The Evolution Of Wesley Snipes

The legendary actor turns 61 years old today.

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Legendary actor Wesley Snipes turns 61 years old today. Here is an epic look at his iconic evolution on the big and small screen.

Photo By ABC via Getty Images

Miami Vice - Wesley Snipes' first role was playing the drug dealing pimp Silk on the cop show Miami Vice with Don Johnson. (Photo: NBC)

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Miami Vice - In 1986, one of Wesley Snipes' first roles was playing the drug dealing pimp Silk on the cop show Miami Vice. (Photo: NBC)

Bad - Wesley was cast in Martin Scorcese's epic video for Michael Jackson's Bad, as a former friend of Michael's who torments him until Michael shows him who's bad. (Photo: Epic Records)

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The following year, Snipes was cast in Martin Scorcese's epic video for Michael Jackson's Bad, as a former friend of Michael's who torments him until Michael shows him who's bad. (Photo: Epic Records)

Mo Better Blues - Snipes played Shadow in Spike Lee's Mo Better Blues, an ambitious saxophonist eager to get out of the shadow of trumpet player Bleak Gilliam, played by Denzel Washington. (Photo: Universal Pictures)

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Mo Better Blues - In 1990, Snipes played Shadow in Spike Lee's Mo Better Blues, an ambitious saxophonist eager to get out of the shadow of trumpet player Bleak Gilliam, played by Denzel Washington. (Photo: Universal Pictures)

New Jack City

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New Jack City - In 1991, Wesley Snipes officially became a household name when he played Nino Brown in this Mario Van Peebeles directed flick.

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Jungle Fever - Wesley played a married architect who had an affair with his white secretary in Jungle Fever, which was directed by Spike Lee and featured Samuel L. Jackson. (Photo: Universal Pictures)

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Jungle Fever - The year of Snipes continued in 1991, when Wesley played a married architect who had an affair with his white secretary in Jungle Fever, which was directed by Spike Lee and featured Samuel L. Jackson. (Photo: Universal Pictures)

Wesley Snipes - Snipes hustles in this flick, joining forces with an unlikely frenemy played by Woody Harrelson. The two men con b-ballers out of their money by as a lean, mean, hopping machine team in 1992's White Men Can't Jump.  (Photo: Twentieth Century FOX)

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White Men Can't Jump - In 1992's White Men Can't Jump, Wesley played Sidney Deane, a basketball player who teams up with a white player in order to hustle money out of unsuspecting basketball players. (Photo: Twentieth Century FOX)

Passenger 57 - In Passenger 57, Snipes plays a former police officer who winds up on a plane that is hijacked by a master terrorist who never learned to always bet on Black. (Photo: Warner Bros.)

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Passenger 57 - Also in '92, in Passenger 57, Snipes plays a former police officer who winds up on a plane that is hijacked by a master terrorist who never learned to always bet on Black. (Photo: Warner Bros.)

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Demolitian Man - In 1993's Demolition Man, Snipes plays a villain who was frozen in the past and wakes up in the future to face off against a police officer played by Sylvester Stallone. The movie also became a video game. (Photo: Warner Bros.)

Photo By Warner Bros.

Wesley Snipes in Too Wong Foo - Before metrosexuality became mainstream and gender-bending turned into a must-do for actors, Wesley Snipes risked his action hero reputation to snap on a pair of panty hose and play drag queen Noxeema Jackson in this off-beat road trip movie. Credit goes to Snipes for turning the spectacle into one of his most memorable and heartfelt roles to date.   (Photos from left: Ben Rose/PictureGroup, Universal Pictures)

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Too Wong Foo - Years heads of its time, Wesley Snipes played drag queen Noxeema Jackson in this off-beat road trip movie from 1995. Credit goes to Snipes for turning the Jackson into one of his most memorable and heartfelt roles to date. (Photos from left: Ben Rose/PictureGroup, Universal Pictures)

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Waiting to Exhale, Saturday at 7P/6C - Loretta Devine, Lela Rochon, Angela Bassett and the late Whitney Houston relax, relate and release. Encore presentation on Sunday at 3P/2C.(Photo: Twentieth Century Fox Pictures)

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Waiting to Exhale - In 1995's Waiting to Exhale, which featured Whitney Houston and Angela Bassett, Snipes had a small but impactful role. (Photo: Twentieth Century FOX)

Blade (1998)  - Loosely based on the Marvel Comics character, Blade can be counted as one of the pre-Twilight films to bring sexy vampires back. Wesley Snipes starred as the human-vampire hybrid hero out to protect the human race from bloodsuckers out to harvest them for their blood.Fourteen years after the release of this hit supernatural thriller, we look back on the cast who stalked the night.(Photo: New Line Cinema)

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Blade - In 1998, Wesley Snipes played a half-vampire superhero with martial arts and sword skills in the Marvel Comic movie adaptation Blade. The movie was the start of a huge franchise. (Photo: New Line Cinema)

Photo By Photo: New Line Cinema

Disappearing Acts - In Disappearing Acts, Snipes played a Brooklyn construction worker who falls in love with a teacher, played by Sanaa Lathan. (Photo: HBO Films)

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Disappearing Acts - In 2000's Disappearing Acts, Snipes played a Brooklyn construction worker who falls in love with a teacher, played by Sanaa Lathan. (Photo: HBO Films)

Brooklyn's Finest - In Brooklyn's Finest, Snipes played a drug lord being investigated by an undercover officer played by Don Cheadle. (Photo: Millennium Films)

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Brooklyn's Finest - In 2009's Brooklyn's Finest, Snipes played a drug lord being investigated by an undercover officer played by Don Cheadle. (Photo: Millennium Films)

Chi-Raq - The controversial film has already ruffled feathers before its release on December 4. Chi-Raq is a modern day adaptation of the ancient Greek play Lysistrata centered around Chicago’s South Side. Chi-Raq tackles race, sex and violence in America and around the world. We wouldn't expect anything less from a Spike Lee joint.  (Photo: Amazon Studios)

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Chi-Raq - In 2015, Snipes teamed up again with Snipes. Chi-Raq was a modern day adaptation of the ancient Greek play Lysistrata centered around Chicago’s South Side. (Photo: Amazon Studios)

53rd NAACP Image Awards | Coming 2 America | 1080x1080

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Coming 2 America - The 2021 Coming to America sequel teamed Snipes with comedy legend Eddie Murphy. Snipes' comedy chops had us all cracking up as General Izzi.