A sleek ebony body bursts from the screen, like a lightning bolt racing through the jungle—chiseled muscles rippling with every move, deep piercing eyes guiding the way. To the audience this gorgeous flesh is not man, but machine—a combination of polymer and computer chips created to be the perfect soldier, a master of combat. And so, the intriguing story of Solo begins, about man versus technology, cold-hearted desires as opposed to conscious moral choices.
As I turned to leave after watching this first screening of the film, I spotted Mario sitting two rows back. Though he looked much more easygoing than the character I’d just seen him portray on the screen moments before, I could tell by the impish glint in his eye that there was more than a little mischief in his making.
Mario Van Peebles has a presence that conveys his versatile talents and experience. He both directed and acted in New Jack City, Posse and the controversial Panther, written by his father, Melvin Van Peebles. He’s also appeared in lighter fare such as Jaws: The Revenge, Highlander III, and costarred with Clint Eastwood in Heartbreak Ridge. Recently, he once again joined his father as co-star and co-director in his current film project, Phantoms. Tackling roles from television to Broadway, his career continues to span wide and formidable terrain.
When I eventually sat down to talk with Mario, I realized it wasn’t just the track lighting from the theater casting that gleam of devil in his eyes—he does have a bit of the scoundrel in him—which only helps to broaden the allure beyond his fantastic looks.
PLAYGIRL: Hollywood loves to define its characters. How do you define yourself?
Mario Van Peebles: Someone who doesn’t take it all so seriously, who’s playful and has a good sense of humor. You can play much more and experiment with life when you free yourself up. Everyone should learn how to be comfortable with themselves. Sometimes it’s like the person you are and the person you want to become are separate entities. You’ve got to be able to flag the bullshit and not act on it. It’s a lot of fun when you can get to that point, so that you’re not doing your own commercial anymore—which happens a lot in this town.
Then what do you want from a woman?
Sort of the same things I want from myself. As far as looks are concerned, being with a pretty woman is kind of like being with a celebrity—people like you for all the wrong reasons. It’s like when people come up and ask me all sorts of things about what I’ve been doing, as though they know where I’ve been. Or, it’s like being the plumber, and everyone knows your plumbing, “We love that copper plumbing, so you get the best seats in the house.”
Do plumbers get the best seats in the house?
(Laughs) I’m not sure. What I’m saying is, it’s great when a woman is attractive and successful and can still be relaxed about it— she can still have a crazy time. I do think that when attractive women are frequently told they’re sexy, they easily lose perspective. Kind of like the actor who’s constantly told he’s the most wonderful thing on earth. Their attitude’s like, Who am I to disagree with millions of people? (laughs)
How have you dealt with fame?
I saw a rock star on TV the other day and an interviewer asked him how he felt about so many people screaming his name and women throwing their undergarments at him. He said, “Well, you know, Paul Simon said (in his song ‘The Boy in the Bubble”) every generation has their heroes that they throw up on the pedestal. What they’re cheering is the part of them that the celebrity represents.” So, the people who come to me don’t know who I am. They saw something in my movie that captured something that they want to be or see or feel. It’s like being a cheerleader at a pep rally—they’re not cheering me, they’re cheering themselves.
And when they stop cheering?
When you no longer represent what they want to see in themselves, then they cheer the next cat. You’re just representing something that they want to see. It’s the same thing with a physically beautiful woman. She’s got the outside thing going on, and she can get the inside going as well. God just lends you the looks—he doesn’t give them to you for keeps.
Based on the theory that nothing lasts forever?
Yes. Or, we can reach that age when we can’t procreate anymore. Then God says, “Hey! Your eyes can sink in and your teeth can fall out, right now.” (laughs) So when you’ve got it, do the wild thing, baby. Go on! Till then, you’re all right. After that, you’ve got to work it, baby, (laughs) Yeah, man is a funny animal. I don’t know. Does a dog realize that it’s getting old? Does it realize it’s not running as fast as it used to—that other animals are running by him much faster than before? (laughs)
Does the thought of getting older bother you?
Not really. But I read the other day that no matter who you are—rich, poor, healthy or not—most of us in the last 10 years of our lives will need some kind of convalescent care. It’s the last thing you want to think about—that at some point in your life you’ll be needing some changing, plugging or cleaning, (laughs) Whether it happens at 100 because you ate right, or at 60 because you didn’t—it’s not a pleasant thought.
