Wesley Trent Snipes (born July 31, 1962) is an American actor, film producer, and martial artist. He has starred in action-adventures, thrillers and dramatic feature films, but is best known for his role as Blade in the Blade trilogy. In 1991, the actor formed a production company called Amen Ra Films, and a subsidiary, Black Dot Media, to develop projects for film and television. Snipes has been training in martial arts since age twelve, earning the rank of fifth dan black belt in Shotokan Karate. He has also trained as a student of Capoeira under Mestre Jelon Vieira and in a number of other disciplines including various styles of Kung Fu.

In 2008, Snipes was convicted on three misdemeanor counts of willful failure to file federal income tax returns, and on April 24 sentenced to three years in prison. Snipes sentenced to three years BBC News retrieved April 24 2008 On May 22, the trial court ruled that Snipes may remain free while his appeal is being considered. Stephen Hudak, "Judge grants appellate bond for Wesley Snipes", Orlando Sentinel, May 22, 2008.

Early life

Snipes was born July 31, 1962 in Orlando, Florida, the son of Marian, a teacher's aide, and an aircraft engineer father.1ST PERSON: Meet Wesley Snipes. | Knight Ridder/Tribune (via Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service) (August, 2000) He grew up in the Bronx, New York City, and attended the famed LaGuardia High School of Performing Arts, but moved back to Florida before he could graduate. After graduating from Jones High School in Orlando,[1] Snipes returned to New York and attended the State University of New York at Purchase, earning a B.A. and later began pursuing an acting career.