Wesley Snipes - Wikipedia

Acting

At the age of 23, Snipes was discovered by an agent while performing in a competition. 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 episode "Streetwise" (first aired December 5, 1986). In 1987, he appeared as Michael Jackson's nemesis in the Martin Scorsese–directed music video "Bad" and the feature film Streets of Gold. That same year, Snipes was also considered for the role of Geordi La Forge in the TV series Star Trek: The Next Generation, but the role eventually went to LeVar Burton.[12] Snipes auditioned and lobbied hard for the role of Leroy Green in the 1985 cult classic movie The Last Dragon, but the role was given to Taimak instead.

Snipes's performance in the music video "Bad" caught the eye of director Spike Lee. Snipes turned down a small role in Lee's Do the Right Thing for the larger part of Willie Mays Hayes in Major League (1989), beginning a succession of box-office hits for Snipes. Lee would later cast Snipes as the jazz saxophonist Shadow Henderson in Mo' Better Blues (1990) and as the lead in the interracial romance drama Jungle Fever (1991). After the success of Jungle Fever, The Washington Post described Snipes as "the most celebrated new actor of the season".[13] He then played Thomas Flanagan in King of New York (1990) opposite Christopher Walken. He played the drug lord Nino Brown in New Jack City (1991), which was written specifically for him by Barry Michael Cooper. He also played a drug dealer in the 1994 film Sugar Hill.

Snipes has played a number of roles in action films, including Passenger 57 (1992), Rising Sun (1993), Demolition Man (1993) (with Sylvester Stallone), Drop Zone (1994), Money Train (1995), The Fan (1996), U.S. Marshals (1998) and The Art of War (2000), as well as comedies like White Men Can't Jump (1992), and To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar (1995) where he played a drag queen. Snipes has appeared in additional dramas, such as The Waterdance (1992) and Disappearing Acts (2000).[14]

In 1997, Snipes won the Best Actor Volpi Cup at the 54th Venice Film Festival for his performance in New Line Cinema's One Night Stand. In 1998, Snipes had his largest commercial success with Blade, appearing in the title role, based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name. Blade has grossed over $150 million worldwide and the film spawned a franchise. He also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and an honorary doctorate in humanities and fine arts from his alma mater, SUNY/Purchase.[15] In 2002, Snipes reprised his role in Blade II, and in 2004, starred in a third film, Blade: Trinity, both of which he also produced. In 2005, Snipes sued New Line Cinema and David S. Goyer, the film's studio and director, respectively. He claimed that the studio did not pay his full salary, that he was intentionally cut out of casting decisions, and that his character's screen time was reduced in favor of co-stars Ryan Reynolds and Jessica Biel. The suit was later settled, but no details were released.[16]

Snipes later appeared in The Contractor (2007), filmed in Bulgaria and the UK, Game of Death (2010), and Gallowwalkers (2012). Snipes was originally slated to play one of the four leads in Spike Lee's 2008 war film Miracle at St. Anna but had to leave the film due to tax problems; his role eventually went to Derek Luke.[17][18]

Snipes made a comeback performance in Brooklyn's Finest (2009) as Casanova "Caz" Phillips, a supporting character; it was his first theatrical release film since 2004. He also had to 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.[19] In 2014, he appeared in the sequel The Expendables 3. His comedic role playing D'Urville Martin in Dolemite Is My Name earned him positive reviews and a number of award nominations.

In 2024, Snipes reprised his role as Blade after twenty years in the Marvel Studios film Deadpool & Wolverine, which integrated the character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and reunited him with former Blade: Trinity co-star Ryan Reynolds. Reynolds texted Snipes about joining the film and he had to keep his appearance a secret from his family; his surprise reappearance in the film led to positive reactions from audiences.[20] Following the film's release, Snipes received two Guinness World Records for the longest career as a live-action Marvel character, beating out Deadpool & Wolverine co-star Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, as well as for the longest gap between character appearances in Marvel films.[21]

Other ventures

In the late 1990s, Snipes and his brother started a security firm called the Royal Guard of Amen-Ra, dedicated to providing VIPs with bodyguards trained in law enforcement and martial arts. Amen-Ra is also the name of his film company. In 1996, the first film produced by Amen-Ra was A Great Aand Mighty Walk – Dr. John Henrik Clarke.[22]

In 2000, the business was investigated for alleged ties to the United Nuwaubian Nation of Moors. It emerged that Snipes had spotted 200 acres (81 ha) of land near their Tama-Re compound in Putnam County, Georgia, intending to buy and use it for his business academy. Both Snipes's business and the groups used Egyptian motifs as their symbols.[22] Ultimately, Snipes and his brother did not buy the land, instead establishing their company in Florida, Antigua, and Africa.[22]

In 2005, Snipes entered into negotiations to fight Fear Factor host Joe Rogan on Ultimate Fighting Match, but the deal fell through.[23]

In 2010, Snipes co-created the sci-fi comic series After Dark with Antoine Fuqua.[24][25][26] In 2017, he made his debut as a novelist with the urban fantasy supernatural adventure Talon of God.[8][9] In 2022, he returned to comics with The Exiled.[27]