Paul Walker
Paul William Walker IV was an American actor and marine biology enthusiast, born on September 12, 1973, in Glendale, California. He began his acting career early, featuring in television commercials and small roles on shows in the 1980s and 1990s, before gaining significant recognition in films such as "Varsity Blues" and "She's All That." Walker's breakout role came in the 2001 action film "The Fast and the Furious," where he played an undercover cop involved in street racing. This film launched a successful franchise, with Walker reprising his role in several sequels until his untimely death in a car accident in 2013.
Aside from acting, Walker was deeply passionate about marine conservation, participating in shark-tagging expeditions and collaborating with organizations like National Geographic to promote ocean health. He is remembered not only for his contributions to film but also for his commitment to environmental causes. Walker is survived by his daughter, Meadow Rain Walker. His legacy continues through the ongoing popularity of the "Fast and Furious" franchise and his environmental efforts, which resonate with fans and conservationists alike.
Subject Terms
Paul Walker
Actor
- Born: September 12, 1973
- Birthplace: Glendale, California
- Died: November 30, 2013
- Place of death: Santa Clarita, California
Contribution: Paul Walker was an actor best known for his role in the Fast and the Furious series of action movies.
Background
Paul William Walker IV was born on September 12, 1973, in Glendale, California, to Mormon parents. His father, Paul Walker III, worked as a sewer contractor, and his mother, Cheryl, was a fashion model. He was the oldest of five children.
Walker grew up in the Sunland-Tujunga neighborhood of Los Angeles. Fascinated by the ocean from an early age, he enjoyed surfing and idolized the explorer Jacques Cousteau. He graduated from Village Christian Schools in 1991 and went on to study marine biology at several community colleges in Southern California.
Career
Walker began acting very early, starring in a television commercial for Pampers as a toddler. Throughout his childhood, he modeled and appeared in small roles on various television shows, including Highway to Heaven in 1985 and 1986, Charles in Charge in 1990, and Who’s the Boss? in 1991. His first film role was in the campy 1986 horror-comedy Monster in the Closet. He was also a regular on the sitcom Throb from 1986 to 1987, playing the main character’s son, before being replaced by Sean de Veritch. Later, he had a recurring role on The Young and the Restless, from 1992 to 1993, and gained additional exposure with a guest appearance on the popular television show Touched by an Angel in 1996.
In 1998, Walker had his first starring role, in Meet the Deedles. The film was a good fit for him, as it is about two surfers who become park rangers. The same year, Walker appeared in the Oscar-nominated film Pleasantville with Reese Witherspoon, Tobey Maguire, and William H. Macy, among others. In 1999, he played a sleazy high school student who bets his friend that he cannot turn their nerdy female classmate into the prom queen in the teen movie She’s All That. The movie was a huge hit, as was Walker’s next movie, Varsity Blues (1999), also in the teen-film genre. In 2000, Walker appeared opposite Joshua Jackson in The Skulls, a thriller about an elite secret society in the mold of Yale University’s Skull and Bones society.
In 2001, Walker starred in the action movie The Fast and the Furious, in which he played an undercover cop investigating an illegal street-racing gang, led by costar Vin Diesel’s character. Released during the competitive summer months, the movie was a surprise smash hit with audiences and has since spawned a series of equally successful sequels. While Walker did not appear in the third film, 2006’s The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, he returned to the franchise in the next movie, Fast & Furious (2009). He also appeared in the franchise's following two films: Fast Five (2011) and Fast & Furious 6. A serious racing and automobile enthusiast, he performed some of his own stunts in the films.
Walker’s other movies include the ocean thriller Into the Blue (2005) with Jessica Alba, the crime drama Running Scared (2006), and the Disney movie Eight Below (2006), based on a true story about a dogsledding team. Also in 2006, he appeared in the Clint Eastwood's World War II film Flags of Our Fathers.
