Baadasssss!

Background:

American actor, director, writer and producer Mario Van Peebles first came to fame as a Marine in Clint Eastwood's “Heartbreak Ridge” (1986) and was garnered an Image Award for his performance in the film. Son of the illustrious African-American filmmaker Melvin Van Peebles, he went on to enjoy success with his feature directorial debut “New Jack City” (1991), which was a commercial hit. Although his next film, “Posse” (1993), failed to achieve the same success as its predecessor, Van Peebles managed to accumulate critical acclaim at the Locarno Film Festival with the controversial, historical drama “Panther” (1995), which he directed and co-produced with his father, who also served as a scriptwriter. He acquired even more attention with “How to Get the Man's Foot Outta Your Ass/Baadasssss!” (2003), a tribute to his father that went on to become a huge hit on the independent circuits. Taking directing, producing and writing duties in addition to starring in the film as Melvin Van Peebles, Van Peebles picked up two Black Reel Awards, a Philadelphia Film Festival Award, three Independent Spirit nominations and an Image nomination, among other honors.

Apart from his award-winning turn in 1986's “Heartbreak Ridge,” Peebles can be seen in such movies as Francis Ford Coppola's “The Cotton Club” (1984), Deran Sarafian's “Highlander III: The Sorcerer” (1994), Norberto Barba's “Solo” (1996), Avi Nesher's thriller “Raw Nerve” (1999), Michael Mann's “Ali” (2001, earned an Image nomination) and Jonathan Kesselman's “The Hebrew Hammer” (2003). His TV acting credits include the movies “Mama Flora's Family” (1998), “10,000 Black Men Named George” (2002), “44 Minutes: The North Hollywood Shoot-Out” (2003) and the series “L.A. Law” (1986), “Sonny Spoon” (1988-1990), “Rude Awakening” (2000-2001) and “All My Children” (2008).

Van Peebles's fans should not miss him in the upcoming films “Spring in Her Step” (2008), “Multiple Sarcasms” (2008) and “The Uniter” (2009). He also serves as director and writer for the latter.

Stone

Childhood and Family:

Born Mario Peebles on January 15, 1957, in Mexico City, Mexico, Mario Van Peebles spent his early years in Europe. His family returned to the USA when he was eight years old. Mario is the son of Melvin Van Peebles, a writer, director, actor and producer of black and Indian origin, and German actress Maria Marx. He has a brother named Max Van Peebles, who is also an actor. His sister, Megan Van Peebles, who acted with him in the 1983 movie “South Bronx Heroes,” died in 2006 at age 48.

After graduating from Liberty High School in 1974, Mario furthered his studies at Columbia University in New York and received a B.A. in Economics four years later in 1978. He then worked as an analyst for the New York City Mayor's Office of Management and Budget under Mayor Edward I. It was not until the early 1980s that Mario decided to become a professional actor.

Mario has two sons, Marley and Mandela Van Peebles, and two daughters, Maya and Morgana Van Peebles. His nickname is Stone.

New Jack City

Career:

14-year-old Mario Van Peebles made his acting debut in “Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song,” a crime/drama film directed and written by and starring his father. Playing the young version of his dad's steamy protagonist Sweetback, he was required to do a love scene with an older woman. Later that same year, he hit the small screen in a small part in the CBS unsold pilot “The Cable Car Murder/Crosscurrent.” Possessing no burning ambition to become a performer, Van Peebles subsequently distanced himself from the spotlight and opted instead to pursue economics at Columbia University. He did not return to acting until the 1980s following a two-year stint as a budget analyst for then NYC Mayor Edward Koch.

Van Peebles resurfaced in the small role of Nicholas in the NBC acclaimed miniseries “The Sophisticated Gents” (1981), which was written by his father, and during the 1982-1983 seasons, he played Doc Gilmore in the long-running drama series “One Life to Live.” He resumed his film career by assuming the significant role of X in writer/director Mark Buntzman's “Exterminator 2” (1984), opposite Robert Ginty, and then joined Richard Gere, Diane Lane and Nicolas Cage for the Francis Ford Coppola-helmed “The Cotton Club” (1984). 1984 also saw Van Peebles make his Broadway debut in his dad's comedy “Waltz of the Stork.” In addition to acting, Van Peebles also emerged as a model for the Ford Agency.

In 1985, Van Peebles acted alongside his sister Megan in the direct-to-video “South Bronx Heroes,” in which he also provided additional dialog, and starred as John Hood in the hip hop movie “Rappin'” (1985), where in addition to writing the song “Two of a Kind,” he also performed several songs, including “Snack Attack.” He furthered showed his musical talent by singing lead and/or rhythm vocals on three albums on the Stax and Atlantic Records labels, and in 1986, he provided the music, lyrics and performed the song “I Love You But I Ain't Stupid” for the Clint Eastwood action/war movie “Heartbreak Ridge.” Also playing the supporting role of superficial and impudent Corporal 'Stitch' Jones, Van Peebles enjoyed a breakthrough success when his performance earned him an Image for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture.

