Paul Walker

{{About|the American actor|other people named Paul Walker|Paul Walker (disambiguation)}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Paul Walker

| image = PaulWalkerEdit-1.jpg

| caption = Walker at the premiere of Fast & Furious in London, 2009

| birth_name = Paul William Walker IV

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1973|9|12}}

| birth_place = {{nowrap|Glendale, California, U.S.}}

| death_date = {{nowrap|{{Death date and age|2013|11|30|1973|9|12}}}}

| death_place = Santa Clarita, California, U.S.

| death_cause = Car crash

| burial_place = Forest Lawn Memorial Park
Hollywood Hills, California, U.S.

| relatives = Cody Walker (brother)

| occupation = Actor

| years_active = 1975–2013

| partner = Rebecca Soteros

| children = Meadow Walker

}}

Paul William Walker IV{{cite episode|series=WGN News at Nine|station=WGN-TV/WGN America|location=Chicago, IL|date=November 30, 2013|time=21:32 CST (32 minutes)}} (September 12, 1973{{cite news|title=Paul Walker – Biography|url=https://www.nytimes.com/movies/person/237780/Paul-Walker/biography|url-status=dead|access-date=March 4, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131204095120/https://www.nytimes.com/movies/person/237780/Paul-Walker/biography|work=The New York Times|author=Rebecca Flint Marx|date=2013|archive-date=December 4, 2013}} – November 30, 2013) was an American actor. He was best known for his role as Brian O'Conner in the Fast & Furious franchise.

Paul Walker began his career as a child actor in the 1980s, gaining recognition in the 1990s after appearing in the television soap opera The Young and the Restless; he received praise for his performances in the teen comedy She's All That and the comedy-drama Varsity Blues (both 1999), and rose to international fame by starring in The Fast and the Furious (2001).

He also starred in the commercially successful road thriller Joy Ride (2001), becoming an action star. He followed this with the box-office disappointments Into the Blue (2005) and Running Scared (2006), although he earned praise for his performance in the survival drama Eight Below and for his portrayal of Hank Hansen in Flags of Our Fathers (both 2006). Outside of these, Walker largely appeared in low-budget action films, but starred in the commercially successful heist film Takers (2010).

Walker died in a single-vehicle collision on November 30, 2013, as a passenger in a speeding car.{{Cite news |last=Urquhart |first=Conal |date=January 3, 2014 |title=Paul Walker died after crashing at over 100mph, coroner's report reveals |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/jan/03/paul-walker-died-car-coroner-report |access-date=September 16, 2024 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} His father and daughter filed separate wrongful death lawsuits against Porsche, which resulted in settlements.{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Paul Walker's daughter settles wrongful death lawsuit with Porsche |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/paul-walkers-daughter-settles-wrongful-death-lawsuit-porsche/story?id=50694081 |access-date=September 16, 2024 |website=ABC News |language=en}} At the time of his death, Walker had not completed filming Furious 7 (2015); it was released after rewrites and stand-ins, including his brothers Cody and Caleb, were used to complete the film while the song "See You Again" by Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth was commissioned as a tribute.{{cite news|last1=Merry|first1=Stephanie|last2=Yahr|first2=Emily|title=Golden Globes nominations 2016: Complete list|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2015/12/10/golden-globes-nominations-2016-complete-coverage/|access-date=December 10, 2015|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=December 10, 2015}}

Early life and education

Walker was born on September 12, 1973, in Glendale, California.

{{cite news|title=Paul William Walker II|url=http://theworldlink.com/news/local/obituaries/paul-william-walker-ii/article_24f1696b-1673-57ac-8019-791d135e25e2.html|access-date=December 22, 2013}}
{{cite news|title=Meet Paul Walker|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ASknAAAAIBAJ&pg=4376,3289087&dq=meet-paul-walker&hl=en|access-date=December 3, 2013|newspaper=Spartanburg Herald-Journal|date=March 29, 2006}} His mother, Cheryl (née Crabtree), was a fashion model,{{cite web|last=Hobson|first=Louis B.|date=June 17, 2001|title=Paul Walker kicks it into high gear|url=http://jam.canoe.ca/Movies/Artists/W/Walker_Paul/2001/06/17/762482.html|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130922000611/http://jam.canoe.ca/Movies/Artists/W/Walker_Paul/2001/06/17/762482.html|archive-date=September 22, 2013|access-date=December 5, 2013|website=Canoe.ca}} and his father, Paul William Walker III, was a sewer contractor and former amateur boxer who was a two-time Golden Gloves champion.{{cite news|last=Keck|first=William|title=Fame lets Paul Walker dive in|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/people/2005-09-27-paul-walker_x.htm|access-date=December 3, 2013|newspaper=USA Today|date=September 27, 2005}}{{cite news|last=Atkin|first=Hillary|title=Walker's in the 'Fast' lane to film stardom|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2003-06-05-paul-walker_x.htm|access-date=December 3, 2013|newspaper=USA Today|date=June 6, 2003}} Walker's paternal grandfather, William, had a short-lived boxing career as "Irish" Billy Walker, while another raced factory cars for Ford in the 1960s.

