Mario Cain Van Peebles (born January 15, 1957) is a Mexican-born American actor and director. He is best known for directing the films Posse and New Jack City, as well as several episodes of television.
He is the son of director and filmmaker Melvin Van Peebles, and as a child he appeared in Peebles's breakout film Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song. He would later direct a film about the behind-the-scenes and making of that film titled Baadasssss!.
Selected Filmography
Film
- Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song (1971) as Young Sweetback / Kid
- Exterminator 2 (1984) as X
- South Bronx Heroes (1985) as Tony
- Heartbreak Ridge (1986) as Corporal Stitch Jones
- The Facts of Life Down Under (1987, TV Movie) as David Johnson
- Jaws: The Revenge (1987) as Jake
- New Jack City (1991) as Stone, also director
- Posse (1993) as Jesse Lee, also director
- In the Line of Duty: Street War (1992, TV Movie) as Raymond Williamson
- Gunmen (1993) as Cole Parker
- Highlander III: The Sorcerer (1994) as Kane
- Panther (1995) as Stokely Carmichael
- Solo (1996) as Solo
- Stag (1997) as Michael Barnes
- Ali (2001) as Malcolm X
- The Hebrew Hammer (2003) as Mohammed Ali Paula Abdul Rahim
- BAADASSSSS! (2003) as Melvin Van Peebles, also director
- Gang of Roses (2003) as Jessie Lee (Cameo)
- Carlito's Way: Rise to Power (2005) as Earl
- Hard Luck (2006) as Captain Davis, also director
- Drumline: A New Beat (2014, TV Movie) as Mr. Bolton
- Immortal (2019) as Carl
Television
- L.A. Law (1986) as Andrew Taylor
- Sonny Spoon (1988) as Sonny Spoon
- Damages (2007–2009) as Agent Randall Harrison / Man #2
- All My Children (2008–2009) as Samuel Woods
- Nashville (2014) as Henry Benton (two episodes)
- Superstition (2017) as Isaac Hastings
- Z Nation (2018) as Cooper (three episodes)