Vin Diesel remembers Paul Walker on late actor’s 50th birthday
Vin Diesel is commemorating Paul Walker on what would have been the late actor’s 50th birthday. The “XXX” star posted a throwback photo on Instagram on Tuesday, featuring the “Fast & Furious” castmates smiling at the camera with Walker’s arm around Diesel’s neck. In the caption, Diesel expressed his nostalgia, saying, “A decade… ten long years… and yet it feels like yesterday when we were singing happy birthday to you for the big 40! The world isn’t the same brother… as a species, one might say we are struggling. But I think of you, and I smile and know everything is going to be alright.” Walker tragically passed away in November 2013 at the age of 40, as a passenger in a speeding car that crashed into a light pole in California.
In his tribute, the 56-year-old Diesel shared that he had been going through some photos to celebrate this significant day when his 13-year-old son, Vincent, entered his office. Diesel wrote, “He looked over my shoulder and said, ‘That’s such a timeless photo, Dad… one that will live on for generations of humanity…'” Diesel became emotional, shedding tears, but made sure not to let his son see. As Vincent left, he said, “It’s why I want to build cars, for him.”
Diesel reminisced that Vincent wasn’t even born when the photo was taken, but seven months later, Walker announced to the “Fast & Furious” crew that “Vins gotta get to New York to receive his son.” Diesel praised Walker for his ability to refocus everyone, including the entire production, on the important things in life. He stated, “For me, this picture represents the moment I knew we would be brothers for eternity.”
Diesel expressed his belief that if Walker were still alive today, he wouldn’t be surrounded by friends singing “Happy Birthday.” Instead, he would be in Maui, Morocco, or anywhere in the world where people need help. Diesel named his third child Pauline in honor of Walker. He concluded his heartfelt message by saying, “I miss you… I love you, and I will continue to honor the beautiful soul you are. Happy Birthday…”
Vin Diesel frequently pays tribute to his late friend online and in interviews. During a “Today” show appearance, he revealed that he was thinking of Walker in the delivery room when his third child was born. Diesel regarded Walker as his “other half.”
Vin Diesel is remembering Paul Walker on what would have been the late actor’s 50th birthday.
The “XXX” star shared a throwback photo on Instagram Tuesday of the “Fast & Furious” castmates smiling at the camera with Walker’s arm slung around Diesel’s neck.
“A decade… ten long years… and yet it feels like yesterday when we were singing happy birthday to you for the big 40!” he captioned the post.
“The world isn’t the same brother… as a species, one might say we are struggling. But I think of you, and I smile and know everything is going to be alright.”
Walker was killed in November 2013 as a passenger in a speeding car that lost control and smashed into a light pole in California. He was 40 years old.
In his tribute, Diesel, 56, shared that he had been “going through some images to celebrate this sacred day” when his 13-year-old son, Vincent, walked into his office.
“[He] looked over my shoulder. ‘That’s such a timeless photo, Dad… one that will live on for generations of humanity…’” the “Chronicles of Riddick” star wrote, noting that he was in tears.
“Of course I don’t turn around, haha no need for the kid to see his pops worked up eyes. As he leaves he says ‘it’s why I want to build cars, for him.’”
Diesel noted that Vincent “wasn’t even born yet” when the photo was taken, but seven months later, Walker announced to the “Fast & Furious” crew, “‘Vins gotta get to New York to receive his son.’”
“You had that ability to refocus everyone including a whole production to the important things in life,” he wrote. “For me this picture represents the moment I knew we would be brothers for eternity.”
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Diesel told his followers that if Walker were alive now, he doubts there would be a crowd of friends serenading him with “Happy Birthday” because the “She’s All That” star “would be in Maui or Morocco, or anywhere in this planet where people need help.”
Diesel ended the heartfelt missive by writing, “I miss you… I love you, and I will continue to honor the beautiful soul you are. Happy Birthday…”
The “Guardians of the Galaxy” star regularly pays tribute to his fallen friend online and in interviews.
In 2015, Diesel revealed that he and his longtime partner, Paloma Jiménez, had named their third child Pauline after Walker.
During a “Today” show appearance, the One Race Films founder shared that he was thinking of the “Varsity Blues” star in the delivery room.
“There’s no other person that I’m thinking about as I’m cutting this umbilical cord,” he said. “I knew he was there, and I felt like, you know, a way to keep his memory a part of my memory, a part of my world.”
Diesel later shared that he considered Walker to be his “other half.”