Walker was raised in the Mormon religion, and had four younger siblings: Aimee, Ashlie, Caleb, and Cody. He spent most of his early life in the Sunland neighborhood of Los Angeles and graduated from high school at Village Christian School in 1991.{{cite news|date=December 1, 2013|title=Stars React To Paul Walker's Death, Other Crash Victim Identified|publisher=CBS Los Angeles|url=http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2013/12/01/stars-react-to-paul-walkers-death-other-crash-victim-identified/|access-date=December 3, 2013}}{{cite news|first=Brenda|last=Gazzar|date=December 1, 2013|title='Fast & Furious' star Paul Walker remembered as kind, carefree|newspaper=Los Angeles Daily News|url=http://www.dailynews.com/arts-and-entertainment/20131201/fast-furious-star-paul-walker-remembered-as-kind-carefree|access-date=December 3, 2013}} Walker subsequently attended several community colleges in Southern California, majoring in marine biology.{{cite web|title=Paul Walker Bio: Fast & Furious Actor|url=http://www.tribute.ca/people/paul-walker/1379/17622/|work=Tribute|publisher=Tribute Entertainment Media Group|access-date=December 3, 2013}}

Career

Walker began a modeling career as a toddler, starring in a television commercial for Pampers at age two. He continued to appear in commercials, most notably for Showbiz Pizza in 1984,{{cite web|last=Youtube|title=Showbiz Pizza Commercial|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbvC9gcf_Yw|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130307140250/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbvC9gcf_Yw|archive-date=March 7, 2013|access-date=July 3, 2012|website=YouTube}} before beginning an acting career on television that year, appearing in the teen anthology series CBS Schoolbreak Special. Walker continued to work in television until 1996, across a number of genres; he appeared in two episodes of the fantasy drama Highway to Heaven between 1984 and 1986, and secured his first leading role in 1987, appearing as Jeremy Beatty in the sitcom Throb. He continued to feature on sitcoms in the early 1990s, with guest roles in Charles in Charge, Who's the Boss?, and the short-lived What a Dummy. In 1993, he portrayed Brandon Collins on the soap opera The Young and the Restless; he and co-star Heather Tom, who played Victoria Newman, gained fame, and were nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor and Actress in a Soap Opera at the Youth in Film Awards. Walker's final television role was on Touched by an Angel, although he appeared as himself, alongside his sister Ashlie, as contestants on a 1988 episode of the game show I'm Telling!, in which they finished in second place.

Walker began his film career in 1986, appearing mainly in low budget B films. His first role was in the horror comedy Monster in the Closet, and a year later, starred in The Retaliator (retroactively subtitled Programmed to Kill), a science fiction film. In 1994, he returned to film, starring in Tammy and the T-Rex, but secured his first feature film role in the comedy Meet the Deedles in 1998; although commercially and critically unsuccessful, it allowed Walker to secure supporting roles in the films Pleasantville (1998), Varsity Blues (1999), She's All That (1999), and The Skulls (2000).{{Cite web |date=2019-09-10 |title=How Paul Walker Cracked Open The '90s 'Golden Boy' Schtick |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/paul-walker-90s-golden-boy-schtick_n_5d544ce9e4b0c63bcbf1958b |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=HuffPost |language=en}}

{{quote box|width=30%|align=left|quote="[Walker] is that guy. As a director, [Walker is] completely supportive of my vision of what the film is. And even better, he's completely game for it."|source=—Wayne Kramer, who directed and cast Walker in Running Scared (2006).{{cite web|last=Murray|first=Rebecca|title=Interview with 'Running Scared' writer/director Wayne Kramer|work=About.com Entertainment |url=http://movies.about.com/od/runningscared/a/runningwk021406.htm|publisher=About.com|access-date=September 28, 2008}}}}

In 2001, Walker's breakthrough role was starring opposite Vin Diesel in the action film The Fast and the Furious; it was commercially successful, and subsequently launched a media franchise. The film also established Walker as a film star and leading man, as his performance garnered the MTV Movie Award for Best On-Screen Team (shared with Diesel) in 2002. Walker starred in the critically successful thriller Joy Ride (2001). Walker was originally set to play Jim Street in S.W.A.T. (2003) and had even started training for the part, but backed out to reprise his role as Brian O'Conner in the 2003 sequel 2 Fast 2 Furious.{{cite web | url=https://variety.com/2001/film/news/col-cops-a-swat-shot-1117850198/ | title=Col cops a 'SWAT' shot | date=July 25, 2001 }} After this, he starred either in low-budget or commercially unsuccessful films for a time, notably Timeline (2003) and Into the Blue (2005).

