Paul Walker was a rare bird in Hollywood. He was a talented actor, a genuine humanitarian, loving father, world-class holder of a Brown Belt in Jiu-Jitsu, and a guy who just could not understand why, given all the wonders of this world, some people did not believe there was a God. He was just a really nice guy. Vin Diesel, his co-star in the Fast and Furious franchise, and Walker had formed a strong bond, with Diesel acting as godfather to Walker's daughter Meadow. Walker was, Diesel said, his "other half".
In November of 2013, Walker had been in Atlanta filming Furious 7 and had flown back to California to be with friends and family over Thanksgiving. Then on November 3o, he climbed into the passenger seat of his friend Roger Rodas' red Porsche Carrera GT. Minutes later, he was dead, following a fiery collision with a telephone pole.
His death at the age of 40 sent shockwaves throughout the world. Here are 15 unknown facts about Paul Walker.
15 He Was In A Pampers Ad At The Age Of 2
Paul Walker was born on September 12, 1973, in Glendale California. His mother Cheryl had been a model and his rugged good-looking father was a sewer contractor. If he did not win the cutest baby contest, it was clear he was one photogenic kid. At 2-years-old, he did a Pampers TV ad.
14 Raised A Mormon, He Remained Very Religious
Paul was raised as a Mormon. When he grew up, he converted to non-denominational Christianity. He was deeply religious, once saying: "The people I don't understand are atheists. I go surfing and snowboarding, and I'm always around nature. I look at everything and think, 'Who couldn't believe there's a God?'"
13 He Started Making Movies To Fund A Degree In Marine Biology
To put it mildly, Walker's passion was for the ocean and marine biology. In fact, he once revealed that he went to Hollywood so he could make money to pay off his student loans, allowing him to go back and finish his marine biology degree. But it didn't work out that way, "It" (the work) just didn't stop and so he kept postponing his return to the love of his life.
12 Boxing And Racing Were His Family's Thing
Cars were in Walker's blood. His grandfather had been a race car driver, as well as a boxer. He was "Irish Billie Walker". Walker's dad Paul was a two-time Golden Gloves boxing champion. Walker loved cars, their design, and beauty. He was most definitely not just a speed freak. A chip off the old blocks, we'd say.
11 He Did TV And Soaps In The 1980s And 1990s
Paul started working in TV in the mid-1980s, doing episodes of Highway to Heaven. It's easier to break into TV than movies. By 1992, he was nearing 20-years-old and landed a recurring role in TV soap The Young and the Restless, playing a good-looking guy by the name of Brandon Collins. By the late 1990s, he graduated to movie-making and never looked back.
10 Founded Reach Out Worldwide And Went To The Front Line
He founded Reach Out Worldwide, an organization that sent teams, medical and otherwise, to disaster areas all over the world. And Paul was no desk jockey as far as ROWW was concerned. Whether it was an earthquake in Haiti or Chile or tornadoes in Alabama, ROWW was there to provide assistance. And Paul was a regular frontliner for the organization.
9 He Threatened To Quit Fast & Furious Franchise Many Times
In 2001 The Fast and the Furious, the first movie in the franchise, put Paul Walker on the map in a big way. But a few years later he began to think that the concept was stale and that he would simply walk away from it. He said as much just after the release of Fast 5. He continued to harbor doubts but thankfully stayed on.
8 Turned Down Superman In 2003
The story goes something like this, two years after The Fast and the Furious made him a star, he turned down the role of Superman. Why? Well, he is said to have thought that "once Superman, always Superman" and that taking on the flying superhero role would typecast him forever. He was probably right on that score.
7 Daughter Meadow Was Living With Him When He Died
Paul Walker's daughter Meadow, had live with her mother Rebecca Soteros in Hawaii for 13 years before moving to California to live with her father in 2011. In his will, he left his entire $25 million fortune to Meadow, naming his mother Cheryl as her legal guardian. At first, it was thought Meadow would live with Cheryl. But, at the end of the day, Cheryl and Meadow's mom Rebecca, agreed Meadow would live with Rebecca.
6 He Was Awarded A Black Belt In Jiu-Jitsu After His Death
Paul was a dedicated student of Brazilian Jui-Jitsu, having earned his Brown Belt before he died. The Brown Belt is the next level down after the top of the ladder Black Belt. Shortly after Paul died in 2013, his instructor Ricardo "Franjinha" Miller announced he was awarding his student his Black Belt posthumously. A very nice touch, which meant a lot to his family.