In 2013, Walker departed from his usual type of role to star in Hours, an independent film about a father who tries to keep his infant daughter alive in a flooded New Orleans hospital during Hurricane Katrina. He said in interviews that while he previously was not truly interested in being a film star, and at one point considered quitting in order to become a marine biologist, he came to appreciate acting more and wants to take on more serious roles.
Walker's final film before his death was Brick Mansions, released posthumously in 2014. Despite his death, Walker's character from the Fast & Furious franchise still appeared in the series seventh film, Furious 7 (2015). This was achieved through the use visual effect technology, previously unused footage, and his two brothers acting in his role.
Impact
Walker never lost his love of the sea. He has joined several shark-tagging expeditions led by marine scientist Michael Domeier, president of the Marine Conservation Science Institute. In 2012, he teamed up with two unlikely partners, the National Geographic Society and the fragrance Davidoff Cool Water, to both promote the fragrance and support National Geographic’s Pristine Seas Expeditions, which aim to improve the health of the world’s oceans. Walker appeared with Domeier in the National Geographic Channel show Shark Men in 2010 as well as the channel’s 2013 documentary Spawn of Jaws. In 2013, he began working with Jean-Michel Cousteau, the son of Jacques Cousteau, to do research and promote the study of the ocean in schools.
Personal Life
In 2013, Walker died in a car crash. He was in a car driven by his friend Roger Rodas. The car was traveling at over 100 mph when it burst into flame and crashed, killing both Walker and Rodas. Walker was survived by his daughter, Meadow Rain (1998–). Following his death, Walker's father filed a wrongful death claim against Rodas's estate, while his daughter filed one against Porsche. All cases were settled outside of court.
Principal Works
Meet the Deedles, 1998
Pleasantville, 1998
Varsity Blues, 1999
She’s All That, 1999
The Fast and the Furious, 2001
2 Fast 2 Furious, 2003
Into the Blue, 2005
Running Scared, 2006
Flags of Our Fathers, 2006
Fast & Furious, 2009
Fast Five, 2011
Fast & Furious 6, 2013
Hours, 2013
Brick Mansions, 2014
Furious 7, 2015
Bibliography
Fitzsimmons, Emma G. "Paul Walker, 40, Star of ‘Fast and Furious’ Movies, Dies in Crash." The New York Times, 1 Dec. 2013, www.nytimes.com/2013/12/02/movies/paul-walker-screen-actor-is-dead-at-40.html. Accessed 6 Nov. 2019.
Giardina, Carolyn. "How 'Furious 7' Brought the Late Paul Walker Back to Life." The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Dec. 2015, www.hollywoodreporter.com/behind-screen/how-furious-7-brought-late-845763. Accessed 6 Nov. 2019.
Hogan, Kate. “How Paul Walker Is Saving the Ocean—and How You Can Help.” People. Time, 8 Aug. 2012. Web. 29 Aug. 2013.
Keck, William. “Fame Lets Paul Walker Dive In.” USA Today. Gannett, 27 Sept. 2005. Web. 29 Aug. 2013.
King, Susan. “Keeping It Real, Dog.” Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 16 Feb. 2006. Web. 29 Aug. 2013.
Valby, Karen. “Fast and Furious Star Paul Walker on Michelle Rodriguez’s Return to the Franchise and His Becoming a Full-Time Dad.” Entertainment Weekly. Entertainment Weekly, 11 Mar. 2013. Web. 29 Aug. 2013.
Walker, Paul. “Paul Walker on Parkour, Stalkers and Sharks.” Interview by Nick Carvell. British GQ. Condé Nast UK, 7 Aug. 2013. Web. 29 Aug. 2013.
Walker, Paul. “SXSW: Hours Star Paul Walker on Finally Getting Serious about Acting and Driving Vin Diesel ‘F*cking Crazy.’” Interview by Nigel M. Smith. Indiewire. SnagFilms, 19 Mar. 2013. Web. 29 Aug. 2013.