File:Fast Five Cast 2.jpg, Ludacris, Jordana Brewster, Vin Diesel, and Walker with Natalie Morales for NBC's Today Show taken in April 2011]]

Walker portrayed Hank Hansen in Clint Eastwood's war film Flags of Our Fathers (2006) and starred in the survival drama Eight Below, both released in 2006. Eight Below garnered critical acclaim and opened in first place at the box office, grossing over US$20 million during its opening weekend.{{cite web|title=Eight Below (2006) |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=antarctica.htm|website=Box Office Mojo|access-date=September 28, 2008}} Walker then starred in the independent film The Lazarus Project, which was released on DVD on October 21, 2008.

File:Fast Five Cast Paul Walker.jpg

Despite initial reluctance, Walker reprised his role as Brian O'Conner after six years, in Fast & Furious (2009). The film became the highest-grossing film in the franchise up until that point.{{cite web|title=Apple – Movie Trailers – Fast and Furious|url=https://www.apple.com/trailers/universal/fastandfurious|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080909034859/http://www.apple.com/trailers/universal/fastandfurious/|archive-date=September 9, 2008|access-date=September 28, 2008|publisher=Apple}} He then reprised his role in the fifth and sixth installments of the franchise, which were commercially successful, while his performances were praised. Walker was nominated for Choice Movie Actor – Action at the 2011 Teen Choice Awards for the former, and nominated for Choice Movie: Chemistry (with Diesel and Dwayne Johnson) and won his second MTV Movie Award for Best On-Screen Duo with Diesel for the latter. Walker also starred in the heist film Takers (2010),{{cite news|last=Fleming|first=Michael|date=September 9, 2008|title=Screen Gems digs up 'Bone' cast|newspaper=Variety|url=https://variety.com/2008/film/news/screen-gems-digs-up-bone-cast-1117991957/|url-status=dead|access-date=December 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021182524/https://variety.com/2008/film/news/screen-gems-digs-up-bone-cast-1117991957/|archive-date=October 21, 2013}} and returned to modeling in 2011, appearing as the face of fragrance brand Cool Water.{{cite news|title=Coty Prestige Announces Agreement with Paul Walker|url=http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/prne/cotydavidoff/47576/|access-date=December 3, 2013|agency=PR Newswire|date=January 14, 2011}} In 2012, he founded the film production company Laguna Ridge Pictures, which signed a first-look deal with Fast & Furious distributor Universal Pictures.{{Cite web|last=Kroll|first=Justin|date=February 21, 2012|title=Paul Walker inks first-look deal with Universal|url=https://variety.com/2012/film/news/paul-walker-inks-first-look-deal-with-universal-1118050532/|access-date=November 30, 2020|website=Variety|language=en-US}} In 2013, Walker debuted as a executive producer in the thriller film Vehicle 19 (2013), and would also produce the crime comedy film Pawn Shop Chronicles (2013).

After his death in 2013, three films starring Walker were released; the thriller film Hours (2013), which he also served as a executive producer, the action film Brick Mansions (2014), itself a remake of the French film District 13 (2004). He also starred in the action film Furious 7 (2015) but died before he had wrapped up filming. It was originally set to release in 2014, but was pushed back to recreate Walker's likeness. At the time of his death, he had completed around 85% of his scenes.{{cite web | url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EAhpciLu6XQ&pp=ygUWVHlyZXNlIGFib3V0IGZ1cmlvdXMgNw%3D%3D | title=Tyrese Gibson Remembers Paul Walker, 'Fast 7' | TODAY | website=YouTube | date=March 25, 2015 }} The filmmakers hired Peter Jackson's Weta Digital visual effects house to complete this,{{cite news|last1=Giardina|first1=Carolyn|title=How 'Furious 7' Brought the Late Paul Walker Back to Life|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/behind-screen/how-furious-7-brought-late-845763|access-date=January 6, 2017|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=December 11, 2015|location=Los Angeles}} using existing reference materials, Walker's brothers Caleb and Cody, as well as co-star John Brotherton, as stand-ins,{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2014/04/paul-walker-brothers-fast-furious-7-filming-help-715202/ |title=Paul Walker's Brothers Jumping In To Help Finish 'Fast & Furious 7' Action Scenes |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=April 15, 2014 |access-date=May 4, 2014}} and outtakes or older footage,{{Cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/2015/10/20/9577863/furious-7-used-350-cgi-shots-of-paul-walker|title=Furious 7 used 350 CGI shots of Paul Walker|first=Julia|last=Alexander|date=October 20, 2015|website=Polygon}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a674223/furious-7-effects-team-open-up-about-creating-un-filmed-paul-walker-scenes/|title=How CGI saved Fast 7's Paul Walker scenes|first=Sam|last=Warner|date=October 17, 2015|website=Digital Spy}} to create an accurate remodel of Walker's face. The film was then released in 2015,* {{cite news|date=December 1, 2013|title=Report: Paul Walkers death forces delay of Fast and Furious 7 shoot|newspaper=HitFix|url=http://www.hitfix.com/news/paul-walkers-death-forces-delay-of-fast-and-furious-7-shoot|url-status=dead|access-date=December 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202205945/http://www.hitfix.com/news/paul-walkers-death-forces-delay-of-fast-and-furious-7-shoot|archive-date=December 2, 2013}}

