{"id":156396,"date":"2021-09-22T18:44:38","date_gmt":"2021-09-22T22:44:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/?p=156396"},"modified":"2021-09-22T19:59:13","modified_gmt":"2021-09-22T23:59:13","slug":"melvin-van-peebles-has-passed-away","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/melvin-van-peebles-has-passed-away\/","title":{"rendered":"Melvin Van Peebles has Passed Away"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The legendary Melvin Van Peebles has passed away. The influential, multi-hyphenate playwright and father of actor and director Mario Van Peebles\u00a0(<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=1KixZt8b_MY\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">New Jack City<\/a>)  leaves behind a strong legacy. His film <em>Sweet Sweetback&#8217;s Baadasssss Song<\/em> was an early blaxploitation classic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-expand=\"600\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns%3D'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg' viewBox%3D'0 0 1 1'%2F%3E\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/shutterstock_138425339-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Melvin Van Peebles has Passed Away \" class=\"lazyload wp-image-156400\" \/><figcaption>Credit: s_bukley \/ Shutterstock.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Often referred to as &#8220;The Godfather of Black Cinema&#8221;,  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hollywoodreporter.com\/movies\/movie-news\/melvin-van-peebles-godfather-of-black-cinema-dies-at-89-1235018862\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Hollywood Reporter<\/a>, and many celebrities honored his bad ass legacy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Criterion Collection: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-twitter wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet lazyload\" data-expand=\"600\" data-script=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\"  data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">We are saddened to announce the passing of a giant of American cinema, Melvin Van Peebles, who died last night, at home with family, at the age of 89. In an unparalleled career, Van Peebles made an indelible mark on the international cultural landscape. He will be deeply missed. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/HpciXXVoYo\">pic.twitter.com\/HpciXXVoYo<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Criterion Collection (@Criterion) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Criterion\/status\/1440784276866301959?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">September 22, 2021<\/a><\/blockquote>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Ava DuVernay: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-twitter wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/ava\/status\/1440790364806258691?s=20\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>iHeartRadio: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-twitter wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet lazyload\" data-expand=\"600\" data-script=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\"  data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">RIP to the &quot;Godfather of Black Cinema,&quot; <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/MelvinVanPeebles?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#MelvinVanPeebles<\/a> \ud83d\udc94<a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/wPSbDvWcYi\">https:\/\/t.co\/wPSbDvWcYi<\/a><\/p>&mdash; iHeartRadio (@iHeartRadio) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/iHeartRadio\/status\/1440804226263748622?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">September 22, 2021<\/a><\/blockquote>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Twitter influencer Ike Moses offered something more controversial and thought provoking: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-twitter wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet lazyload\" data-expand=\"600\" data-script=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\"  data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Melvin Van Peebles didn\u2019t create blaxploitation. Hollywood ripped off Melvin Van Peebles to make blaxploitation and save its own ass. Melvin Van Peebles created the independent movie as we know it today.<\/p>&mdash; South Centrale\u00f1o (@IkeMoses) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/IkeMoses\/status\/1440799008348196864?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">September 22, 2021<\/a><\/blockquote>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Wikipedia offers an extensive list of his works: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>(As &#8220;Melvin Van&#8221;)&nbsp;<em>The Big Heart<\/em>, San Francisco: Fearon, 1957. With photographs by&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ruth_Bernhard\">Ruth Bernhard<\/a>, a book about life on San Francisco&#8217;s&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Cable_car_(railway)\">cable cars<\/a>. &#8220;A cable car is a big heart with people for blood. The people pump on and off \u2014 if you think of it like that it is pretty simple&#8221; (p.