Mario Van Peebles

Mario Van Peebles (born January 15, 1957) is an American film director and actor best known for directing New Jack City in 1991. He is the son of actor and filmmaker Melvin Van Peebles, whom he portrayed in the 2003 biopic Baadasssss!, which he also co-wrote and directed.

Early life and education
Mario "Chip" Cain Van Peebles was born Mario Cain Van Peebles in Mexico City, Mexico, the son of writer, director and actor Melvin Van Peebles and German actress and photographer Maria Marx. He graduated from Saint Thomas More School in Connecticut in 1974 and from Columbia University in 1978 with a bachelor's degree in economics.

1968 to 1971 Early Acting Parts: Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song
In 1968, Van Peebles first screen appearance was in the soap opera One Life to Live.

In 1971 he appeared in the film Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song, that Van Peebles Sr. directed and played the lead role. He played his father's character as a child. The film became a hit and an historical American film, because it was widely credited with showing Hollywood that a viable African-American audience existed, and thus influencing the creation of the Blaxploitation genre.

Also that year he acted in a TV movie called Crosscurrent.

For the rest of the decade he would not appear in other productions.

1980s First Starring Role: Rappin' and early directorial efforts
In 1981, acted in the miniseries The Sophisticated Gents.

He wouldn't act until 1984 in the action film Exterminator 2 where he played the main villain against its protagonist played by Robert Ginty. When the production wrapped, the producer were unhappy and wanted a re-shoot. They replaced the original director, however the main star wasn't available anymore so they made his character more central.

That same year he appeared as a dancer in Francis Ford Coppola's movie The Cotton Club.

In 1985, he got his first leading role in the film Rappin'.

That year he also played in the comedy Delivery Boys, was one of the central character in the action drama South Bronx Heroes, acted in the dramatic TV film Children of the Night, and one episode of the Cosby Show.

In 1986, he acted in the urban action film 3:15, the comedy Last Resort, the TV film D.C. Cops, 4 episodes of L.A. Law, and the Clint Eastwood army film Heartbreak Ridge.

In 1987, he played in the sport film Hotshot, the TV film The Facts of Life Down Under, and Jaws: The Revenge the fourth installment of the Jaws franchise.

In 1988, Van Peebles played the lead in the short-lived detective show Sonny Spoon. The show ran for two brief seasons, both of which aired in 1988, before being canceled. The show would mark his directorial debut, for which he tackled the task for one episode.

That same year he also acted in the TV film The Child Saver.

In 1989, he directed for the show Top of the Hill, three episodes of 21 Jump Street, and one episode of Wiseguy.

Acting efforts of that year were 21 Jump Street he appeared in two of he episodes he directed, one episode of American Playwrights Theater: The One-Acts, and the film Identity Crisis directed by his father.

1990s directorial breakthrough: New Jack City
At the beginning of the decade he played in the TV film Blue Bayou and one episode of In Living Color .

Also that year, Van Peebles also directed Malcolm Takes a Shot, a CBS Schoolbreak Special about an aspiring high-school basketball star whose obstacles include epilepsy and his own arrogance. Van Peebles appeared in the special in a cameo, as Malcolm's doctor. He was nominated for a "DGA Award" at the Directors Guild of America for "Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Shows ".

He made his feature film directorial debut in 1991 with African American gangster film New Jack City, in which he also co-stars. Its leads are Wesley Snipes as a rising drug-lord and Ice-T as the detective. New Jack City was produced with an estimated $8,000,000 budget. The film initially premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 17, 1991, before being released nationally on March 8, 1991; it grossed $7,039,622 during its opening weekend. It became the highest grossing independent film of 1991, grossing a total of $47,624,253 domestically. It was also well received by critics.

Also in 1991 he directed on episode of Gabriel's Fire, and acted in the TV film A Triumph of the Heart: The Ricky Bell Story.

In 1992, he acted in two TV films In the Line of Duty: Street War, and Stompin' at the Savoy.

In 1993, he starred in and directed the black western Posse it features a large ensemble cast, which includes Woody Strode, Billy Zane, Tiny Lister, Tone Lōc, Big Daddy Kane, Robert Hooks, and many more. The film tells the story of a posse of African-American soldiers and one ostracized white soldier, who are all betrayed by a corrupt colonel.

That same year he also played in the science fiction crime film Full Eclipse.

In 1994, he collaborated twice with actor Christopher Lambert, they played the side by side leads in the action film Gunmen, and he was the main villain in Highlander III: The Sorcerer, the third installment of the Highlander film series. He also acted in a film called In the Living Years.

He followed by directing and co-starring in Panther in 1995. It came from a screenplay adapted by his father, Melvin Van Peebles, from his novel of the same name. The film portrays the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense, tracing the organization from its founding through its decline in a compressed timeframe. Creative license is taken but the general trajectory of the Party and its experiences is factual. At the Locarno International Film Festival it won the prize of the Ecumenical Jury, a Silver Leopard, and was nominated for a Golden Leopard. At the Political Film Society it was nominated for a PFS Award.

