Mario Van Peebles is a highly accomplished director, actor, producer, and writer, renowned for his exceptional directorial skills, as exemplified in the retelling of the epic mini-series "Roots" starring Forest Whitaker and Matthew Goode.
As a director, Van Peebles has showcased his versatility by helming award-winning shows such as "Empire", "The Last Ship", "Sons of Anarchy", "Lost", "Damages", and "Boss". His impressive acting credits are equally noteworthy, with notable roles in films like "New Jack City", "Posse", "Panther", "Ali", "Cotton Club", "Heartbreak Ridge", and several projects with Ava DuVernay.
A true independent filmmaker at heart, Van Peebles grew up influenced by his father, the maverick filmmaker Melvin Van Peebles. With a multifaceted skillset as a director, screenwriter, playwright, novelist, and composer, Van Peebles is known for funding his own work.
Throughout his career, Van Peebles has brought challenging and compelling material to the screen, including his directorial breakout hit "New Jack City", his hip-hop coming-of-age film "We the Party", and his documentary short "Bring You're a Game". He also directed the critically acclaimed film "Baadasssss!", which was one of Ebert and Roeper's ten best movies of the year for 2004.
As a director, Van Peebles has a unique ability to elicit strong performances from his fellow actors, who often remark that he creates a collaborative climate where they feel free to do their best work. He believes his background as an actor helps him approach the actor's character development process internally, while being a director has made him a more trusting and nuanced actor.
In addition to his impressive filmography, Van Peebles has received an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Hofstra University in 1994. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Columbia University and spent two years working at New York's Department of Environmental Protection before pursuing a career in Hollywood.
Van Peebles is also passionate about supporting education and eco-consciousness through media, as showcased in his reality show "Mario's Green House", where he teamed up with his five children and his father to chronicle their attempts to raise their eco-consciousness and go green in Hollywood. Despite not achieving a completely green lifestyle, Van Peebles jokes that they managed to reach "Olive green" instead.
