Wesley Snipes

 At the age of 23, Snipes was discovered by an agent when he was performing in a contest. Snipes made his film debut with the 1986 Goldie Hawn movie Wildcats. He appeared later that year on Miami Vice as a drug-dealing merchant in episode "Streetwise" that aired the first episode on December 5th in 1986. He played Michael Jackson's antagonist in the Martin Scorsese-directed music video "Bad" (1987) as well as the feature film Streets of Gold (1987). Snipes was also thought of for the role of Geordi la Forge in Star Trek: The Next Generation. However, the role was awarded to LeVar. Seven years ago, Snipes auditioned & lobbied hard for the role of Leroy Green in the 1985 film that became a cult classic The Last Dragon but the part was awarded to Taimak instead Snipes's performance in the music video "Bad" attracted the attention of the 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, beginning a succession of box-office smashes for Snipes. Lee later cast Snipes as jazz saxophonist Shadow Henderson in Mo' Better Blues and as the lead in the romantic comedy Jungle Fever. The Washington Post called Snipes "the most famous new actor of the season" after Jungle Fever's success. The actor played Thomas Flanagan opposite Christopher Walken in King of New York. Barry Michael Cooper wrote the part of Nino Brown, a drug lord, in New Jack City. He was also a dealer in Sugar Hill 1994. Marshals and Rising Sun, as well as comedies like White Men Can't Jump, and To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar where he played the role of a drag queen. Snipes has been featured in dramas such as The Waterdance and Disappearing Acts.In 1997, he was awarded 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 as the main character. The film has made more than $150 million globally. This was the beginning of an entire series. Snipes also earned an honorary star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and an honorary doctorate in humanities and fine arts from his school of choice, SUNY/Purchase. [10] He reprised his part in Blade: Trinity in 2004 as well as producing. He filed a lawsuit against New Line Cinema, David S. Goyer and the director of the film in 2005. He claimed that the studio didn't pay his full salary, that the studio deliberately omitted him of casting decisions, and his character's screen time was cut in favor of co-stars Ryan Reynolds and Jessica Biel. The lawsuit was later resolved, but no specifics were released.Snipes later discussed reprising the character as Blade in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but was replaced by Mahershala Ali. Trinity was his final theatrical release in the U.S. until 2010.Snipes with Ethan Hawke during the 66th Venice International Film FestivalHe later appeared in The Contractor, filmed in Bulgaria and the UK, Gallowwalkers, released in 2012 as well as Game of Death. Snipes was originally scheduled to play one of the four leads in Spike Lee's war film Miracle at St. Anna but was forced to drop the movie due to tax issues; his role eventually went to Derek Luke Snipes in 2014, at the French premiere of The Expendables Snipes made a return performance in Brooklyn's Finest as Casanova "Caz" Phillips, a supporting character, it was his first theatrically released film since 2004. Snipes also had to decline his role as Hale Caesar in The Expendables in order to avoid leaving the United States without permission from the court. He appeared in The Expendables 2 in 2014. He was the role-playing comedy character of D'Urville in Dolemite Is My Name. VentureSnipes was also a part of the team. He and his brother started the Royal Guard of Amen-Ra in the latter part of 1990. The company was a security provider that supplied bodyguards trained in law enforcement as well as martial arts for the elite. Amen-Ra is also the name of the film company he runs. In the year 1996, the debut film produced by Amen-Ra was A Great And Mighty Walk with Dr. John Henrik Clarke.In 2000, the business was investigated over alleged connections to the United Nuwaubian Nations of Moors. Snipes was alleged to have found 200 acres (0.81km2) of land that was close to their Tama-Re compound, Putnam County, Georgia. He wanted it used for his business academy. Both Snipes as well as the other groups utilized Egyptian symbols as their symbol. Ultimately, Snipes and his brother did not buy the land, instead establishing their own company in Florida, Antigua, and Africa In 2005, Snipes entered into negotiations to fight Fear Factor host Joe Rogan on Ultimate Fighting Match, but the agreement ended in failure.