In 1996, he acted in one episode of Living Single, one episode of HBO's Strangers. He also got the lead in the science fiction action film Solo.

His directorial release that year was Gang in Blue in which he stars and co-directs with his father who also has a role in the film. It's about a black police officer who discovers a cell of white supremacist vigilantes within his department.

In 1997, he played in one episode of X-Files. Film wise he acted in Stag, Riot, and Los Locos the first American film directed by Jean-Marc Vallée.

In 1998 he directed and starred in Love Kills. A comedy about a masseur gets mixed up in the family plots at the mansion of a recently deceased Beverly Hills millionaire.

His acting credits on that year were the mini series Mama Flora's Family, Valentine's Day, and Killers in the House.

In 1999 he acted in Judgement Day, and Raw Nerve.

2000s: Baadasssss!
Van Peebles started this new decade by acting in one episodes of Martial Law, and 20 episodes of Rude Awakening. In film he acted in Sally Hemings: An American Scandal, and Blowback.

In 2001 he starred in a film called Guardian, and in he co-starred in the Michael Mann film Ali for which he received a nomination for "Outstanding Supporting Actor" at the NAACP Image Awards.

In 2002, he acted in 10,000 Black Men Named George, 2 episodes of Robbery Homicide Division , and the TV movie Fiona.

In 2003, he acted in the film The Hebrew Hammer, 44 Minutes: The North Hollywood Shoot-Out, Gang of Roses, and The Street Lawyer.

His 2003, the docudrama Baadasssss!, also known as How to Get the Man's Foot Outta Your Ass, opened at the Toronto International Film Festival. The film describes the making of his father's seminal film, Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song. He directed the film, and also portrayed his father in the lead role. The film was critically acclaimed and won numerous Awards in the film festival circuits. He won "Best Feature Film" 2004 Philadelphia Film Festival. Got a nomination for Best Feature 2004 Gijón International Film Festival. At the 2005 Black Reel Awards, he was nominated for Best Actor, won Best Director, won Best Screenplay, nominated for Best Film, and the actress Joy Bryant was nominated Best Supporting Actress. He received three nominations at 2005 Independent Spirit Awards, and two nominations at 2005 NAACP Image Awards.

In 2004, he was a lead in the TV film Crown Heights, and acted in one episode of Soul Food.

In 2005, he acted in Carlito's Way: Rise to Power.

In 2006, he directed and co-stared the film Hard Luck. Wesley Snipes was the lead and Cybill Shepherd was also in it. Snipes plays Lucky, a down on his luck former criminal and drug dealer whose post prison trials and tribulations take him on a wild adventure. The film was released by Sony.

In 2007, he acted in one episode of Law & Order, and the film Sharpshooter. That year, he returned to directing for Television starting with three episodes of Damages, in which he also had recurring role until 2009.

In 2008, he acted in his father's film Confessionsofa Ex-Doofus-ItchyFooted Mutha and 43 episodes of the soap opera All My Children. He returned to Law & Order as a director for three episodes.

In 2009, with his family they starred in the reality TV show Mario's Green House, he also acted in the film A Letter to Dad.

2010s to present day
In 2010, he acted in two films Multiple Sarcasms and Across the Line: The Exodus of Charlie Wright. He directed one episode of Lost, the documentary Fair Game?, and the film Redemption Road.

In 2011, he directed the sport drama All Things Fall Apart starring rapper/actor 50 cent in the title role playing a football player who suffers from a deadly disease, he also played a role in this feature. His acting credits that year were the films Tied to a Chair and 5th & Alameda. He also acted in two episodes of Hellcats and and two episodes The Game. That year he also started to direct for the TV series Boss and would direct 5 episodes until 2012.

In 2012 he wrote, directed, and acted in We the Party. It is a comedy set in an ethnically diverse Los Angeles high school. The film focuses on five friends as they deal with romance, money, prom, college, sex, bullies, Facebook, fitting in, standing out, and finding themselves. That year he acted in one episode of The Finder and the feature American Warship.

In 2013, he directed one episode NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service, one episode of Monday Mornings, and one episode of Zero Hour. That year he directed an episode of Nashville. He would go on directing two episodes the following year as well acting in one, and in 2015 he when back to his role with another director.

In 2014 he wrote, directed, and acted in Red Sky. The film is an action/thriller starring Cam Gigandet, Shane West and Rachael Leigh Cook. He also directed three episodes of Once Upon a Time. That year, he acted in two other films Mantervention, and Drumline: A New Beat.