[http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/confidential/fast-furious-7-double-time-walker-article-1.1728704 'Fast & Furious 7' will shoot scenes with doubles and replace Paul Walker with CGI to keep him in the film – NY Daily News]
{{cite web|author=The Deadline Team|title=Paul Walker's Brothers Jumping in to Help Finish 'Fast & Furious 7′ Action Scenes – Deadline|url=https://deadline.com/2014/04/paul-walker-brothers-fast-furious-7-filming-help-715202/|work=Deadline|date=April 15, 2014}} and Walker won the award for Choice Movie Actor: Action at the 2015 Teen Choice Awards, and was nominated for Choice Movie: Chemistry (shared with Diesel, Johnson, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, and Ludacris).

Walker was also set to play Dawson Cole in the film adoptation of the novel The Best of Me (2014) and Agent 47 in the film adaptation Hitman: Agent 47 (2015) after wrapping up production of Furious 7 (2015), but died before both productions began. His roles went to James Marsden and Rupert Friend, respectively.{{cite web | url=https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/james-marsden-was-honored-to-take-on-paul-walkers-role-in-best-of-me-2014810/ | title=James Marsden Was Honored to Take on Paul Walker's Role in Best of Me | date=October 8, 2014 }}{{cite news|last=Trumbore|first=Dave|title=Paul Walker Leads HITMAN Reboot in AGENT 47|url=https://collider.com/paul-walker-hitman-reboot|access-date=December 3, 2013|newspaper=Collider}} It was later revealed Walker declined the role of Superman in Superman Returns (2006), allegedly due to the "Superman curse" and the celebrity associated with the role.{{Cite web|url=https://www.superherohype.com/features/83733-paul-walker-on-turning-down-superman|title=Paul Walker on Turning Down Superman|date=November 10, 2003|website=SuperHeroHype}}

After Walker's death, the Fast & Furious franchise has payed tributes to him and his character in the movies. His character Brian O'Conner made an off-screen appearance inside his Nissan Skyline GT-R at the end of F9 (2021), which he also drove in Fast & Furious (2009).{{cite web | url=https://metro.co.uk/2021/06/25/fast-and-furious-9-paul-walkers-character-brian-returns-in-poignant-scene-14819069/ | title=Fast and Furious 9: Paul Walker's character returns in poignant F9 scene | date=June 25, 2021 }} Walker also posthumously reprised his role as Brian O'Conner in Fast X (2023) through archive footage from Fast Five (2011).{{cite web | url=https://thedirect.com/article/paul-walker-fast-and-furious-10-cameo-explained | title=Paul Walker's Fast & Furious 10 Cameo Explained | date=May 20, 2023 }} He also posthumously received a star on Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2023.{{cite web | url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/hollywood/paul-walker-receives-posthumous-star-on-hollywood-walk-of-fame-nine-years-after-death-fans-say-about-time-101655545324067-amp.html | title=Paul Walker receives posthumous star on Hollywood Walk of Fame nine years after death, fans say 'about time' | work=Hindustan Times | date=June 18, 2022 }}

Personal life

Raised in a Mormon household, Walker became a non-denominational Christian as an adult.{{cite web|url=http://www.christiantoday.com/article/meadow.walker.pauls.daughter.inspired.continue.acting.ff.star.christian.faith/34913.htm |title=Meadow Walker, Paul's daughter inspired him to continue acting; Fast and Furious star on being Christian |work=Christian Today |date=December 2, 2013 |access-date=August 5, 2016}} He lived in Santa Barbara with his dogs.{{cite news|last=Koltnow|first=Barry|title=Just chillin'|url=http://www.ocregister.com/entertainment/walker-118201-ocr-movie.html|access-date=December 3, 2013|newspaper=The Orange County Register|date=February 18, 2006}} He and Rebecca Soteros, a childhood friend with whom he had an on-and-off relationship, had a daughter named Meadow Rain Walker.{{cite news|title=Paul Walker obituary | url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/dec/01/paul-walker |work=The Guardian|location=UK|access-date=December 5, 2013 |date = December 1, 2013 |first=Ryan |last=Gilbey}} Meadow lived with her mother in Hawaii for 13 years and, in 2011, moved to California to live with Walker.{{cite magazine|first=Grady|last=Smith|date=December 1, 2013|title=The sides of Paul Walker you may have missed|url=http://popwatch.ew.com/2013/12/01/the-sides-of-paul-walker-you-may-have-missed|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=December 1, 2013|archive-date= December 1, 2013| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131201204428/http://popwatch.ew.com/2013/12/01/the-sides-of-paul-walker-you-may-have-missed|url-status=dead}} Vin Diesel, Walker's close friend, is the godfather of Walker's daughter.{{cite web|title=Vin Diesel Reacts to Paul Walker's Death: 'I Will Always Love You'|url=https://www.thewrap.com/paul-walker-death-vin-diesel-reacts-will-always-love/|website=The Wrap|date=December 2, 2013|access-date=August 12, 2014}}{{cite news|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/paul-walker-dead-vin-diesels-2900265|title=Paul Walker death: Vin Diesel's touching Facebook post about how he lost his 'other half'|newspaper=Daily Mirror|date=December 7, 2013|author=Chris Richards}}

