Wesley Snipes facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Wesley Snipes
Snipes in 2018
Born	Wesley Trent Snipes (1962-07-31) July 31, 1962 (age 62) Orlando, Florida, U.S.
Education	State University of New York at Purchase (BFA)
Occupation	Actor producer martial artist
Years active	1985–present
Works	Full list
Height	5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Spouse(s)	April Dubois ​ ​ (m. 1985; div. 1990)​ Nakyung Park ​ (m. 2003)​
Children	6

Wesley Trent Snipes (born July 31, 1962) is a famous American actor, producer, and martial artist. He has starred in many movies and TV shows for over thirty years. Wesley Snipes is especially known for his exciting action films. He has also appeared in comedies and dramas.

Snipes won an award called the Volpi Cup for Best Actor for his role in the film One Night Stand (1997). He also got a nomination for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male for his work in The Waterdance (1992).

He became very well-known for movies like Jungle Fever (1991), the funny sports movie White Men Can't Jump (1992), and the action-packed Passenger 57 (1992). He played both heroes and villains in action films such as Demolition Man (1993) and U.S. Marshals (1998).

In 1998, he took on the role of Eric Brooks / Blade in the superhero film Blade. This movie was based on the Marvel Comics character. He played Blade again in Blade II (2002), Blade: Trinity (2004), and even recently in Deadpool & Wolverine (2024).

Wesley Snipes also appeared in TV shows like The Player (2015) and True Story (2021). He started his own production company, Amen-Ra Films, in 1991. He also has a company called Black Dot Media.

Snipes has been training in martial arts since he was 12 years old. He has high-level black belts in Shotokan karate and Hapkido. He is known for helping to make martial arts popular in Hollywood. He also helped more Black actors get action roles, breaking old stereotypes. In 2017, Wesley Snipes wrote his first novel, an urban fantasy adventure called Talon of God.

Early Life and Education

Wesley Snipes was born in Orlando, Florida. His mother, Marian, was a teacher's assistant, and his father, Wesley, was an aircraft engineer. He grew up in the Bronx, New York.

He went to the High School of Performing Arts in New York. Later, he moved back to Florida and graduated from Jones High School in Orlando. After that, he returned to New York. He studied at the State University of New York at Purchase and earned a bachelor's degree in fine arts. Snipes also attended Southwestern College in California.

Acting Career Highlights

Snipes signing autographs at San Diego Comic-Con in 2010

Wesley Snipes was discovered by an agent when he was 23 years old. His first movie role was in Wildcats in 1986. In 1987, he appeared in Michael Jackson's music video for the song "Bad". He also starred in the film Streets of Gold that same year.

His performance in the "Bad" music video caught the attention of director Spike Lee. Snipes chose a bigger role in the movie Major League instead of a small part in Lee's Do the Right Thing. This started a series of successful movies for Snipes. Spike Lee later cast Snipes in his films Mo' Better Blues and Jungle Fever. After Jungle Fever was a hit, a newspaper called Snipes "the most celebrated new actor of the season."

Snipes has played many roles in action films. These include Passenger 57, Rising Sun, Demolition Man (with Sylvester Stallone), and The Art of War. He also starred in comedies like White Men Can't Jump and To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar, where he played a drag queen.

In 1997, Snipes won the Best Actor Volpi Cup at the 54th Venice Film Festival for his role in One Night Stand. In 1998, he had huge success with Blade, playing the main character based on the Marvel Comics hero. Blade made over $150 million worldwide and led to a film franchise. He also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Snipes with Ethan Hawke at the 66th Venice International Film Festival

Snipes later appeared in movies like The Contractor and Gallowwalkers. In 2014, he appeared in the action movie The Expendables 3. His funny role in Dolemite Is My Name earned him good reviews and award nominations.

Snipes in 2014, at the French premiere of The Expendables 3

In 2024, Snipes returned to play Blade after twenty years in the Marvel Studios film Deadpool & Wolverine. This movie brought his character into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. His surprise appearance in the film was very popular with audiences. After the movie came out, Snipes received two Guinness World Records. One was for the longest career as a live-action Marvel character. The other was for the longest time between appearances for a character in Marvel films.

Other Projects

In the late 1990s, Snipes and his brother started a security company called the Royal Guard of Amen-Ra. This company trained bodyguards for important people using law enforcement and martial arts skills. Amen-Ra is also the name of his film company. In 1996, his company produced its first film, A Great And Mighty Walk – Dr. John Henrik Clarke.

In 2010, Snipes helped create the sci-fi comics After Dark. In 2017, he became a novelist with his urban fantasy adventure book Talon of God. He also returned to comics in 2022 with The Exiled.

Personal Life and Interests

Snipes with wife Nikki Park in 2009

Wesley Snipes started training in martial arts when he was 12 years old in 1974. He has a 5th-degree black belt in Shotokan karate and a 2nd-degree black belt in Hapkido. He has also trained in other martial arts like Capoeira, Kung Fu, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and kickboxing.

Snipes has been married twice. His first wife was April Snipes, and they have a son named Jelani. Jelani even had a small role in Snipes' 1990 film Mo' Better Blues. In 2003, Snipes married painter Nakyung "Nikki" Park Snipes. They have four children together. Snipes also has another son.

Filmography

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Wesley Snipes para niños