Wesley Snipes: filmography, biography, personal life, photo of the actor

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Today, Wesley Snipes is one of the most popular black actors in Hollywood. During his career, he managed to star in dozens of successful films. In addition, Snipes managed to try himself as a director and producer. This man has tens of thousands of fans around the world.

Wesley Snipes: biography and childhood

The future popular actor was born on July 31, 1962 in Orlando, Florida. But Wesley's childhood was spent in the South Bronx (New York). From an early age, the boy saw the lawlessness and cruelty of the streets. But such a fate did not attract him - he decided to devote his life to the acting profession.

That's why he entered the High School of Fine Arts. By the way, there he was rightfully considered the best student. Unfortunately, he could not complete his education, as the family had to move back to Orlando. Nevertheless, Wesley Snipes was not going to give up his stage career.

While studying in Florida, the guy joins the theater troupestreet actors - often he, along with his friends, entertains ordinary passers-by with his performances. After graduation, Wesley goes to New York, where he studies at a state university. At the same time, he often earns money by taking part in theatrical performances. Several times he even starred in commercials.

First movie auditions

In the end, luck smiled at the guy - in 1986 he was offered a small role in the film "Wild Cats", where he plays with Goldie Hawn. In the same year, Wesley starred as a boxer in the film "Streets of Gold", where, by the way, he was able to show off his fighting skills. He also appeared in one of the episodes of the popular TV series Miami Vice. Department of Morals.”

But, despite the impeccably played roles, the young actor was noticed thanks to the filming of the Michael Jackson video for the song "Bad", where he played the leader of a street gang. It was here that his talent fell in love with Spike Lee. In addition, in 1988 he received a cameo role in the film Critical Condition. And in 1989, he played a young baseball player in the movie Major League.

Better Life Blues and first success

After the release of the Michael Jackson video, Wesley Snipes is offered the lead role in the film, which has become a landmark for the guy. In 1990, the movie Better Life Blues premiered. Here he played with Spike Lee, Denzel Washington and Giancarlo Esposita. The image of a talented young musician came out beautiful, which ensured the actor's success.

Wesley Snipes:filmography

In 1991, two more films were released starring Wesley Snipes. His filmography was replenished with "Jungle Fever", where he played the architect Flipper, cheating on his wife with his secretary, as well as the painting "Dance on the Water".

In 1992, he starred in three more films. In the film White Men Can't Jump, he played street basketball player Sidney, and in Boiling Point, he successfully showed himself as an ideal action hero. He consolidated his success in the film "Passenger 57", playing a security officer who alone is trying to deal with a gang of terrorists.

In 1993, the actor worked with Sean Connery on the film Rising Sun, where he got the role of an inexperienced but courageous police lieutenant investigating a murder involving the Japanese mafia.

The film "The Destroyer" and a new round of career

If you are interested in the best films with Wesley Snipes, then, of course, the action movie "Destroyer", which premiered in 1993, should definitely be included in the list. Interestingly, this role was originally intended for Jackie Chan, but he turned it down. Here Wesley appears as a scoundrel - the killer of Simon Phoenix. And it is worth noting that the role of a slightly unbalanced criminal with a strange sense of humor made the actor popular all over the world, and to this day it is considered one of his most successful works. In addition, the audience liked the Stallone-Snipes tandem.

Of course, then followed andother films with the participation of Wesley Snipes. In 1994, he starred in the action movie "Drop Zone", playing the role of police officer Pete, and in 1995 he played one of two brothers, former police officers who, after being fired, decide to turn into robbers and steal a train of money ("Money Train").

In 1997, the actor is working on the film "One Night Stand". Here Wesley Snipes appeared before the audience in a completely unusual role and demonstrated his talents in a dramatic game. This British melodrama received a lot of positive reviews, and Snipes himself won the Volpi Cup in the Best Actor nomination.

Blade Half-Vapire Trilogy: Worldwide Fame

In 1998, the film "Blade" was released, which brought Wesley Snipes worldwide recognition and popularity. Here the actor got the role of a half-man, half-vampire, whose only reason for existence is to fight against night hunters and confront his own nature.

By the way, this film has become really famous. Only one rental in theaters brought in three times more money than the creators spent on shooting it. In 1999, the picture was nominated for a Saturn Award in the Best Horror Film category.

Great success prompted the creators to shoot a continuation of the picture. In 2002, the sequel Blade 2 was released, and already in 2004 - Blade 3: Trinity, where Ryan Reynolds and Jessica Biel also starred along with Wesley Snipes. Unfortunately, the final part of the trilogy did not become as popular as the previous two.

Further acting career

In 2002, the premiere of a new film with the participation of Wesley Snipes took place - the drama "Under the Gun". Here he played the extremist Joe, who took hostages in the theater, trying to avenge the death of his daughter. In 2005, Wesley appeared before the audience as professional thief Jack Taliver in the action movie called "7 Seconds".

In 2005, Snipes, along with Jason Statham, starred in the crime thriller "Chaos". And two years later, a new film "Shooter" appears on the screens, where the actor got the role of James Dailey, a CIA officer. And in the 2009 action movie Brooklyn Cops, Wesley Snipes (photos are presented in this article) played Casanova Philips, a member of the gang.

In 2008, he played the role of Will Sinclair in the film "Back to Basics". And in 2000, another very successful film called "The Art of War" was released. Here Wesley Snipes played Neil Shaw, a UN operative who was framed for murder. By the way, in 2008 the actor starred in the sequel Art of War 2, which, however, was less popular.

In 2010, two action films appeared at once, in which Wesley Snipes starred. His filmography was replenished with the action-packed film "Games of Death", where the actor got the role of a bodyguard of a diplomat.

In the same year, the actor worked on the horror film The Hanged Man, which was released in 2012. Here Wesley appeared in the form of a tough shooter Aman, who is surprised to find that all the people he killed are returning from the other world in the guise of bloodthirsty zombies. Now he, along with the rustic guy Kansa, will have to deal with the invasion of the dead.

From 2010 to 2013 followed by a short break in the career of Snipes, due to legal troubles. However, now the actor is working on the continuation of the famous film "The Expendables 3" along with Sylvester Stallone, Jet Li and other stars.

Private life

In 1985, Wesley Snipes married Puerto Rican April, with whom he lived for 5 years

(the couple filed for divorce in 1990.) It is also known that for some time the actor met in Halle Berry, whom he met during the filming of the film "Jungle Fever". But the star couple broke up pretty quickly. And already in 1996, Wesley quite often appeared in public with the beautiful Asian Donna Wong.

In 2002, the famous actor began dating Nikki Park. And in March 2003, they already played a wedding. And to this day, the couple lives happily together, despite Wesley's problems with the law. By the way, Nikki gave birth to the actor's daughter Aiseth. And in March 2007, the couple had a son, Alimaya Moa-Ti.

Legal Trouble

In April 2008, a federal court in Ocala (a city in the state of Florida) sentenced the actor to prison for tax evasion. Wesley Snipes allegedly evaded payments between 1999 and 2001 and owed the state $15 million.

During the trial, the actor pleaded guilty and offered instant debt repayment in exchange forindulgence that was never expected. True, the execution of the sentence was postponed for some time. For two years, he filed appeals that did not yield any result - in 2010, Snipes received the maximum term in the United States for tax evasion. Wesley Snipes served almost his full sentence in Lewis Run prison - he was released in April 2013 and placed under house arrest until July.