showbiz gossip straight to your inbox with the Daily Star's FREE newsletterActor and filmmaker Melvin Van Peebles died at home with his family aged 89 after a long career in the filmmaking industry.
Melvin was best known for his films in the '70s Watermelon Man and Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song, which told the story of a Black man trying to escape white police officers.The star had multiple abilities under his belt and was also heavily involved in writing, filmmaking and composing, while also working as an actor.
His son, Mario Van Peebles, is also an actor, who shared a touching tribute to his dad in the official statement. He said: "Dad knew that Black images matter.
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