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RIP 'Godfather of Black Cinema': Filmmaker Melvin Van Peebles Dies at 89

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From being a writer, director, theatre impresario, actor to a musician and a painter, African American Melvin Van Peebles donned many hats and was best known... 23.09.2021, Sputnik International

2021-09-23T10:38+0000

2022-10-19T20:39+0000

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American filmmaker Melvin Van Peebles, popularly known as the "Godfather of modern Black cinema" in the 1970s, passed away at his Manhattan home on Tuesday night at the age of 89. Melvin's son, actor and director Mario Van Peebles, took to Instagram to break the news and release a statement announcing his father's death.Born in Chicago, Illinois, on 21 August 1932, Melvin left a mark on global art and culture with his writing and direction. He launched his artistic career as a writer, publishing his first book "The Big Heart" in 1957. In 1965, Melvin became the editor-in-chief of the French edition of "Mad" magazine and also published several novels, short stories, and plays.From writing, he went on to filmmaking and debuted his first feature film, "The Story of a Three-Day Pass", based on a novel by the same name. Melvin shot to fame for his 1971 film "Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song" which became one of the highest-grossing indie movies of all time and triggered a dialogue around blaxploitation.Calling him a legend, celebs and netizens are sending out their condolences on social media as they pay tribute to the veteran filmmaker by remembering his life and work that championed a new wave of modern Black cinema in the 1970s.

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RIP 'Godfather of Black Cinema': Filmmaker Melvin Van Peebles Dies at 89

10:38 GMT 23.09.2021 (Updated: 20:39 GMT 19.10.2022)

CC BY-SA 4.0 / Alex Lozupone / Melvin Van Peebles Melvin Van Peebles

Melvin Van Peebles - Sputnik International, 1920, 23.09.2021

CC BY-SA 4.0 / Alex Lozupone / Melvin Van Peebles

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From being a writer, director, theatre impresario, actor to a musician and a painter, African American Melvin Van Peebles donned many hats and was best known for his 1970s films "Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song" and "Watermelon Man".

American filmmaker Melvin Van Peebles, popularly known as the "Godfather of modern Black cinema" in the 1970s, passed away at his Manhattan home on Tuesday night at the age of 89.

Melvin's son, actor and director Mario Van Peebles, took to Instagram to break the news and release a statement announcing his father's death.

"Dad knew that Black images matter. If a picture is worth a thousand words, what was a movie worth? We want to be the success we see, thus we need to see ourselves being free. True liberation did not mean imitating the colonizer's mentality. It meant appreciating the power, beauty, and interconnectivity of all people", Mario said in the statement.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mario Van Peebles (@mariovanpeebles)

Born in Chicago, Illinois, on 21 August 1932, Melvin left a mark on global art and culture with his writing and direction.

He launched his artistic career as a writer, publishing his first book "The Big Heart" in 1957.

In 1965, Melvin became the editor-in-chief of the French edition of "Mad" magazine and also published several novels, short stories, and plays.

From writing, he went on to filmmaking and debuted his first feature film, "The Story of a Three-Day Pass", based on a novel by the same name.

Melvin shot to fame for his 1971 film "Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song" which became one of the highest-grossing indie movies of all time and triggered a dialogue around blaxploitation.

Calling him a legend, celebs and netizens are sending out their condolences on social media as they pay tribute to the veteran filmmaker by remembering his life and work that championed a new wave of modern Black cinema in the 1970s.

We’ve lost another lion, the true revolutionary, an artistic gangsta, cultural disrupter who forever changed the game Rest n Peace Melvin Van Peebles ✊🏾🙏🏾✊🏾 pic.twitter.com/OH9D6Slnbx
— David Alan Grier (@davidalangrier) September 22, 2021

RIP Melvin Van Peebles, a genius auteur who sparked a revolution in '70s Black cinema, w/out whom the films of Tarantino and Spike Lee would be irrevocably different, who introduced Earth Wind & Fire to the world, and possessed unimpeachable integrity & futuristic searing vision. pic.twitter.com/53ZlISRfOz
— Otto Von Biz Markie (@Passionweiss) September 22, 2021

Melvin Van Peebles passed away?

50 years ago, his film "Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song" was instrumental in not only creating the blueprint for marketing Black films but proving that films with Black leads & casts were commercially viable, sparking a new era of cinema.
— Dart_Adams (@Dart_Adams) September 22, 2021

"I make a film like I cook for friends. I hope they like it, but if they don't, I'm prepared to enjoy it all by myself."

Melvin Van Peebles, director of “Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song" and "Watermelon Man," has passed away at the age of 89. pic.twitter.com/vvPknv94gE
— The Academy (@TheAcademy) September 22, 2021

“You have to not let yourself believe you can’t. Do what you can do within the framework you have. And don’t look outside. Look inside.”

― the iconic artist, filmmaker, actor, playwright, novelist, composer and sage Melvin Van Peebles, who has gone home at the age of 89. pic.twitter.com/36BQKzN9G7
— Ava DuVernay (@ava) September 22, 2021

Damn. Rest In Peace Melvin Van Peebles. The blueprint and inspiration for multiple generations of filmmakers. A whole legend. https://t.co/CfHBbXqIgT
— Matthew A. Cherry (@MatthewACherry) September 22, 2021

Never forget when Melvin Van Peebles and his son, Mario Van Peebles, guest starred on an episode of Living Single. That was such a great episode. pic.twitter.com/n58kbrxanu
— 𝚋𝚛𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚕𝚢𝚗’𝚜 𝚊𝚖𝚋𝚊𝚜𝚜𝚊𝚍𝚘𝚛. (@travisfromdabk_) September 22, 2021

RIP Melvin Van Peebles. He said “I make a film like I cook for friends. I hope they like it but if they don't, I'm prepared to enjoy it all by myself!” 👑 pic.twitter.com/Hz7hxDiv4G
— Mike Fury (@TheMikeFury) September 22, 2021