Biography
Mr. Van Peebles has worked in every medium of the entertainment industry, from music (a three-time Grammy nominee) to television (an Emmy-award winner) to Broadway as a writer and director (11 Tony nominations), and after 30 years his blockbuster movie, SWEET SWEETBACK’S BAAADASSSSS SONG, remains on Variety’s list of all-time top grossing films. The film was recently released on DVD.
Mr. Van Peebles’ works are taught at such distinguished schools as Yale, Harvard and Columbia. Scott Gentry’s book, “The Film 100,” recognized Mr. Van Peebles as one of the most influential people in the history of cinema for his commercialization of both independent and black films.
Mr. Van Peebles began his career as a 10-year old selling second-hand clothes to winos. Since then, he has been involved with, among other things, the Boy Scouts, Astronomy, Youth for Christ, the Strategic Air Command, the Merchant Marine, the Artillery, the Post Office, Cable Cars, Het Nederlands Comedie, the ACLU, the Cinematique Francaise, the Harkness Ballet, Boston Marathons, Pinochle, the Block, Blues, Dues, the Senegalese Police and the Mexican immigration authorities. Recently, Mr. Van Peebles was awarded the prestigious French Legion of Honor.
His book, The Making of Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song, upon which the movie is based and which serves as an excerpt from one of the volumes of his upcoming autobiography, is in its fourth U.S. printing. It has also been published in the U.K. and translated into Japanese. Additionally, Mr. Van Peebles finished personally translating the book into French, which will be available in December 2003.
Sony Pictures Classics
Actor
Movies | |
---|---|
2018 |
Armed |
2013 |
Peeples |
2012 |
We the Party |
2010 |
Black, White and Blues |
2007 |
Blackout |
2006 |
Hard Luck |
2003 |
The Hebrew Hammer |
2000 |
Antilles sur Seine |
Time of Her Time |
|
1999 |
Love Kills |
Smut |
|
1997 |
Riot (TV movie) |
The Shining (TV movie) |
|
1996 |
Calm at Sunset (TV movie) |
Gang in Blue (TV movie) |
|
1995 |
Fist of the North Star |
Panther |
|
1994 |
Terminal Velocity |
1993 |
Last Action Hero |
Posse |
|
1992 |
Boomerang |
1991 |
True Identity |
1989 |
Identity Crisis |
1987 |
Jaws: The Revenge |
Taking Care of Terrific (TV movie) |
|
1986 |
America |
1985 |
O.C. and Stiggs |
1981 |
The Sophisticated Gents (TV movie) |
1971 |
Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song |
1970 |
Watermelon Man |
Series | |
---|---|
1988 |
Sonny Spoon |
Documentaries | |
---|---|
2022 |
Naissance d’un héros noir au cinéma : Sweet Sweetback (TV movie) - a.f. |
2021 |
Oscar Micheaux: The Superhero of Black Filmmaking |
2014 |
The Tanning of America (series) |
2008 |
American Swing |
Sex: The Revolution (series) |
|
2006 |
American Stag |
2005 |
Breaking the Rules |
How to Eat Your Watermelon in White Company (and Enjoy It) |
|
2002 |
Baadasssss Cinema (TV movie) |
Jim Brown All American (TV movie) |
|
2000 |
Acapulco Black Film Festival (TV movie) |
1998 |
Classified X (TV movie) |
1992 |
Farewell, Babylon! |
Short | |
---|---|
2003 |
Baltimore |
Director
Movies | |
---|---|
2008 |
Confessionsofa Ex-Doofus-ItchyFooted Mutha |
2000 |
Le Conte du ventre plein |
1996 |
Gang in Blue (TV movie) |
Tales of Erotica |
|
1989 |
Identity Crisis |
1973 |
Don't Play Us Cheap |
1971 |
Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song |
1970 |
Watermelon Man |
1968 |
The Story of a Three-Day Pass |
Series | |
---|---|
1997 |
The Outer Limits |
Bodies of Evidence (S03E16) |
Short | |
---|---|
1995 |
Erotic Tales: Vrooom Vroom Vrooom |
1963 |
500 Francs |
1957 |
Sunlight |
Three Pickup Men for Herrick |
Screenwriter
Movies | |
---|---|
2008 |
Confessionsofa Ex-Doofus-ItchyFooted Mutha |
2000 |
Le Conte du ventre plein |
1995 |
Panther |
1987 |
Day They Came to Arrest the Book, The (TV movie) |
1981 |
The Sophisticated Gents (TV movie) |
1977 |
Greased Lightning |
1976 |
Just an Old Sweet Song (TV movie) |
1973 |
Don't Play Us Cheap |
1971 |
Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song |
1969 |
Slogan |
1968 |
The Story of a Three-Day Pass |
Documentaries | |
---|---|
1998 |
Classified X (TV movie) |
Short | |
---|---|
1995 |
Erotic Tales: Vrooom Vroom Vrooom |
1963 |
500 Francs |
1957 |
Sunlight |
Three Pickup Men for Herrick |
Producer
Movies | |
---|---|
2008 |
Confessionsofa Ex-Doofus-ItchyFooted Mutha |
1996 |
Gang in Blue (TV movie) |
1995 |
Panther |
1989 |
Identity Crisis |
1973 |
Don't Play Us Cheap |
1971 |
Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song |
Short | |
---|---|
1995 |
Erotic Tales: Vrooom Vroom Vrooom |
1957 |
Sunlight |
Composer
Movies | |
---|---|
2000 |
Le Conte du ventre plein |
1999 |
Smut |
1973 |
Don't Play Us Cheap |
1971 |
Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song |
1970 |
Watermelon Man |
1968 |
The Story of a Three-Day Pass |
Short | |
---|---|
1995 |
Erotic Tales: Vrooom Vroom Vrooom |
1963 |
500 Francs |
1957 |
Sunlight |
Three Pickup Men for Herrick |
Editor
Movies | |
---|---|
1989 |
Identity Crisis |
1973 |
Don't Play Us Cheap |
1971 |
Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song |
Short | |
---|---|
1995 |
Erotic Tales: Vrooom Vroom Vrooom |
Author
Movies | |
---|---|
2003 |
How to Get the Man's Foot Outta Your Ass - book |
1995 |
Panther - book |
Guest
Shows | |
---|---|
2009 |
Mario's Green House |
2006 |
The 2006 Black Movie Awards |
1995 |
Lauren Hutton and... |
1987 |
It's Showtime at the Apollo |
1974 |
Bicentennial Minutes |
1973 |
The 27th Annual Tony Awards |
1972 |
The 26th Annual Tony Awards |
The Midnight Special |
|
1969 |
The David Frost Show |