Media Field, Celebrity Category

Debra Poneman, Emcee

Mario was born in Mexico City in 1957 and had his movie debut when he was 13 in his father's, the iconic 70’s filmmaker Melvin Van Peebles, 1971 film Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song.

Not thinking he would chose acting as his life’s work, he earned a B.A. in Economics from Columbia University in 1978 and became an analyst for the New York City Mayor's Office of Management and Budget under Mayor Edward Koch. His green career may very well have started when he was then assigned to the Environmental Protection Agency budget task force.

He continued to waver between a career in finance and a career in acting before choosing to become a full-time actor after appearing in the 1984 hit film The Cotton Club.

In 1991, Mario was chosen by People magazine as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the world – it’s hard to disagree – and after several decades of acting, directing and producing his own films, Mario, now turned environmentalist, has a new project on the horizon.

Produced in association with Equator HD, Mario’s Green House is set to premiere in 2009. Part family comedy, part environmental "how-to," MARIO'S GREEN HOUSE is a fun and accessible approach to a vital and timely topic - one man's quest to make his everyday life part of a sustainable future. This unscripted program features Mario, who has just made a resolution to go green, along with his wife, Chitra, and his five high-energy kids.

In the show Mario embarks on a massive eco-sensitive renovation of his house as part of a newfound commitment to green living. He hopes that the renovation will be a creative and meaningful project for his entire family, but with a busy Hollywood career and a full-time job as Dad, Mario soon learns that major construction is just the tip of the iceberg and he needs a whole lifestyle makeover.

MARIO'S GREEN HOUSE follows Mario as he juggles the complexities of going green, including planning, budgets, design, and time management. He also receives opinions and advice from others, including his mother, Maria, and his father, Melvin, and an array of celebrity friends. In addition, Mario deals with concerns from his Baldwin Hills neighbors as they question the concept of green living.

Viewers will experience fun, challenging stories of the Van Peebles family and their friends, while learning about how to live green. And for this contribution to the environment, I would like to honor the entire Van Peebles family, including Chitra and the children, and invite them all to come up and receive their certificate inducting them into the Environmental Hall of Fame.

Mario Van Peebles
Mario’s Green House
MVP’s Green House

Mario once worked for the EPA. Mario is currently playing a lawyer advocate for the environment on All My Children. He has been a guest on Ed Begley’s show

1) Mario's Family: http://celebrity.elle.com/movie_stars/celebrity-photo-10121054-Mario+Van+Peebles

2) Mario and Father Melvyn:
http://www.theroot.com/id/45746

3) Mario's Green House:
http://www.rainbow-media.com/release_release_press.jsp?nodeid=5798

4) All My Children: http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20179944,00.html

5) http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/03/28/vooms-equator-hd-readies-several-new-original-series/