&nbsp;21).<\/li><li><em>Un Ours pour le F.B.I.<\/em>&nbsp;(1964);&nbsp;<em>A Bear for the F.B.I.<\/em>, Trident, 1968.<\/li><li><em>Un Am\u00e9ricain en enfer<\/em>&nbsp;(1965);&nbsp;<em>The True American<\/em>, Doubleday, 1976.<\/li><li><em>Le Chinois du XIV<\/em>&nbsp;(1966) (short stories)<\/li><li><em>La F\u00eate \u00e0 Harlem<\/em>&nbsp;(<em>Harlem Party<\/em>) (1967) (novel)<\/li><li><em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/La_Permission\">La Permission<\/a><\/em>&nbsp;(1967)<\/li><li><em>Sweet Sweetback&#8217;s Baadasssss Song<\/em>, Lancer Books, New York, 1971.<\/li><li><em>Ain&#8217;t Supposed to Die a Natural Death<\/em>, Bantam, New York, 1973.<\/li><li><em>Don&#8217;t Play Us Cheap: A Harlem Party<\/em>, Bantam Books, New York, 1973.<\/li><li><em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Just_an_Old_Sweet_Song\">Just an Old Sweet Song<\/a><\/em>, Ballantine, New York, 1976.<\/li><li><em>Bold Money: A New Way to Play the Options Market<\/em>, Warner Books, New York, 1986,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ISBN_(identifier)\">ISBN<\/a>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:BookSources\/0-446-51340-7\">0-446-51340-7<\/a>&nbsp;(nonfiction)<\/li><li>Melvin and Mario Van Peebles:&nbsp;<em>No Identity Crisis<\/em>, A Fireside Book, Simon &amp; Schuster, New York, 1990.<\/li><li><em>Panther<\/em>, Thunder&#8217;s Mouth Press, 1995.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Filmography<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:Sweet_sweetback_poster.jpg\"><\/a>Peebles&#8217; 1971 film&nbsp;<em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sweet_Sweetback%27s_Baadasssss_Song\">Sweet Sweetback&#8217;s Baadasssss Song<\/a><\/em>&nbsp;received acclaim from black rights groups for its political resonance with the black struggle and grossed $10 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">As director<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><em>Three Pickup Men for Herrick<\/em>&nbsp;(short, 1957); also writer and composer<\/li><li><em>Sunlight<\/em>&nbsp;(short, 1957); also writer, composer and producer<\/li><li><em>Cinq cent balles<\/em>&nbsp;(short, 1961); also writer and composer<\/li><li><em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Story_of_a_Three-Day_Pass\">The Story of a Three-Day Pass<\/a><\/em>&nbsp;(also known as&nbsp;<em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/La_Permission\">La Permission<\/a><\/em>, 1967); also writer, from his novel&nbsp;<em>La Permission<\/em>, and composer<\/li><li><em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Watermelon_Man_(film)\">Watermelon Man<\/a><\/em>&nbsp;(1970); also composer<\/li><li><em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sweet_Sweetback%27s_Baadasssss_Song\">Sweet Sweetback&#8217;s Baadasssss Song<\/a><\/em>&nbsp;(1971); also actor, writer, composer, co-producer and editor<\/li><li><em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Don%27t_Play_Us_Cheap\">Don&#8217;t Play Us Cheap<\/a><\/em>&nbsp;(1973); also writer (from his book&nbsp;<em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Harlem_Party\">Harlem Party<\/a><\/em>&nbsp;and stage musical&nbsp;<em>Don&#8217;t Play Us Cheap<\/em>) and composer<\/li><li><em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Identity_Crisis_(film)\">Identity Crisis<\/a><\/em>&nbsp;(1989) also actor, producer and editor<\/li><li><em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vroom_Vroom_Vroooom\">Vroom Vroom Vroooom<\/a><\/em>&nbsp;(segment from&nbsp;<em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tales_of_Erotica\">Tales of Erotica<\/a><\/em>, also known as&nbsp;<em>Erotic Tales<\/em>, 1996); also writer, composer, producer and editor<\/li><li><em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gang_in_Blue\">Gang in Blue<\/a><\/em>&nbsp;(1996) co-director, actor and producer<\/li><li><em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Le_Conte_du_ventre_plein\">Le Conte du ventre plein<\/a><\/em>&nbsp;(also known as&nbsp;<em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bellyful\">Bellyful<\/a><\/em>, 2000); also writer, composer and delegate producer<\/li><li><em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Confessionsofa_Ex-Doofus-ItchyFooted_Mutha\">Confessionsofa Ex-Doofus-ItchyFooted Mutha<\/a><\/em>&nbsp;(2008)<\/li><li><em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Lilly_Done_the_Zampoughi_Every_Time_I_Pulled_Her_Coattail\">Lilly Done the Zampoughi Every Time I Pulled Her Coattail<\/a><\/em>&nbsp;(2012); also editor, performer<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Other writing credits<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Slogan_(film)\">Slogan<\/a><\/em>&nbsp;(Pierre Grimblat, 1969) screenwriter<\/li><li><em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ain%27t_Supposed_to_Die_a_Natural_Death\">Ain&#8217;t Supposed to Die a Natural Death<\/a><\/em>&nbsp;(1971) Broadway musical book and score<\/li><li><em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Just_an_Old_Sweet_Song\">Just an Old Sweet Song<\/a><\/em>&nbsp;(also known as&nbsp;<em>Down Home<\/em>, Robert Ellis Miller, 1976) made for television; screenwriter and theme