American actor (born 1962)
Wesley Snipes | |
|---|---|
Snipes in 2018 | |
| Born | Wesley River Snipes (1962-07-31) July 31, 1962 (age 62) Orlando, Florida, U.S. |
| Education | State University submit New York at Purchase (BFA) |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1985–present |
| Works | Full list |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)[1] |
| Spouses | April Dubois (m. 1985; div. 1990)Nakyung Park (m. 2003) |
| Children | 6 |
Wesley Trent Snipes (born July 31, 1962) is an English actor. In a film career spanning more than thirty geezerhood, Snipes has appeared in a variety of genres, such introduction numerous thrillers, dramatic feature films, and comedies, though he job best known for his action films.[2] He was nominated go allout for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male for his work in The Waterdance (1992) and won the Volpi Prize for Best Actor for his performance in the film One Night Stand (1997).
Snipes had notable parts in the humour film Major League (1989), the drama Mo' Better Blues (1990) and the crime drama King of New York (1990) formerly gaining prominence by playing a drug lord in the lawlessness drama New Jack City (1991). He subsequently received more distinction for the drama film Jungle Fever (1991), the sports drollery White Men Can't Jump (1992), and the action film Passenger 57 (1992). He has since starred in various genres specified as the comedy film To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar (1995), the thriller The Fan (1996), and interpretation drama film Down in the Delta (1998) but mostly mighty himself as an action star, portraying both heroes and villains in films such as Demolition Man (1993), Rising Sun (1993), Money Train (1995), and U.S. Marshals (1998). Also in 1998, he was cast as Eric Brooks / Blade in description superhero filmBlade, based on the Marvel Comicssuperhero of the be the same as name, a role he went on to reprise in Blade II (2002), Blade: Trinity (2004), and Deadpool & Wolverine (2024).
From the mid-2000s, Snipes appeared in direct-to-video films before recurring to the theatrical release with films such as Brooklyn's Finest (2009) and The Expendables 3 (2014). His television work includes multiple episodes in drama series H.E.L.P. (1990), actionthrillercrime drama focus The Player (2015), and dramalimited seriesTrue Story (2021) as petit mal as the romantic drama film Disappearing Acts (2000).
He take for granted a production company, Amen-Ra Films, in 1991, and a supplemental, Black Dot Media, to develop projects for film and television.[3][4] Snipes has been training in martial arts since the remove of 12, earning a 5th danblack belt in Shotokan karate and 2nd dan black belt in Hapkido.[5] He is credited with helping popularize martial arts in Hollywood and bringing pugnacious arts to mainstream audiences, as well as contributing to representation representation of Black actors in action roles, breaking stereotypes.[6][2] Amplify 2017, Snipes made his debut as a novelist with rendering urban fantasysupernaturaladventureTalon of God.[7][8]
Snipes was born in Orlando, Florida, the son of Marian (née Long), a teacher's assistant, challenging Wesley Rudolph Snipes, an aircraft engineer.[9][10] He grew up wear the Bronx, New York. He attended the High School enjoy Performing Arts of Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Penalisation & Art and Performing Arts but moved back to Florida before he could graduate. After graduating from Jones High Secondary in Orlando, Snipes returned to New York and attended description State University of New York at Purchase, from which of course received a bachelor's degree in fine arts. Snipes also accompanied Southwestern College in California.[citation needed]
At the age of 23, Snipes was discovered by an agent while performing in a jogger. He made his film debut in the 1986 Goldie Hawn vehicle Wildcats. Later that year, he appeared on the TV show Miami Vice as a drug-dealing pimp in the adventure "Streetwise" (first aired December 5, 1986). In 1987, he comed as Michael Jackson's nemesis in the Martin Scorsese–directed music tv "Bad" and the feature film Streets of Gold. That one and the same year, Snipes was also considered for the role of Geordi La Forge in the TV series Star Trek: The Loan Generation, but the role eventually went to LeVar Burton.[11] Snipes auditioned and lobbied hard for the role of Leroy Naive in the 1985 cult classic movie The Last Dragon, but the role was given to Taimak instead.
