A filmmaker, playwright and novelist, Melvin Van Peebles was an influence on generations of artists with audacious, rebellious movies such as 'Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song' and 'Watermelon Man'
Melvin Van Peebles, the Black filmmaker, novelist and playwright, whose audacious, rebellious work had an influence on generations of artists, has died at age 89.
Speaking to The Times in 1968, Van Peebles displayed his showman’s flair and disarmingly blunt demeanor when he said, “The point isn’t that I’m Black or white, but that I’m a genius.” He added, “I don’t have to prove myself to other people. If they can’t accept me as a human being, that’s their problem, not mine.
In 2003, Van Peebles’ son Mario Van Peebles played his father in “Baadasssss!” a feature adaption of Melvin Van Peebles’ book on the making of his landmark film.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Melvin Van Peebles, Pioneering Black Filmmaker, Dead At 89The groundbreaking director ushered in the “Blaxploitation” wave of the 1970s and influenced many filmmakers.
Read more »
Melvin Van Peebles, influential director, actor and writer, dies at 89Melvin Van Peebles, the influential filmmaker behind 'Sweet Sweetback's Baadassss Song,' and father of director and actor Mario Van Peebles, has died at age 89, his son says.
Read more »
Melvin Van Peebles, Godfather of Black Cinema, Dies at 89Melvin Van Peebles has died at 89. Considered by many to be the godfather of modern Black cinema, Van Peebles was an influential link to a younger generation of filmmakers that includes Spike Lee and John Singleton
Read more »
Melvin Van Peebles, Influential Director, Actor and Writer, Dies at 89Melvin Van Peebles, the influential filmmaker behind “Sweet Sweetback’s Baadassss Song,” and father of director and actor Mario Van Peebles, has died. He was 89. “Dad knew that Bl…
Read more »
Pioneer filmmaker of the Blaxploitation genre Melvin Van Peebles dies aged 89Melvin Van Peebles, the man behind the 197s blaxpoitation film Sweet Sweetback's Baadassss Song, has died at the age of 89
Read more »