song<\/li><li><em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Greased_Lightning\">Greased Lightning<\/a><\/em>&nbsp;(Michael Schultz, 1977) screenwriter<\/li><li><em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Sophisticated_Gents\">The Sophisticated Gents<\/a><\/em>&nbsp;(Harry Falk, 1981) made for television; actor, screenwriter, song &#8220;Greased Lightning&#8221; and producer<\/li><li><em>The Day They Came to Arrest the Book<\/em>&nbsp;(Gilbert Moses, 1987) made for television; screenwriter<\/li><li><em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Panther_(film)\">Panther<\/a><\/em>&nbsp;(Mario Van Peebles, 1995) based on his novel&nbsp;<em>Panther<\/em>, screenwriter, actor and producer<\/li><li><em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Melvin_Van_Peebles%27_Classified_X\">Melvin Van Peebles&#8217; Classified X<\/a><\/em>&nbsp;(Mark Daniels, 1998) documentary; screenwriter, actor and executive producer<\/li><li><em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sweet_Sweetback%27s_Baadasssss_Song\">Sweet Sweetback&#8217;s Baadasssss Song<\/a>: The Musical<\/em>&nbsp;(2008) writer, singer<\/li><li><em>Unmitigated Truth: Life, a Lavatory, Loves, and Ladies<\/em>&nbsp;(2009) writer, performer<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">As himself<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><em>Unstoppable<\/em>&nbsp;(2005)<\/li><li><em>How to Eat Your Watermelon in White Company<\/em>&nbsp;(2005)<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Other acting-only credits<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/O.C._and_Stiggs\">O.C. and Stiggs<\/a><\/em>&nbsp;(1987) as Bob &#8216;Wino Bob&#8217;<\/li><li><em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jaws:_The_Revenge\">Jaws: The Revenge<\/a><\/em>&nbsp;(1987) as Mr. Witherspoon<\/li><li><em>Taking Care of Terrific<\/em>&nbsp;(1987) (television film) as &#8216;Hawk&#8217;<\/li><li><em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sonny_Spoon\">Sonny Spoon<\/a><\/em>&nbsp;(1988) (television series) as Mel Spoon<\/li><li><em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Boomerang_(1992_film)\">Boomerang<\/a><\/em>&nbsp;(1992) as Editor<\/li><li><em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Posse_(1993_film)\">Posse<\/a><\/em>&nbsp;(1993) as Joe &#8216;Papa Joe&#8217;<\/li><li><em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Terminal_Velocity_(film)\">Terminal Velocity<\/a><\/em>&nbsp;(1994) as Noble<\/li><li><em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fist_of_the_North_Star_(1995_film)\">Fist of the North Star<\/a><\/em>&nbsp;(1995) as Asher<\/li><li><em>Living Single<\/em>&nbsp;(1996) as Warner Devant<\/li><li><em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Shining_(miniseries)\">The Shining<\/a><\/em>&nbsp;(1997) (miniseries) as&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Dick_Hallorann\">Dick Hallorann<\/a><\/li><li><em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Hebrew_Hammer\">The Hebrew Hammer<\/a><\/em>&nbsp;(2003) as Sweetback<\/li><li><em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Blackout_(2007_film)\">BlacKout<\/a><\/em>&nbsp;(2007) as George<\/li><li><em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Redemption_Road\">Redemption Road<\/a><\/em>&nbsp;(2010) as Elmo<\/li><li><em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/We_the_Party\">We the Party<\/a><\/em>&nbsp;(2012) as &#8216;Big D&#8217;<\/li><li><em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Armed_(film)\">Armed<\/a><\/em>&nbsp;(2018) as Grandpa V<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Plays<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Hostage_(play)\">The Hostage<\/a><\/em>&nbsp;(Dutch National Theatre Tour, writer, 1964)<\/li><li><em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ain%27t_Supposed_to_Die_a_Natural_Death\">Ain&#8217;t Supposed to Die a Natural Death<\/a><\/em>&nbsp;(writer, 1972)<\/li><li><em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Don%27t_Play_Us_Cheap\">Don&#8217;t Play Us Cheap<\/a><\/em>&nbsp;(writer, 1972)<\/li><li><em>Out There by Your Lonesome<\/em>&nbsp;(one-man play, 1973)<\/li><li><em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Waltz_of_the_Stork\">Waltz of the Stork<\/a><\/em>&nbsp;(actor, writer, 1982)<\/li><li><em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Champeen\">Champeen<\/a><\/em>&nbsp;(musical, writer, 1983)<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Discography<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Studio albums<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Brer_Soul\">Brer Soul<\/a><\/em>&nbsp;(1968)<\/li><li><em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ain%27t_Supposed_to_Die_a_Natural_Death_(album)\">Ain&#8217;t Supposed to Die a Natural Death<\/a><\/em>&nbsp;(1970)<\/li><li><em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/As_Serious_as_a_Heart-Attack\">As Serious as a Heart-Attack<\/a><\/em>&nbsp;(1974)<\/li><li><em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/What_the....You_Mean_I_Can%27t_Sing%3F!\">What the&#8230;.You Mean I Can&#8217;t Sing?!