1987)
Kerry Washington Also in Tyler Perry Presents Peeples and Peeples
Tyler Perry Produced Tyler Perry Presents Peeples (2015)
Stephen Lang Melvin directed Gang in Blue (1996)
Estelle Parsons Melvin directed Watermelon Man (1970)
Bobby Brown Melvin produced Panther (1996)
Joe Don Baker Melvin produced Panther (1996)
S. Epatha Merkerson Also in Tyler Perry Presents Peeples and Peeples
Tyler James Williams Also in Tyler Perry Presents Peeples and Peeples
Mae Clarke Melvin directed Watermelon Man (1970)
Kadeem Hardison Melvin produced Panther (1996)
Deran Sarafian Directed Terminal Velocity (1995)
Godfrey Cambridge Melvin directed Watermelon Man (1970)
Tony Randel Directed Fist of the North Star (1996)
Tyrin Turner Melvin produced Panther (1996)
Warrington Hudlin Also in Boomerang and Posse
Melvin Van Peebles
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Correct this familyKnown for
View all 40 titles
Last Action Hero 1993
Panther 1995
Watermelon Man 1970
Boomerang 1992
Peeples 2013
Filmography 40
115 credits on file
Television 15
Media & music
Photos 5
Van Peebles c. 1970
Van Peebles with some of his home cooking, what he called "hobo stew"
Van Peebles in front of his artwork, A Ghetto Mother's Prayer, in 2017
Peebles' 1971 film Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song received acclaim from black rights groups for its political resonance with the black struggle and grossed $10 million.Awards
About this person
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.
