ABOUT MELVIN VAN PEEBLES
His big film was the cult classic, Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song. He amassed over 40 on-screen acting roles throughout his long career. As a screenwriter, he contributed to Panther, The Sophisticated Gents, and Greased Lightning.
While in Mexico, he became a portrait painter before deciding to return to America to drive cable cars.
Born in Chicago, he became known for his focused films and his first book, The Big Heart. He directed several short films and a couple of episodes of television.
His son is actor and director Mario Van Peebles .
He was in The Shining, an adaptation of the book by Stephen King .