In addition to Diesel, Walker was also close friends with fellow Fast & Furious co-star Tyrese Gibson.{{cite news |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/paul-walker-best-friend-tyrese-2988320|title=Paul Walker best friend Tyrese Gibson still struggling after actor's death |work=Daily Mirror|date=January 4, 2014|author=Owen Tonks|access-date=January 31, 2014}}{{cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/entertainment/2013/12/tyrese-gibson-continues-to-struggle-with-paul-walkers-death/|title=Tyrese Gibson Heartbroken Over Paul Walker's Death|work=ABC News|date=December 4, 2013|access-date=December 10, 2013}}

He held a brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Ricardo "Franjinha" Miller at Paragon Jiu-Jitsu{{cite news |last=Duane |first=Daniel |title=Paul Walker's Adventure Sports Workout Routine|url=http://www.menshealth.com/fitness/paul-walkers-adventure-sports-workout-routine|access-date=December 3, 2013 |newspaper=Men's Health|date=September 6, 2005}}{{Cite web|date=December 4, 2013|title=Paul Walker obituary: Co-star of the 'Fast & Furious' franchise which|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/paul-walker-co-star-fast-furious-franchise-which-turned-world-illegal-car-racing-huge-box-office-success-8978627.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/paul-walker-co-star-fast-furious-franchise-which-turned-world-illegal-car-racing-huge-box-office-success-8978627.html |archive-date=May 25, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=July 20, 2021|website=The Independent}} and was awarded his black belt by Miller posthumously.{{cite web |url=http://www.bjpenn.com/paul-walker-receives-bjj-black-belt-at-memorial/ |title=Paul Walker receives BJJ Black Belt at Memorial |publisher=Bjpenn.com |date=December 9, 2013 |access-date=December 10, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212221654/http://www.bjpenn.com/paul-walker-receives-bjj-black-belt-at-memorial/ |archive-date=December 12, 2013 }} Walker founded the humanitarian aid nonprofit charity Reach Out Worldwide (ROWW) with financial adviser Roger Rodas in response to the 2010 Haiti earthquake.{{cite web|url=http://www.wealthmanagement.ml.com/wm/pages/ArticleViewer.aspx?TITLE=Call-to-Action|title=Call to Action|publisher=Merrill Lynch|access-date=November 30, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202235315/http://wealthmanagement.ml.com/wm/pages/ArticleViewer.aspx?TITLE=Call-to-Action|archive-date=December 2, 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.roww.org|title=REACH OUT Worldwide|publisher=REACH OUT Worldwide}} He traveled to a number of disaster-stricken areas to supply aid until his death.

File:Nissan Skyline - 2 Fast 2 Furious.JPG V-Spec in 2 Fast 2 Furious. He later owned the car.|alt=]]

Walker had an interest in marine biology, and joined the board of directors of The Billfish Foundation in 2006.{{cite news|title=Paul Walker and Marine Biology: Foundation Presents Marine Awards|url=http://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/17285/20151005/paul-walker-marine-biology-foundation-presents-awards.htm|last=Arnold|first=Catherine|access-date=March 8, 2013|work=Nature World News|date=September 25, 2006}} He fulfilled a lifelong dream by starring in the National Geographic Channel series Expedition Great White (retroactively retitled Shark Men), which premiered in June 2010.{{cite web|url=http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2009/11/12/paul_walker_leads_shark_expedition_ |title=Paul Walker Leads Shark Expedition |publisher=Starpulse.com |date=November 12, 2009 |access-date=November 15, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100426143308/http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2009/11/12/paul_walker_leads_shark_expedition_ |archive-date=April 26, 2010 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.diverwire.com/scuba-environment-news/358-paul-walker-national-geographic-sharks.html |title=Actor Paul Walker Joins National Geographic Shark Expedition |publisher=DiverWire |date=November 13, 2009 |access-date=November 15, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091203100815/http://www.diverwire.com/scuba-environment-news/358-paul-walker-national-geographic-sharks.html |archive-date=December 3, 2009 }} Walker spent 11 days catching and tagging seven great white sharks off the coast of Mexico. The expedition, led by Chris Fischer, founder and CEO of Fischer Productions, and Brett McBride and Michael Domeier of the Marine Conservation Science Institute, took measurements, gathered DNA samples, and fastened real-time satellite tags to the great white sharks, in order to study migratory patterns, especially those associated with mating and birthing, over a five-year period.{{cite web|url=http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/wild/shark-attack-experiment-live/interactives/expedition-great-white/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121116143818/http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/wild/shark-attack-experiment-live/interactives/expedition-great-white/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 16, 2012 |title=Expedition Great White |work=National Geographic |access-date=November 15, 2009 }}