Making his first guest appearance on the hit TV series “The Cosby Show” (1985), Van Peebles went on to have a recurring role as Andrew Taylor in the first season of the NBC legal drama “L.A. Law” and played Cliff Dickerson on his TV film debut, “D.C. Cops” (both 1986). He next headlined his first TV show, “Sonny Spoon” (NBC, 1988-1990). Produced by Stephen J. Cannell, the short-lived detective comedy series, which also featured his father, gave Van Peebles the opportunity to direct. He received additional behind-the-camera exposure by directing episodes of “21 Jump Street” and “Wiseguy” and the series “Top of the Hill” (all 1989). Still in 1989, Van Peebles wrote and starred as Chilly D in his father directed comedy film, “Identity Crisis.”

Van Peebles' directorial effort gained notice in the early 1990s when he was handed a Directors Guild of America nomination in the category of Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Shows- Daytime for his work in “Malcolm Takes a Shot” (1990) for “CBS Schoolbreak Specials.” He also appeared on the episode as Dr. Thompson. However, the multi-talented artist did not make his feature directorial debut until the following year with the crime/drama “New Jack City,” which went on to become one of his breakthrough hits. “New Jack City” emerged as the highest-grossing project directed by an African-American at its release and provided a breakthrough role for Wesley Snipes. Van Peebles also co-starred in the film. He next starred and directed the multicultural western “Posse” (1993), which was considered less successful than its predecessor.

Returning to the director's chair after appearing in such movies as “Highlander III: The Sorcerer” and “Gunmen” (both 1994), Van Peebles directed the political drama “Panther” (1995), which was written by his father. The movie successfully won Van Peebles the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury - Special Mention and a Silver Leopard at the Locarno International Film Festival.

Van Peebles shared the producing and directing credits with his father for the Showtime film “Gang in Blue” (1996), in which he also starred as Michael Rhoades, and had the title role in Norberto Barba's sci-fi film “Solo” (also 1996) before writing, producing and starring in “Los Locos” (1997), a TV film installment to “Posse” broadcasted on The Movie Channel. He appeared with John Stockwell, Jerry Stiller and Gerald Anthony in the HBO film “Stag” (1997) and wrote, produced and directed “Love Kills” (1998), a comedy/romance also starring Lesley Ann Warren. He then wrote and directed the independent film “Standing Knockdown” (1999). In between the projects, he costarred with Rob Lowe in Albert Pyun's action “Crazy Six” (1998) and Nicollette Sheridan in Avi Nesher's thriller “Raw Nerve” (1999). He was also seen in the TV movies like “Valentine's Day” and “Mama Flora's Family” (both 1998).

In 2000, Van Peebles joined the cast of the Showtime sitcom “Rude Awakening” in the role of Marcus Adams, the love interest of Sherilyn Fenn, and stayed with the show until it ended the following year. He also played James Hemings in the biopic television movie “Sally Hemings: An American Scandal” (2000), starred as John Kross in the John Terlesky-directed “Guardian” (2000) and supported Will Smith in director Michael Mann's acclaimed biopic “Ali” (2001), about the legendary boxer Muhammed Ali. He followed it up with performances in “10,000 Black Men Named George” (2002), “44 Minutes: The North Hollywood Shoot-Out” (2003), directed by Yves Simoneau, “Crown Heights” (Showtime, 2004), “The Hebrew Hammer” (2003) and “Gang of Roses” (2003).

Van Peebles' career, however, did not receive a major boost until he returned to the director's chair for “How to Get the Man's Foot Outta Your Ass/Baadasssss!,” a homage to his father Melvin's 1971 film, “Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song” which premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in September 2003. Also a producer, writer and star, he earned praise for his work. He was handed two Black Reel awards for Best Director and Best Screenplay, Original or Adapted, an Audience Award for Best Feature Film at the Philadelphia Film Festival, as well as three Independent Spirit nominations in the categories of Best Feature, Best Director and Best Screenplay.

Recently, Van Peebles directed episodes of “Damages” (2007) and “Law & Order” (2008). He acted alongside James Remar in the made-for-TV film “Sharpshooter” (2007) and played Samuel Woods on the long-running soap “All My Children” (2008). As for his upcoming projects, Van Peebles is set to play Billy Rust in director Michael Bergmann's comedy “Spring in Her Step” (2008) and Rocky in “Multiple Sarcasms” (2008), a drama by writer/director Brooks Branch. He also directs, writes and stars in the action film “The Uniter” (2009).

Awards:

• Black Reel: Best Director, “How to Get the Man's Foot Outta Your Ass,” 2005

• Black Reel: Best Screenplay, Original or Adapted, “How to Get the Man's Foot Outta Your Ass,” 2005

• Philadelphia Film Festival: Audience Award, Best Feature Film, “How to Get the Man's Foot Outta Your Ass,” 2004

• Locarno International Film Festival: Prize of the Ecumenical Jury - Special Mention, “Panther,” 1995

• Locarno International Film Festival: Silver Leopard, “Panther,” 1995

• Image: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture, “Heartbreak Ridge,” 1989