Jelani Asar Snipes is April Dubois and Wesley Snipe’s son. He is an American celebrity child and an actor who became famous for his acting credit in the American comedy-musical film, Mo’ Better Blues (1990).
His father, Wesley, is a multifaceted American entertainer whose career range from acting to producing, mixed martial arts, and even serving as a businessman and owner of Royal Guard of Amen-Ra security firm and Amen-Ra production company. He is most famous for films such as Blade (1998), The Player (2015), Brooklyn’s Finest (2009), and Coming 2 America (2021).
Most Fascinating Facts About Jelani Asar Snipes You Probably Never Came Across
1. His Early Life and Siblings
Jelani Asar Snipes was born in 1988 from the first marriage of Wesley Snipes to April Dubois.
At the time of his birth, his parents had already been married for about 3 years and his father Wesley was about 25 to 26.
After his parents’ divorce in 1990 when he was about 2, his father married again to painter Nakyung “Nikki” Park. From the union, he had 4 other half-siblings namely:
- Iset Jua-T Snipes (Half-sister – born in 2001)
- Alaafia Jehu-T Snipes (half-brother – born in 2004)
- Alimayu Moa-T Snipes (Half-brother – 2007)
- Akhenaten Kihwa-T Snipes (half-brother – born in 2012)
2. What Movies Did He Appear in?
The younger Snipes appeared in Mo’ Better Blues in 1990. According to many sources, he was only a year old at the time that the movie was produced.
The film is centered around the life of “Bleek Gilliam” (played by Denzel Washington), a jazz trumpeter whose focus on his career took over a lot of the other aspects of his life.
Interestingly, he featured in the film alongside his father who played the role of “Shadow Handerson”, Also, other stars in the film are Spike Lee, Joie Lee, and Cynda Williams.
Currently, there is barely any insight into the movies he featured in.
Nevertheless, his father Wesley was discovered at the age of 23 at a competition, and in 1986, he made his debut role in Wildcats. Since then, he has added to the number of roles and has won several awards.
Some of his renowned movies include:
- Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur (2022)
- Coming 2 America (2021)
- Dolemite Is My Name (2019)
- The Player (2015)
- Brooklyn’s Finest (2009)
- Undisputed (2002)
- Disappearing Acts (2000)
- U.S Marshals (1998)
- Blade (1998)
- One Night Stand (1997)
- America’s Dream (1996)
- Demolition Man (1993)
- The Waterdance (1992)
- White Men Can’t Jump (1992)
- New Jack City (1991)
- Vietnam War Story (1988)
3. Wesley Snipes’ Son is Believed to be Working in a Financial Sector
While this fact has not been established, sources on the internet have reported that he may have taken a regular job in the finance industry.
Going deeper, there is a Linkedin account with the same name as his name – “Jelani Asar Snipes” that is recorded as a chief marketing officer at a company. However, there is no certainty that the account belongs to him.
4. Jelani Asar Snipes’ Father Had Juggled Through Different Religions
His father, Wesley was born and raised in a Christian home. In 1978, the older Snipes converted to Islam but left in 1988.
According to him, he respects the religion and its people even though he no longer practices.
Furthermore, Islam had opened his mind to see how much Africans have accomplished. It also made him realize his self-worth and dignity among others.
As per reports, he is someone who opens himself to studying different religions from Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and Judaism.
5. He is Believed to be Dating Jennifer Williams
Reality TV star Jennifer Williams has been linked to Wesley Snipes’ son as his supposed girlfriend. The said couple had been on several dates and was revealed on Basketball Wives which features Jennifer.
At the time of this writing, neither of the celebrities has come out to accept or denounce the allegations of a love affair. Regardless, they shared a kiss on the cheek in one of the episodes when they went on a second date.
Prior to that, Jennifer had dated basketballer and reality star Tim Norman. Her ex was accused of conspiring to kill his nephew Andre Montgomery Jr.
6. His Father Had Been Imprisoned For Tax Related Crimes
It was in 2006 that the life of Wesley Snipes began to change when he had a case with the authority for conspiring to defraud the United States among other tax-related crimes. The accusation further deepened with the claims that Jelani Asar Snipes’s father wilfully failed to file millions of dollars worth of past tax returns.
2 years later and in 2008, he was sentenced to prison for the crime and was released in 2013. Despite that, Wesley said he came out of prison a better man with clearer understanding.
7. How Rich is Jelani Asar Snipes
Jelani’s net worth is estimated to be above $100,000. While there is no total insight into his career or earnings, there are suggestions that have a career as a chief marketing officer.
Judging by the report on media, an average chief marketing officer earns about $175,475 per annum on average.
Regardless of this, his father, Wesley is one of the most accomplished American actors and has a net worth estimated at $10 million.
Wesley makes his fortune majorly from acting. He is also a producer and martial artist.
Jelani’s father is also a founder of a film company called Amen-Ra. The company has produced a number of films including A Great And Mighty Walk – Dr. John Henrik Clarke which was the first film of Amen-Ra in 1996.
In addition, he started a security firm, Royal Guard of Amen-Ra with his brother. Of the many security services that the company offers, it also trains in martial arts.
In a general note, Jelani Asar Snipes, son of Blade actor Wesley Snipes was a child actor in Mo’ Better Blues but currently lives a life away from acting. The celebrity child may not have grown to become famous as his father but he may be making a difference in his own right in a career away from thr public. His most recent public appearance is on Basket Wives where he has drawn attention for allegedly been romatically involved with Jennifer Williams.
