How did Melvin Van Peebles die? Godfather of Black cinema, 89, inspired Spike Lee
African-American filmmaker Melvin Van Peebles often hailed as the Godfather of modern Black cinema has died tragically at the age of 89. The auteur, who crafted classic films like 'Watermelon Man' and 'Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song', was notably the father of famed actor-director Mario Van Peebles. The news of Melvin's death on September 21 was announced in a joint statement by his family, Janus Films and The Criterion Collection — “In an unparalleled career distinguished by relentless innovation, boundless curiosity and spiritual empathy, Melvin Van Peebles made an indelible mark on the international cultural landscape through his films, novels, plays and music."
The statement adds, "His work continues to be essential and is being celebrated at the New York Film Festival this weekend with a 50th-anniversary screening of his landmark film 'Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song'; a Criterion Collection box set, Melvin Van Peebles: Essential Films, next week; and a revival of his play 'Ain’t Supposed to Die a Natural Death', slated for a return to Broadway next year.” The Chicago-based director served as an inspiration to modern-day Black filmmakers like Spike Lee and John Singleton.
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Van Peebles is noted for ushering in the 'Blaxploitation' era in Hollywood, who was described by The New York Times as "the first Black man in show business to beat the white man at his own game." The filmmaker, novelist, thespian, songwriter, musician, and painter was born on August 21, 1932, as the son of a tailor in Chicago. He pursued a Bachelor's degree in Literature from Ohio Wesleyan University and also served in the Air Force.
His tryst with filmmaking started in his youth while working as a cable car gripman in San Francisco. A passenger, who found him to be a passionate creator, suggested that he should try his hands in filmmaking. His debut happened with the short film 'Pickup Men for Herrick' in 1957. After making a series of three short films, Van Peebles landed in Hollywood to find work as a director. But he was unsuccessful, and even decided to move to the Netherlands with his family where he wanted to study astronomy.
However, as luck would have it, he met the founder of avant-garde Cinema 16 Amos Vogel on his way to Europe. Vogel placed two of Van Peebles' short films in his catalog.
Van Peebles still moved to the Netherlands and studied at the Dutch National Theatre. In fact, it was in Holland that he added the epithet Van to his last name. Soon afterward, his marriage with wife Maria Marx dissolved and his family moved back to the States. Meanwhile, Van Peebles headed to Paris, where he directed his first feature film 'La Permission'. It was adapted from his own novel about the affair between a Black soldier and a French woman. The film later released in USA as 'The Story of a Three-Day Pass'.
Aside from direction, Van Peebles had also starred in films like 'O.C. and Stiggs', 'Jaws: The Revenge', 'Boomerang', 'Last Action Hero', 'Peeples', and 'The Hebrew Hammer'. He also acted in TV series like 'All My Children', 'Living Single', 'In the Heat of the Night' and 'Girlfriends'. The winner of a Daytime Emmy and a Humanitas Prize, Van Peebles also authored several books.
The unparalleled genius breathed his last at his Manhattan home on September 21, 2021. While the cause of his death is not exactly certain, it is believed that he passed away from natural age-related complications.