<\/a><\/em>&nbsp;(1974)<\/li><li><em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ghetto_Gothic\">Ghetto Gothic<\/a><\/em>&nbsp;(1995)<\/li><li><em>Nahh&#8230; Nahh Mofo<\/em>&nbsp;(2012)<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Melvin_Van_Peebles#cite_note-39\">[39]<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Melvin_Van_Peebles#cite_note-40\">[40]<\/a><\/sup><\/li><li><em>The Last Transmission<\/em>&nbsp;(2014, with&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Heliocentrics\">The Heliocentrics<\/a>)<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Compilations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><em>X-Rated By an All-White Jury<\/em>&nbsp;(1997) &#8211; including&nbsp;<em>Brer Soul<\/em>,&nbsp;<em>Ain&#8217;t Supposed to Die a Natural Death<\/em>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<em>As Serious as a Heart-Attack<\/em><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Soundtrack albums[<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Melvin_Van_Peebles&amp;action=edit&amp;section=14\">edit<\/a>]<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Watermelon_Man_(soundtrack)\">Watermelon Man<\/a><\/em>&nbsp;(1970)<\/li><li><em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sweet_Sweetback%27s_Baadasssss_Song_(soundtrack)\">Sweet Sweetback&#8217;s Baadasssss Song<\/a><\/em>&nbsp;(1971)<\/li><li><em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ain%27t_Supposed_to_Die_a_Natural_Death#Soundtrack\">Ain&#8217;t Supposed to Die a Natural Death<\/a><\/em>&nbsp;(1972)<\/li><li><em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Don%27t_Play_Us_Cheap_(soundtrack)\">Don&#8217;t Play Us Cheap<\/a><\/em>&nbsp;(1973)<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"has-text-color wp-block-heading\" style=\"color:#ffffff\">Melvin Van Peebles has Passed Away<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The legendary Melvin Van Peebles has passed away. The influential, multi-hyphenate playwright and father of actor and director Mario Van Peebles\u00a0(New Jack City) leaves behind a strong legacy. His film Sweet Sweetback&#8217;s Baadasssss Song was an early blaxploitation classic. Often referred to as &#8220;The Godfather of Black Cinema&#8221;, The Hollywood Reporter, and many celebrities honored [&hellip;] <a class=\"g1-link g1-link-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/melvin-van-peebles-has-passed-away\/\">More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":156400,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[2383,8099,8106],"reaction":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-156396","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-uncategorized","8":"tag-mario-van-peebles","9":"tag-melvin-van-peebles","10":"tag-van-peebles"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v19.7 (Yoast SEO v27.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Melvin Van Peebles has Passed Away - blackfilm.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Melvin Van Peebles has Passed Away blackfilm.com correspondent Koku Tona dives deep into his extensive, legendary catalog.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/melvin-van-peebles-has-passed-away\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Melvin Van Peebles has Passed Away\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Melvin Van Peebles has Passed Away blackfilm.com correspondent Koku Tona dives deep into his extensive, legendary catalog.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/melvin-van-peebles-has-passed-away\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"blackfilm.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/blackfilm\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2021-09-22T22:44:38+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2021-09-22T23:59:13+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/shutterstock_138425339-scaled.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1707\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"2560\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Koku Tona\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@blackfilm\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@blackfilm\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Koku Tona\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.blackfilm.com\\\/read\\\/melvin-van-peebles-has-passed-away\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.blackfilm.com\\\/read\\\/melvin-van-peebles-has-passed-away\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Koku Tona\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.blackfilm.com\\\/read\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/54f69893f1e5dc1b1d0065c2dca027cf\"},\"headline\":\"Melvin Van Peebles has Passed Away\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-09-22T22:44:38+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2021-09-22T23:59:13+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.blackfilm.com\\\/read\\\/melvin-van-peebles-has-passed-away\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":900,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.blackfilm.com\\\/read\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.blackfilm.com\\\/read\\\/melvin-van-peebles-has-passed-away\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.blackfilm.com\\\/read\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/09\\\/shutterstock_138425339-scaled.