Melvin Van Peebles: 10 Essential Works to Know the Influential Filmmaker-Actor
variety.comRobert Daniels Less than a year ago, the legendary Melvin Van Peebles died. He left behind a legacy as a fiercely independent multi-hyphenate creator who altered the course of Black filmmaking and cinema at-large.During his influential life, Van Peebles tackled and excelled in every possible storytelling medium.
He recorded seven studio albums and four soundtracks, wrote 13 books and one graphic novel, fashioned nine plays, directed eight feature films, four shorts and a music video.
He almost single-handedly paved the way for Blaxploitation and carved a space for African American directors on Broadway.On what would have been his 90th birthday, Variety ranks 10 films Van Peebles either directed, wrote or starred in.Born in Chicago, Van Peebles earned a B.A.
in Literature from Ohio Wesleyan University and served in the Air Force for three and a half years before moving to San Francisco to become a cable car operator.
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