Mandela Van Peebles (born June 4, 1994) is an American actor best known for his roles in We the Party, BAADASSSSS!, the remake of Roots, and the Saw franchise.
Personal Life[]
Mandela Van Peebles was born in Los Angeles, California. He is one of two siblings born to director and actor Mario Van Peebles and Lisa Vitello, as well as a grandson of filmmaker Melvin Van Peebles and Maria (née Marx). He is officially named after Nelson Mandela. Living up to his namesake, Van Peebles once traveled to South Africa, where he spent his time doing volunteer work, tutoring, and furthering his interest in social justice, specifically in Johannesburg and Cape Town. This experience compelled him to write in his free time.
Career[]
Van Peebles graduated from Loyola Marymount University with a Bachelor's in Communications in May 2016. The same year, he appeared in USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage and the TV miniseries Roots, based on Alex Haley's epic story. Cast as Noah, he plays a field hand with a hunger for freedom, whose actions cause Kunta Kinte and Belle's beloved daughter, Kizzy, to be sold to another plantation owner.
While attending college, Van Peebles has acted in several feature films, including his first starring role in We the Party, Baadasssss!, American Warships, and the documentary short film Bring Your 'A' Game.
As he grew up, Van Peebles repeatedly took the opportunity to act alongside his father, grandfather, and siblings. Keeping with family traditions, he has lent his talents to music, hip-hop, and creative writing.
Filmography[]
Films[]
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Judgment Day | Marley |
| 2003 | How to Get the Man's Foot Outta Your Ass | Angel Muse |
| Baadasssss! | ||
| 2009 | Bring Your 'A' Game | Virtual Player |
| 2012 | We the Party | Hendrix |
| American Battleship | Lookout Dunbar | |
| 2016 | USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage | Theodore |
| 2017 | Jigsaw | Mitch |
| 2019 | Limbo | Sam |
| A Clear Shot | Shawn | |
| 2024 | Outlaw Posse | Decker |
Television Series[]
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Mario's Green House | |
| 2016 | Roots | Noah |
| 2021 | Power Book III: Raising Kanan | Wannabe Hustler |
| Mayor of Kingstown | Sam | |
| 2021-2023 | Wu-Tang: An American Saga | 9th Prince / Shank |
| 2022-2024 | Reginald the Vampire | Maurice Miller |
Television Films[]
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Karma | Manny Everett |
| 2021 | Salt-N-Pepa | Sweet Tooth |
Gallery[]
External Links[]
Mandela Van Peebles on Wikipedia
Mandela Van Peebles at the Internet Movie Database
Mandela Van Peebles on Twitter
Mandela Van Peebles on Instagram