Who was Paul Walker? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Paul William Walker IV

Died At Age: 40

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Rebecca Soteros

father: Paul Walker III

mother: Cheryl Walker

siblings: Amie Walker, Ashlie Walker, Caleb Walker, Cody Walker

children: Meadow Rain Walker

Born Country: United States

Quotes By Paul Walker Actors

Died on: November 30, 2013

place of death: Santa Clarita, California, United States

Ancestry: Salvadoran American, Swiss American, German American, British American, Irish American

U.S. State: California

Cause of Death: Car Accident

City: Glendale, California

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Childhood & Early Life

He was born as Paul William Walker IV on September 12, 1973, in Glendale, California, U.S. to Cheryl Crabtree and Paul William Walker III. His mother was a fashion model while his father was a sewer contractor and a fighter. He had four younger siblings.

He began modeling as a toddler and starred in a television commercial for Pampers. As he grew up, he began taking up roles in television series such as ‘Charles in Charge’, ‘Highway to Heaven’ and ‘Who's the Boss’.

He made his film debut in 1986, when he was selected to play the role of “Professor" Bennett in the horror/comedy film ‘Monster in the Closet’. The next year he appeared in ‘The Retailiator’ (aka Programmed to Kill), a low budget cyborg action film.

He graduated from Sun Valley's Village Christian School in 1991, and attended several community colleges in Southern California, majoring in marine biology. He was a fan of marine biologist Jacques-Yves Cousteau.

Even though he had a genuine interest in marine biology, he realized that he was more passionate about acting and decided to pursue acting as a full-time career.

Quotes: Me, I

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Career

In 1993, Paul Walker played Brandon Collins on the CBS soap opera ‘The Young and the Restless’. This role got him noticed for his good looks and acting skills, and earned him a nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a soap opera at the Youth in Film Awards.

He starred along with Tobey Maguire, Jeff Daniels, Joan Allen, William H. Macy, J. T. Walsh, and Reese Witherspoon in the 1998 fantasy comedy-drama film ‘Pleasantville’. The movie was a big hit and Walker started receiving more offers following the film’s success.

After appearing in movies like ‘Varsity Blues’ (1999), ‘She's All That’ (1999), and ‘The Skulls’ (2000), Paul Walker was chosen to play the protagonist—undercover cop Brian O'Conner—in the action film ‘The Fast and the Furious’, the first film in the franchise. He co-starred with Vin Diesel who would become one of his best friends over the years. The film proved to be a great commercial success and spawned several sequels in which Walker reprised his role.

In 2005, he appeared in the action film, ‘Into the Blue’ in which he was paired opposite Jessica Alba. The film was a box-office flop and received negative reviews.

Walker bounced back to being a bankable star with the family drama ‘Eight Below’ (2006) in which he played Jerry Shepard, a guide at an Antarctica research base under contract with the National Science Foundation. A Walt Disney production, the film opened at #1 and was a huge commercial success.

He portrayed a reformed criminal on parole who gets a second chance at life and begins work at a psychiatric hospital in the thriller film ‘The Lazarus Project’ in 2008.

He began the year 2013, on a good note and appeared in several movies including ‘Vehicle 9’, ‘Fast & Furious 6’, and ‘Pawn Shop Chronicles’. He was in the midst of filming ‘Furious 7’ at the time of his untimely death in November 2013.

Quotes: Me, I

Major Works

He is best remembered for his role as Brian O'Conner, the main protagonist, in ‘The Fast and the Furious’ film franchise. He played the role of an undercover cop who must stop semi-truck hijackers from stealing expensive electronic equipment. This was the role that established Paul Walker as an accomplished Hollywood star.

Awards & Achievements

He won the 2014 MTV Movie Award for best on-screen duo, with Vin Diesel for the movie ‘Fast & Furious 6’ (2013).

Quotes: Think, Young, I

Personal Life & Legacy

Paul Walker was once in a relationship with Rebecca Soteros and the couple had a daughter named, Meadow Walker.

Paul Walker died in a tragic car accident on November 30, 2013. The movie ‘Furious 7’ was in the middle of filming at the time of Walker's death and was released more than a year after his death.

Walker was close friends with his ‘The Fast and the Furious’ co-stars Tyrese Gibson and Vin Diesel. Diesel became Walker’s daughter Meadow’s godfather following Walker’s death.

Trivia

Paul Walker was the founder of "Reach Out Worldwide" (ROWW), an organization for providing relief efforts to regions devastated by natural disasters like earthquakes and hurricanes.

2014	Best On-Screen Duo	Furious 6 (2013)
2002	Best On-Screen Team	The Fast and the Furious (2001)

Paul Walker Biography