A car enthusiast, Walker competed in the Redline Time Attack racing series in which he raced on the AE Performance Team driving a BMW E92 M3. His car was sponsored by Etnies, Brembo, Öhlins, Volk, OS Giken, Hankook, Gintani and Reach Out Worldwide.{{cite web|url=http://redlinetimeattack.com/ti/rl/content/7Ye8Ikji.html |title=AE Performance |publisher=Redline Time Attack |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100322193146/http://redlinetimeattack.com/ti/rl/content/7Ye8Ikji.html |archive-date=March 22, 2010 }} Walker had been preparing for an auto show prior to his death.{{cite news|title=Paul Walker, estrella de "Rápidos y furiosos" falleció en accidente de tránsito |language=es|newspaper=El Comercio|url=http://elcomercio.pe/espectaculos/1666698/noticia-paul-walker-estrella-rapidos-furiosos-fallecio-accidente-transito}} Walker owned Always Evolving, a Valencia high-end vehicle performance shop, where Rodas, a pro-am racer,{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/03/us/walker-crash-roger-rodas/?c=&page=1|title=Rodas: Racer, manager, friend to Walker|date=December 3, 2013|access-date=June 20, 2014}}{{cite news|first=Perry|last=Smith|date=November 30, 2013|title=UPDATE: Paul Walker, Santa Clarita CEO Reportedly Killed In Car Crash |url=https://www.hometownstation.com/santa-clarita-news/paul-walker/update-paul-walker-santa-clarita-ceo-reportedly-killed-in-car-crash-39250|publisher=KHTS Radio|access-date=November 30, 2013}} acted as CEO.{{cite news|url=http://www.motorsport.com/obituaries/news/walker-and-rodas-you-will-be-missed/|work=Motor Sport|title=Walker and Rodas, you will be missed|date=December 1, 2013|access-date=December 2, 2013}} Walker had a large collection of about 30 cars, a portion of which he co-owned along with Rodas.{{Cite news |url=https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Suit-Over-Paul-Walkers-Car-Collection-Settles-414103003.html|title=Suit Over Paul Walker's Car Collection Settles |work=NBC Southern California|access-date=August 6, 2018}} In January 2020, 21 vehicles owned by Walker were sold for a combined $2.33 million during spirited bidding at an annual car auction in Arizona.{{cite web|url=https://auto.hindustantimes.com/auto/news/fast-and-furious-actor-paul-walker-s-cars-go-under-hammer-fetch-2-33-mn-41579411303606.html|title=Fast and Furious actor Paul Walker's cars go under hammer, fetch $2.33 mn|date=January 19, 2020 |website=auto.hindustantimes.com |access-date=January 19, 2020}}

Death

File:Herculesstreet.jpg, 2015]]

On November 30, 2013, at about 3:30 p.m. PST, Walker, 40, and Roger Rodas, 38, left an event for Walker's charity Reach Out Worldwide for victims of Typhoon Haiyan,{{cite news|last1=Duke|first1=Alan|last2=Sutton|first2=Joe|url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/30/showbiz/actor-paul-walker-dies|title='Fast & Furious' star Paul Walker killed in car crash|publisher=CNN|date=November 30, 2013|access-date=November 30, 2013}} with Rodas driving his red 2005 Porsche Carrera GT.{{cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2013/12/04/showbiz/paul-walker-autopsy/index.html|title=Autopsy blames impact and fire for actor Paul Walker's death|publisher=CNN|date=December 4, 2013|access-date=December 18, 2013}} Traveling between {{convert|80|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}} and {{convert|93|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}} in a

{{convert|45|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}} speed zone on Hercules Street in Valencia, a neighborhood of Santa Clarita, California, Rodas lost control of the car and crashed into a concrete lamp post and two trees off the road, catching fire within seconds after impact.* {{cite news|date=December 3, 2013|title=Officials: Paul Walker crash not part of street race|work=The Press Democrat|location=Santa Rosa, CA|url=https://www.pressdemocrat.com/csp/mediapool/sites/PressDemocrat/News/story.csp?cid=2504882|access-date=December 7, 2013}}