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Mario Van Peebles\",\"Melvin Van Peebles\",\"Van Peebles\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.blackfilm.com\\\/read\\\/melvin-van-peebles-has-passed-away\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.blackfilm.com\\\/read\\\/melvin-van-peebles-has-passed-away\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.blackfilm.com\\\/read\\\/melvin-van-peebles-has-passed-away\\\/\",\"name\":\"Melvin Van Peebles has Passed Away - blackfilm.com\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.blackfilm.com\\\/read\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.blackfilm.com\\\/read\\\/melvin-van-peebles-has-passed-away\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.blackfilm.com\\\/read\\\/melvin-van-peebles-has-passed-away\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.blackfilm.com\\\/read\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/09\\\/shutterstock_138425339-scaled.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-09-22T22:44:38+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2021-09-22T23:59:13+00:00\",\"description\":\"Melvin Van Peebles has Passed Away blackfilm.com correspondent Koku Tona dives deep into his extensive, legendary catalog.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.blackfilm.com\\\/read\\\/melvin-van-peebles-has-passed-away\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.blackfilm.com\\\/read\\\/melvin-van-peebles-has-passed-away\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.blackfilm.com\\\/read\\\/melvin-van-peebles-has-passed-away\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.blackfilm.com\\\/read\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/09\\\/shutterstock_138425339-scaled.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.blackfilm.com\\\/read\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/09\\\/shutterstock_138425339-scaled.jpg\",\"width\":1707,\"height\":2560,\"caption\":\"Melvin Van Peebles has Passed Away\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.blackfilm.com\\\/read\\\/melvin-van-peebles-has-passed-away\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.blackfilm.com\\\/read\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Melvin Van Peebles has Passed Away\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.blackfilm.com\\\/read\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.blackfilm.com\\\/read\\\/\",\"name\":\"blackfilm.com\\\/read\",\"description\":\"Movie, Television, and Theatre News\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.blackfilm.com\\\/read\\\/#organization\"},\"alternateName\":\"blackfilm.com\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.blackfilm.com\\\/read\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.blackfilm.com\\\/read\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"blackfilm.com\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.blackfilm.com\\\/read\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.blackfilm.com\\\/read\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.blackfilm.com\\\/read\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/04\\\/B-Stamp-White-Blue-with-Logo-scaled.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.blackfilm.com\\\/read\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/04\\\/B-Stamp-White-Blue-with-Logo-scaled.png\",\"width\":2560,\"height\":612,\"caption\":\"blackfilm.com\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.blackfilm.com\\\/read\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/blackfilm\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/blackfilm\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/blackfilm\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/blackfilm\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.blackfilm.com\\\/read\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/54f69893f1e5dc1b1d0065c2dca027cf\",\"name\":\"Koku Tona\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/0c43736415d2ab877b0262ba608ffa2a32d3e0493d198233f43202107220d421?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/0c43736415d2ab877b0262ba608ffa2a32d3e0493d198233f43202107220d421?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/0c43736415d2ab877b0262ba608ffa2a32d3e0493d198233f43202107220d421?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Koku Tona\"},\"description\":\"Koku Tona is a media correspondent at blackfilm.com and a Brooklyn Nets fan.\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/kokupuff\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.blackfilm.com\\\/read\\\/author\\\/koku-tona\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Melvin Van Peebles has Passed Away - blackfilm.com","description":"Melvin Van Peebles has Passed Away blackfilm.com correspondent Koku Tona dives deep into his extensive, legendary catalog.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/melvin-van-peebles-has-passed-away\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Melvin Van Peebles has Passed Away","og_description":"Melvin Van Peebles has Passed Away blackfilm.com correspondent Koku Tona dives deep into his extensive, legendary catalog.