Son of director Melvin Van Peebles, father of Maya Van Peebles, Marley Van Peebles, Mandela Van Peebles.
Chosen by People magazine as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the world. [1991]
Earned a B.A. in Economics from Columbia University in 1978.
Brother of Megan Van Peebles and Max Van Peebles.
His movie debut came when he was 13 in his father's 1971 film Sweet Sweetback's Baad Asssss Song (1971), where he had a love scene with an older woman.
Mother is German actress Maria Marx.
Was an analyst for the New York City Mayor's Office of Managment and Budget under Mayor Koch during the city's fiscal crisis in 1979. Assigned to the Environmental Protection Agency budget task force.