Mario Van Peebles is a famous American movie director and actor. He was born on January 15, 1957, in Mexico City, Mexico. His dad, Melvin Van Peebles, was also an actor and filmmaker.
Mario Van Peebles became known for acting in movies like “Heartbreak Ridge” in 1986 and for directing and starring in “New Jack City” in 1991 and “USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage” in 2016. In 2003, he played his dad in a movie called “Baadasssss!” which he also helped write and direct.
When he was young, Mario traveled a lot with his parents between Europe and the United States. He studied economics at Columbia University.
Mario’s career started in 1968 with a role in the soap opera “One Life to Live.” He appeared in many movies and TV shows throughout the years. One of his big moments was in 1991 when he directed and starred in “New Jack City,” a successful film about gangsters. After that, he continued acting and directing in various projects.
In 2016, he directed the film “USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage,” starring Nicolas Cage. Besides his work in the entertainment industry, Mario Van Peebles is also involved in activism. In 2014, he supported the District of Columbia statehood movement by making a public service video. This is part of a campaign to make Washington, DC the 51st state.