{{cite news|date=November 30, 2013|title=Publicist: Fast & Furious Actor Paul Walker Dies in Car Crash|magazine=Time|location=New York|url=http://entertainment.time.com/2013/11/30/publicist-fast-furious-actor-paul-walker-dies-in-car-crash/|url-status=dead|access-date=November 30, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131209205008/http://entertainment.time.com/2013/11/30/publicist-fast-furious-actor-paul-walker-dies-in-car-crash/|archive-date=December 9, 2013}}
Schabner, Dean (November 30, 2013). [https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/fast-furious-star-paul-walker-killed-crash/story?id=21059278 'Fast and Furious' Star Paul Walker Killed in Crash"]. ABC News.
{{cite news|author=Joel Landau|date=November 30, 2013|title=Paul Walker dead at 40: 'Fast and Furious' star killed in fiery car crash|work=Daily News|location=New York|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/paul-walker-dies-crash-report-article-1.1533786|url-status=dead|access-date=November 30, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131201150104/http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/paul-walker-dies-crash-report-article-1.1533786|archive-date=December 1, 2013}}
{{cite news|date=December 1, 2013|title=Fast & Furious actor Paul Walker dies in California car crash|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-25173331|access-date=December 1, 2013}} According to forensic evidence gathered from the scene, both men were knocked out by the impact. Rodas died instantly from multiple physical trauma while Walker died within seconds from the combined effects of physical trauma and burns. Both of their bodies were burned beyond recognition.

The curve where Walker and Rodas died is a popular spot for drifting cars.{{cite news|first=Daniel B.|last=Wood|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2013/1204/Paul-Walker-crash-could-romanticize-growing-street-racing-culture-video|title=Paul Walker crash could 'romanticize' growing street racing culture|work=The Christian Science Monitor|date=December 4, 2013|access-date=December 7, 2013}} No alcohol or other drugs were found in either man's system,{{cite news|author=|title= Speed may have been factor in Fast and Furious star Paul Walker's crash|url=https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/celebrity/speed-may-have-been-factor-in-fast-and-furious-star-paul-walkers-crash-20140104-30a8v.html|newspaper=Sunday Morning Herald|date=January 4, 2014|access-date=January 4, 2014}} and neither mechanical failure nor road conditions appeared to play a role.{{cite news|url=https://www.welt.de/vermischtes/article123529013/Walker-Auto-war-fast-100-Stundenkilometer-zu-schnell.html|title="Fast & Furious"-Star : Walker-Auto war fast 100 Stundenkilometer zu schnell|newspaper=Die Welt|language=de|date=January 4, 2014|access-date=January 4, 2014}} Police found no evidence of drag racing.{{cite news|title=Paul Walker death investigation: Police rule out second vehicle, focus on speed|url= http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/02/showbiz/paul-walker-death/|publisher=CNN|access-date=December 2, 2013}} The investigation concluded that the car's speed and age of the tires were the primary reasons for the crash.{{cite web|last=Duke|first=Alan|title=Investigators: Speed – not drugs, racing or mechanical failure – killed Paul Walker|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2014/03/25/showbiz/paul-walker-crash-probe/|publisher=CNN|access-date=March 26, 2014|date=March 26, 2014}}

File:Grave of Paul Walker.JPG

With Furious 7 in the middle of filming at the time of Walker's death, Universal announced an indeterminate hiatus on the production, citing a desire to speak with his family before determining what to do with the film.{{cite magazine |last=Gonzalez |first=Maricela |url= http://insidemovies.ew.com/2013/12/04/paul-walker-fast-furious-7-production-halted-after-stars-death/ |title='Fast & Furious 7' production halted after Paul Walker's death |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=December 5, 2013}}

Numerous friends and movie stars posted tributes to Walker on social media.{{cite news |title='Speechless' Vin Diesel pays tribute to Paul Walker |url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11165594 |access-date=December 2, 2013 |newspaper=The New Zealand Herald |location= Auckland |date=December 2, 2013}} His remains were cremated and his ashes were buried in a non-denominational ceremony at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.{{cite web |url=http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/16164396-paul-walker-has-been-buried-at-the-forest-lawn-memorial-park-cemetery-in-the-hollywood-hills-today |title=Paul Walker has been Buried at The Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in the Hollywood Hills Today |publisher=Allvoices.com |date=December 4, 2013 |access-date=December 18, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140114224800/http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/16164396-paul-walker-has-been-buried-at-the-forest-lawn-memorial-park-cemetery-in-the-hollywood-hills-today |archive-date=January 14, 2014 }} His life was later chronicled in the documentary I Am Paul Walker, which was released on August 11, 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/10/entertainment/i-am-paul-walker-review/index.html|title='I Am Paul Walker' brings more nostalgia than depth to actor's life|author=Brian Lowry|website=CNN|date=August 10, 2018|access-date=March 21, 2019}}