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/melvin-van-peebles-has-passed-away\/","og_site_name":"blackfilm.com","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/blackfilm","article_published_time":"2021-09-22T22:44:38+00:00","article_modified_time":"2021-09-22T23:59:13+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1707,"height":2560,"url":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/shutterstock_138425339-scaled.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Koku Tona","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@blackfilm","twitter_site":"@blackfilm","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Koku Tona","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/melvin-van-peebles-has-passed-away\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/melvin-van-peebles-has-passed-away\/"},"author":{"name":"Koku Tona","@id":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/#\/schema\/person\/54f69893f1e5dc1b1d0065c2dca027cf"},"headline":"Melvin Van Peebles has Passed Away","datePublished":"2021-09-22T22:44:38+00:00","dateModified":"2021-09-22T23:59:13+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/melvin-van-peebles-has-passed-away\/"},"wordCount":900,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/melvin-van-peebles-has-passed-away\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/shutterstock_138425339-scaled.jpg","keywords":["Mario Van Peebles","Melvin Van Peebles","Van Peebles"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/melvin-van-peebles-has-passed-away\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/melvin-van-peebles-has-passed-away\/","url":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/melvin-van-peebles-has-passed-away\/","name":"Melvin Van Peebles has Passed Away - blackfilm.com","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/melvin-van-peebles-has-passed-away\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/melvin-van-peebles-has-passed-away\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/shutterstock_138425339-scaled.jpg","datePublished":"2021-09-22T22:44:38+00:00","dateModified":"2021-09-22T23:59:13+00:00","description":"Melvin Van Peebles has Passed Away blackfilm.com correspondent Koku Tona dives deep into his extensive, legendary catalog.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/melvin-van-peebles-has-passed-away\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/melvin-van-peebles-has-passed-away\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/melvin-van-peebles-has-passed-away\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/shutterstock_138425339-scaled.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/shutterstock_138425339-scaled.jpg","width":1707,"height":2560,"caption":"Melvin Van Peebles has Passed Away"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/melvin-van-peebles-has-passed-away\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Melvin Van Peebles has Passed Away"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/","name":"blackfilm.com\/read","description":"Movie, Television, and Theatre News","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/#organization"},"alternateName":"blackfilm.com","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/#organization","name":"blackfilm.com","url":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/B-Stamp-White-Blue-with-Logo-scaled.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/B-Stamp-White-Blue-with-Logo-scaled.png","width":2560,"height":612,"caption":"blackfilm.com"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/blackfilm","https:\/\/x.com\/blackfilm","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/blackfilm\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/blackfilm"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/#\/schema\/person\/54f69893f1e5dc1b1d0065c2dca027cf","name":"Koku Tona","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/0c43736415d2ab877b0262ba608ffa2a32d3e0493d198233f43202107220d421?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/0c43736415d2ab877b0262ba608ffa2a32d3e0493d198233f43202107220d421?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/0c43736415d2ab877b0262ba608ffa2a32d3e0493d198233f43202107220d421?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Koku Tona"},"description":"Koku Tona is a media correspondent at blackfilm.com and a Brooklyn Nets fan.","sameAs":["https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/kokupuff"],"url":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/author\/koku-tona\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/156396","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/17"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=156396"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/156396\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":156407,"href":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/156396\/revisions\/156407"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/156400"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=156396"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=156396"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=156396"},{"taxonomy":"reaction","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/reaction?post=156396"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}