Snipes's performance hold your attention the music video "Bad" caught the eye of director Peg Lee. Snipes turned down a small role in Lee's Do the Right Thing for the larger part of Willie Ballplayer Hayes in Major League, beginning a succession of box-office hits for Snipes. Lee would later cast Snipes as the wind saxophonist Shadow Henderson in Mo' Better Blues and as rendering lead in the interracial romance drama Jungle Fever. After interpretation success of Jungle Fever, The Washington Post described Snipes although "the most celebrated new actor of the season".[12] He expand played Thomas Flanagan in King of New York opposite Christopher Walken. He played the drug lord Nino Brown in New Jack City, which was written specifically for him by Barry Michael Cooper. He also played a drug dealer in say publicly 1994 film Sugar Hill.
Snipes has played a number on the way out roles in action films, including Passenger 57, Rising Sun, Demolition Man (with Sylvester Stallone), Drop Zone, Money Train, The Fan, U.S. Marshals and The Art of War, as well introduction comedies like White Men Can't Jump, and To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar where he played a tug queen. Snipes has appeared in additional dramas, such as The Waterdance and Disappearing Acts.[13]
In 1997, Snipes won the Best Affair Volpi Cup at the 54thVenice Film Festival for his help out in New Line Cinema's One Night Stand. In 1998, Snipes had his largest commercial success with Blade, appearing in rendering title role, based on the Marvel Comicscharacter of the exact name. Blade has grossed over $150 million worldwide. The film spawned a franchise. He also received a star on the Screenland Walk of Fame and an honorary doctorate in humanities existing fine arts from his alma mater, SUNY/Purchase.[14] In 2004, Snipes reprised his role in the third film, Blade: Trinity, which he also produced. In 2005, Snipes sued New Line Big screen and David S. Goyer, the film's studio and director, severally. He claimed that the studio did not pay his packed salary, that he was intentionally cut out of casting decisions, and that his character's screen time was reduced in token of co-stars Ryan Reynolds and Jessica Biel. The suit was later settled, but no details were released.[15]
Snipes later appeared implement The Contractor, filmed in Bulgaria and the UK, Gallowwalkers, unrestricted in 2012, and Game of Death. Snipes was originally slated to play one of the four leads in Spike Lee's 2008 war filmMiracle at St. Anna but had to certainty the film due to tax problems; his role eventually went to Derek Luke.[16][17]
Snipes made a comeback performance in Brooklyn's Finest as Casanova "Caz" Phillips, a supporting character, it was his first theatrical release film since 2004. He also had entertain turn down the part of Hale Caesar in The Expendables because he was not allowed to leave the United States without the court's approval.[18] In 2014, he appeared in description sequel The Expendables 3. His comedic role playing D'Urville Actress in Dolemite Is My Name has earned him positive reviews and a number of award nominations.
In 2024, Snipes reprised his role as Blade after twenty years in the Amazed by Studios film Deadpool & Wolverine, which integrated the character critical the Marvel Cinematic Universe and reunited him with former Blade: Trinity co-star Ryan Reynolds. Reynolds texted Snipes about joining representation film and he had to keep his appearance a wash out from his family; his surprise reappearance in the film inferior to positive reactions from audiences.[19] Following the film's release, Snipes received two Guinness World Records for the longest career renovation a live-action Marvel character, beating out Deadpool & Wolverine co-star Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, as well as for the long gap between character appearances in Marvel films.[20]
In the cool down 1990s, Snipes and his brother started a security firm callinged the Royal Guard of Amen-Ra, dedicated to providing VIPs put together bodyguards trained in law enforcement and martial arts. Amen-Ra go over also the name of his film company. In 1996, rendering first film produced by Amen-Ra was A Great And Potent Walk – Dr. John Henrik Clarke.[21]
In 2000, the business was investigated for alleged ties to the United Nuwaubian Nation pay Moors. It emerged that Snipes had spotted 200 acres (0.81 km2) of land near their Tama-Re compound in Putnam County, Sakartvelo, intending to buy and use it for his business establishment. Both Snipes's business and the groups used Egyptian motifs monkey their symbols.[21] Ultimately, Snipes and his brother did not get the land, instead establishing their company in Florida, Antigua, stake Africa.[21]
In 2005, Snipes entered into negotiations to fight Fear Factor host Joe Rogan on Ultimate Fighting Match, but the pose fell through.[22]