In 2015, he directed one episode of The Last Ship, one episode of Chicago P.D., two episodes of Empire and would go on to direct another episode in 2016, two episodes of Being Mary Jane and would go on directing two episodes in 2017, finally one episode of Hand of God and would go on directing one episode in 2017. He also acted in the feature For Justice.

In 2016, he directed the film USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage based largely on the true story of the loss of the ship in the closing stages of the Second World War. The film stars Nicolas Cage, Tom Sizemore, Thomas Jane, Matt Lanter, Brian Presley, and Cody Walker. He also directed one episode of Roots. He also acted in the feature Submerged.

In 2017, he acted in four episode of Bloodline one of them he also directed, and would go on to direct an episode where his character didn't appear. He created and produced the TV series Superstition, and directed eight episodes and acted in ten, some of them he took both roles.

Actor (film)

 * Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song (1971)
 * Exterminator 2 (1984)
 * The Cotton Club (1984) (cameo)
 * South Bronx Heroes (1985)
 * Children of the Night (1985)
 * Rappin' (1985)
 * Delivery Boys (1985)
 * Heartbreak Ridge (1986)
 * Last Resort (1986)
 * Hotshot (1987)
 * Jaws: The Revenge (1987)
 * Identity Crisis (1989)
 * Blue Bayou (1990)
 * New Jack City (1991)
 * Full Eclipse (1992)
 * Stomping at the Savoy (1992)
 * Posse (1993)
 * Highlander: The Final Dimension (1994)
 * Gunmen (1994)
 * Panther (1995)
 * Solo (1996)
 * Riot (1997)
 * Stag (1997)
 * Gang in Blue (1997)
 * Los Locos (1997)
 * Killers in the House (1998)
 * Mama Flora's Family (1998)
 * Love Kills (1998)
 * Raw Nerve (1999)
 * Judgment Day (1999)
 * Blowback (2000)
 * Ali (2001)
 * 10,000 Black Men Named George (2002)
 * The Hebrew Hammer (2003)
 * BAADASSSSS! (2003)
 * Crown Heights (2004)
 * Carlito's Way: Rise to Power (2005)
 * Hard Luck (2006)
 * Across the Line: The Exodus of Charlie Wright (2010)
 * All Things Fall Apart (2011)
 * We the Party (2012)
 * American Warships (2012)
 * Red Sky (2014)
 * Mantervention (2014)
 * Drumline: A New Beat (2014)
 * Submerged (2016)

Actor (TV)

 * One Life to Live (1982–1983)
 * The Cosby Show (1985)
 * L.A. Law (1986)
 * The Facts of Life Down Under (1987)
 * Sonny Spoon (1988)
 * 21 Jump Street (1989–1990)
 * A Triumph of the Heart: The Ricky Bell Story (1991)
 * In the Line of Duty: Street War (1992)
 * In Living Color (1993)
 * Living Single (1995)
 * Riot (1997, co-starred with Luke Perry)
 * The Outer Limits (1997)
 * Rude Awakening (2000–2001)
 * 10,000 Black Men Named George (2002)
 * 44 Minutes: The North Hollywood Shoot-Out (2003)
 * L.A Riots 29 April 1992 (2004)
 * Law & Order (2007)
 * All My Children (2008–2009)
 * Damages (2007–2009)
 * Mario's Green House (2009)
 * House Houses (2009)
 * Hellcats (2011)
 * The Game (2011)
 * The Finder (2012)
 * American Warships (2012)
 * Nashville (2014)
 * Bloodline (2017)
 * Superstition (2017)

Director

 * 21 Jump Street (1989–1990)
 * New Jack City (1991)
 * Posse (1993)
 * Panther (1995)
 * Gang in Blue (1996)
 * Love Kills (1998)
 * BAADASSSSS! (2003)
 * Hard Luck (2006)
 * Sons of Anarchy (2008) Season 1, episode 10: "Better Half"
 * Law & Order (2008) Season 19, episode 6: "Sweetie"
 * Damages (2008)
 * Lost (2010) Season 6, episode 7: "Dr. Linus"
 * Redemption Road (2010)
 * Boss (2011) Season 1, episodes 3, 6, 8; Season 2, episodes 6, 9
 * All Things Fall Apart (2011)
 * We The Party (2012)
 * NCIS (2013) Season 10, episode 16: "Detour"
 * Monday Mornings (2013)
 * Zero Hour (2013)
 * Nashville (2013) Season 2 episode 7: "She's Got You"
 * Once Upon A Time (2014) Season 3, episode 16; Season 4, episodes 6, 10
 * Red Sky (2014)
 * Empire (2015) Season 1, episode 11: "Die But Once"
 * The Last Ship (2015) Season 2, episode 10: "Friendly Fire"
 * USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage (2016)
 * Roots (2016)
 * Bloodline (2017)
 * Superstition (2017)

Actor (stage)

 * Waltz of the Stork (1982)