In his "Blade" movies, Wesley Snipes saves the world by fighting off legions of vampires, repelling the bloodsuckers with martial-arts kicks and flying knives. These days, Snipes could use some of those superhero moves in his real life.
The 42-year-old actor, who once seemed to be on the same trajectory as his friend, two-time Oscar winner Denzel Washington, saw his last film draw mixed reviews and only $12 million at the box office. His latest project, an action film called "7 Seconds" now filming in Romania, has no studio affiliation. And even if his third "Blade" movie, "Blade: Trinity," is a hit when it comes out in December, Snipes faces the prospect of losing the lead the next time around to a pair of younger actors.
More than a dozen years after he dazzled with breakthrough performances in films such as Spike Lee's "Jungle Fever," Snipes has been beset by an array of off-screen personal and financial difficulties as well. His Florida mansion is in foreclosure, his former agency had to file a claim against him to collect an overdue debt and an admitted former crack addict has taken him to court in a paternity case. While Snipes' representatives describe her claims as the fantasy of a disturbed woman, a court commissioner in New York has issued a bench warrant for the actor, who could be arrested and forced to submit to a DNA test.
Not so long ago, Snipes was known as a "triple threat" -- good in comedy, action and drama. His roles were diverse: a dangerously charismatic drug lord in "New Jack City," the endearing bigmouth in "White Men Can't Jump," the forbidden lover of Annabella Sciorra in "Jungle Fever," the bleached-blond, blue-eyed villain in "Demolition Man."
But aside from the "Blade" movies, Snipes has not had a resounding critical or box office hit since "White Men Can't Jump" in 1992 -- the year perhaps marking the climax of a career that broke through barriers and seemed poised for greatness.
"It looked like a star was born," said Todd Boyd, a producer ("The Wood") and professor of critical studies at USC School of Cinema-Television. "He certainly had opportunities. I don't know if it was bad choices or what, but Wesley doesn't really fit in anywhere now.... Today he is sort of a man without a country."
Snipes, who is on location shooting "7 Seconds," declined to be interviewed, citing the demands of his schedule. His representatives at United Talent Agency also declined comment.