But wouldn’t you say that you take very good care of yourself?
Oh, yeah. I got out there on the beach yesterday and ran for an hour and a half, then I worked out with a friend. I can pass the people by at a pretty good clip. I also run with my dad, who can go by at a faster clip than I can, and he’s 63. I say to myself, Enjoy it while it’s here, have fun with it, and even laugh at it.
The first thing you notice about a woman is…
Good posture. Women who feel good about themselves and it shows. I also like laugh lines. They say that whatever expression you’ve made most in your younger years you wear for the rest of your life. And a nice voice is also very appealing.
Are there any older women in the public eye whom you find sexy?
I have found older women sexy. I haven’t dated anyone recently, but so much of what I find attractive about a person has to do with what they’re like when I meet them. As far as women in the public eye are concerned, I just find so many misconceptions in the press. A while back I was at a party and the press asked if they could take a picture with the actress Stepfanie Kramer and me. We were both doing shows for Stephen Cannell at the time, so I said sure. Then I see it in The Enquirer in the shape of a heart, and I’d never met the woman before in my life! It said that Mario and Stepfanie are going to get married—the cat is finally out of the bag. Next to it they had a big picture of Clint Eastwood giving his thumbs up. Clint wasn’t even at the party. It was a trip. I was hurt because I used to love to believe all those juicy rumors in the tabloids, (laughs)
What kind of upbringing did you have?
I had a fairly unusual and liberal background in that my mother and father were very open with us. My mom is British, French and German, with blonde hair and blue eyes. My dad is black and Native American.
What tribe is he from?
The Slap-a-Ho Tribe, (laughs)
Yes, I saw you do that skit on In Living Color. That’s terrible.
(Laughs) I almost got you, didn’t I? So, I always lived in both worlds. But they were also very hip and relaxed. When everyone was going to the park to make out with their girlfriends, my girlfriends would come over and stay at my house. When everyone was trying to sneak off to smoke, I could smoke at home if I wanted to. My mom would just say, “Some people believe it broadens their horizons. Ultimately, it’s going to mess up your lungs, so do what you feel.” She made her point and I learned. I just didn’t have a lot to rebel against.
Did you go through the Playboy phase?
Oh, yeah. When everyone else couldn’t put Playboy pictures on their wall, I said, “Wow, I’ll put them up!” They went up, and when no one reacted, they came down. For me, it was never about seeing what’s under this or looking what’s over that.
Were you always comfortable with your own nudity?
(Laughs) I remember cracking up when I got my first pubic hair and showing it to my parents. They teased me about it. We just had a whole different perspective— we’re strange.
Perhaps “advanced” is a better word than strange?
I suppose. We had been living in Europe, and when we got to America, suddenly it was like, You’re not supposed to play with girls, or This kid is too poor, or That kid is too different. You just decide which ones you want to step over. I never played into that mentality.
Did your relaxed upbringing ever backfire on you socially?
My school once asked us to draw a picture of our mothers, and I carved an image of my mother in wood and brought it to school, and everybody lost their minds. I had carved her in the nude, because I had been in Amsterdam and seen Rembrandts and other fine art, and that’s how I saw beauty. They were all jumping around, so I said, “How do you think you guys got here?” They didn’t have a clue, so once I realized that, I laughed. I love shocking people anyway.
Did growing up in Europe expand your outlook?
Let me just clarify something: My parents didn’t have money. When my dad finished his first movie, we had $ 13. They were poor students who traveled a lot around Europe, but not because they were wealthy—they were like beatniks. My sister slept in the bathtub. We traveled all around Europe third class. So, it wasn’t a financial privilege, it was more of a worldly education. Whenever we had money it was spent on education.
This reminds me of a class I took with Yogi Harry. He once asked me, “If I gave you a chest full of gold and diamonds, would you trade it for 20 years of your life?” I told him no. Then he said, “Then I’ll just give you a chest full of diamonds. Would you exchange it for 10 years of your life?” He continued on until I realized his point was that our health is more valuable than any material treasure.
Are you saying you haven’t gotten into the material aspects of Hollywood?
I live next door to my mother, I work with my dad, and I’m in a great physical shape. That is my wealth. Everything I own is paid for. I have one car—a Jeep— and I’ve had it for 10 years. In a city where so much is measured by economics, they’re not quite sure what to make of my funky Jeep when I pull up….
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