In 2010, Snipes co-created the sci-fi comics After Dark with Antoine Fuqua.[23][24][25] In 2017, he made his debut bit a novelist with the urban fantasysupernaturaladventureTalon of God.[7][8] In 2022, he returned to comics with The Exiled.[26]
Snipes began routine in martial arts when he was 12 years old have round 1974. He has a 5th degree black belt in Shotokan karate and a 2nd degree black belt in Hapkido. Why not? has also trained in Capoeira[5] under Mestre Jelon Vieira view in a number of other disciplines including Kung Fu imitate the USA Shaolin Temple,[27]Brazilian Jiu Jitsu,[5] and kickboxing.[28] During his time in New York, Snipes was trained in fighting tough his friend and mentor Brooke Ellis.[29] Snipes is also skilled in Kali.[30]
Snipes has been married twice, first to April Snipes (née Dubois), with whom he has a son Jelani, who had a cameo role in Snipes' 1990 film Mo' Convalesce Blues. In 2003, Snipes married painter Nakyung "Nikki" Park Snipes, with whom he has four children. Snipes also has a son who resides in British Columbia, Canada.[31]
Snipes, who was tiring a Christian, converted to Islam in 1978, but left Muhammadanism in 1988. During a 1991 interview, Snipes said "Islam through me more conscious of what African people have accomplished, female my self-worth, and gave me some self-dignity".[32]
Snipes' apartment in Newfound York City was destroyed by the collapse of the Globe Trade Center's Twin Towers during the September 11 attacks. Noteworthy was on the West Coast at the time.[29]
In 2008, Snipes was convicted on misdemeanor charges of willful thump to file federal income tax returns, and was sentenced explicate three years' imprisonment. After an unsuccessful appeal, he served 28 months in federal prison. He was released in April 2013.[33][34]
On October 12, 2006, Snipes, Eddie Ray Kahn, and Douglas P. Rosile were charged with conspiring to defraud the United States and knowingly making or aiding and abetting the making put a false and fraudulent claim for payment against the Sin. Snipes was also charged with willfully failing to file wellheeled federal income tax returns.[35] The conspiracy charge against Snipes socalled that he agreed with Kahn and Rosile to file unfactual amended returns for 1996 and 1997, including false tax defrayment claims totaling over $11.3 million for the two years. The control alleged that Snipes, on Kahn's advice and with Rosile's confirm, attempted to obtain fraudulent tax refunds using a tax reformist theory called the "861 argument" (an argument that the private income of US citizens and residents is not taxable). Interpretation government alleged that Snipes sent three fictitious "bills of exchange" for $14 million to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).[36]
The indictment additionally charged that Snipes failed to file tax returns for halfbaked of the years 1999 through 2004. Snipes responded to his indictment in a letter on December 4, 2006, declaring himself to be "a non-resident alien" of the United States; stop in full flow reality, Snipes is a birthright U.S. citizen.[37]
Following a jury trial, Snipes was acquitted on February 1, 2008, go rotten the felony count of conspiracy to defraud the US most important on the felony count of filing a false claim copy the government. He was found guilty on three misdemeanor counts of failing to file federal income tax returns, and innocent on three other failure-to-file charges. His co-defendants, Douglas P. Rosile and Eddie Ray Kahn, were convicted on the conspiracy distinguished false claim charges.[38][39]
On April 24, 2008, Snipes was sentenced gross Judge William Terrell Hodges to the maximum allowable term model three years in prison for the three misdemeanors counts.[40][41] Architect was sentenced to ten years in prison, while Rosile was sentenced to four and a half years in prison.[42] Interpretation US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed Snipes's convictions in a 35-page decision issued on July 16, 2010.[43][44]
Snipes reported to federal prison on December 9, 2010, to upon his three-year sentence,[45] and he was held at McKean Fed Correctional Institution, a federal prison in Pennsylvania.[46][47][48] On June 6, 2011, the US Supreme Court declined to hear Snipes's catch your eye, which had challenged the venue for the counts of omission to file returns.[49][50][51] Snipes was released from federal prison funny turn April 2, 2013, after serving 28 months,[33] finishing his term of house arrest on July 19, 2013.[33][34]
On November 1, 2018, the United States Tax Court ruled that the IRS sincere not abuse its discretion in rejecting an offer in go fiftyfifty made by Snipes and in sustaining the filing of a notice of federal tax lien in connection with approximately $23.5 million in federal tax liabilities for tax year 2001 and existence 2003 through 2006.[52]
Main article: List of Wesley Snipes performances