= Lawsuits =

In December 2014, Walker's father filed a wrongful death claim against Rodas' estate, seeking the return of or "a proportionate share" of revenue generated by a group of automobiles that were jointly owned by both Walker and Rodas.{{Cite web |date=December 30, 2014 |title=Paul Walker's Father Files Claim Against Roger Rodas' Estate Over Exotic Cars - CBS Los Angeles |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/paul-walkers-father-files-claim-against-roger-rodas-estate-over-exotic-cars/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240221190050/https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/paul-walkers-father-files-claim-against-roger-rodas-estate-over-exotic-cars/ |archive-date=February 21, 2024 |access-date=June 26, 2024 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}} Walker's daughter received a $10.1M settlement in 2016.{{Cite web |last= |date=2016-04-08 |title=Paul Walker's daughter gets $10.1 million settlement from Roger Rodas' estate - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/paul-walker-daughter-settlement-roger-rodas-estate/#:~:text=News%20broke%20Thursday%20that%2017,,%202013,%20killing%20both%20men. |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}

In September 2015, Walker's daughter filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Porsche, claiming that the Porsche Carrera GT had numerous design defects including a history of instability, and that its seat belt placement can cause harm upon impact.{{Cite news|title = Paul Walker's teen daughter sues Porsche over his death in fiery crash|url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/09/29/paul-walkers-teen-daughter-sues-porsche-over-his-death-in-fiery-crash/|newspaper = The Washington Post|date = September 29, 2015|access-date = January 7, 2016|issn = 0190-8286|language = en-US|first = Lindsey|last = Bever}} Porsche denied any wrongdoing and blamed Walker, stating: "The perils, risk, and danger were open and obvious and known to him, and he chose to conduct himself in a manner so as to expose himself to such perils, dangers, and risks, thus assuming all the risks involved in using the vehicle."{{Cite web|title = Porsche Blames Paul Walker For His Own Death|url = https://www.yahoo.com/autos/porsche-blames-paul-walker-for-his-own-death-155422106.html|website = www.yahoo.com| date=November 17, 2015 |access-date = November 17, 2015}} Walker's father and daughter both reached separate out-of-court settlements with Porsche.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-entertainment-news-updates-paul-walker-porsche-settles-1508940377-htmlstory.html|title=Paul Walker's daughter settles with Porsche in wrongful-death suit|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|first=Christie|last=D'Zurilla|date=October 25, 2017|access-date=June 6, 2018}} In April 2016, U.S. District Court Judge Philip S. Gutierrez ruled in favor of Porsche in a separate lawsuit filed by Rodas' widow Kristine.ANTHONY McCARTNEY, [https://web.archive.org/web/20160405180625/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/0bc4ee18c2504f4babbd3e8da8ae335d/judge-porsche-not-fault-crash-killed-paul-walker Judge: Porsche not at fault in crash that killed Paul Walker] April 5, 2016{{cite web | url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/apr/06/judge-rules-porsche-not-to-blame-for-paul-walkers-death | title=Judge rules Porsche not to blame for Paul Walker's death | work=The Guardian | date=April 6, 2016 | access-date=April 6, 2016 | author=Child, Ben}}

Filmography

Awards and nominations

class="wikitable"
Year ! Award ! Category ! Nominated work ! Result
2002 \| MTV Movie Award \| Best On-Screen Team \| style="text-align: center;" \| The Fast and the Furious \| {{won}}{{efn\|name=fn1\|Shared with Vin Diesel}}
2011 \| rowspan=2\| Teen Choice Awards \| Choice Movie Actor – Action \| style="text-align: center;" \| Fast Five \| {{nom}}
2013 \| Choice Movie: Chemistry \| rowspan=2 style="text-align: center;" \| Fast & Furious 6 \| {{nom}}{{efn\|Shared with Vin Diesel and Dwayne Johnson}}
2014 \| MTV Movie Award \| Best On-Screen Duo \| {{won}}{{efn\|name=fn1}}
rowspan=2\| 2015 \| rowspan=2\| Teen Choice Awards \| Choice Movie Actor: Action \| rowspan=2 style="text-align: center;" \| Furious 7 {{small\|(posthumously)}} \| {{won}}
Choice Movie: Chemistry \| {{nom}}{{efn\|Shared with Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Dwayne Johnson, Ludacris}}

class="wikitable"

Year

! Award

! Category

! Nominated work

! Result

2002

| MTV Movie Award

| Best On-Screen Team

| style="text-align: center;" | The Fast and the Furious

| {{won}}{{efn|name=fn1|Shared with Vin Diesel}}

2011