Vin Diesel is 55: interesting facts about the action star

Vin Diesel's name is inextricably linked with blockbusters. The "Fast and the Furious" star was born in 1967 in California before moving to New York with his mother Delora and brother Paul. After years of unsuccessful attempts to become an actor, Vin caught luck by the tail, attracting the attention of such a recognized director as Steven Spielberg. He invited him to the filming of the war drama "Saving Private Ryan" (1998), along with Tom Hanks and Matt Damon. Since then, Vin "lights up" in three popular franchises - "Guardians of the Galaxy", "X" and "Fast and Furious. On July 18, Diesel will be 55 years old, in this review we will look closely at the twists and turns of his career and life.

Real name.

Vin Diesel has been called many different names over the years. His famous characters include the charismatic Dominic Torreto from Fast and Furious, the ruthless Xander Cage and the lovable Groot from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, as a child, Vin had a different name - as documented, he is Mark Sinclair. The actor decided to change it as a teenager, forming his name from his stepfather Irving Vincent's last name. Well, Diesel was his nickname, given by his friends for his irrepressible energy.

Meeting Steven Spielberg.

An aspiring actor in the '90s, Vin struggled for a place in the sun, dreaming of a breakthrough role. After impressing audiences at the Sundance Film Festival with his short film The Many Faces (1994), Vin gained a fan base in none other than Spielberg himself and finally found a gold mine. While working as a TV salesman, he got a call from the director of Jaws and an invitation to audition for the movie Saving Private Ryan for the role of Adriano Caparzo. The rest, as they say, is history.

An affair on the set of "Fast and Furious."

Vin was in a romantic relationship with his on-screen partner Michelle Rodriguez when the elusive street racer franchise was just starting to gain momentum. They starred in the first picture of 2001 and reportedly continued to spend time away from work. The romance was short but sweet. Vin and Michelle remained friends, continuing to star in the Fast and the Furious films.

Financial Condition.

Thanks to a long and impressive career on the big screen, Vin is known to be the owner of an impressive $225 million. "Fast and Furious" has made him one of the highest earning actors starring in action pictures. Films with his participation earned $7 billion at the global box office, and the most fruitful for Diesel was 2017, when "Fast and the Furious 8" was released in cinemas. The starring actor grossed $54 million, making him the third highest-paid actor of the year.

The tragic death of Paul Walker.

The "Fast and Furious" franchise was forever changed by the death in a car accident of the performer of the role of Brian O'Connor, Paul Walker. In November 2013, the 40-year-old actor's red Porsche Carrera GT crashed into a tree at off-limits speed. Vin and Paul are believed to have been close friends and were longtime colleagues in the movie series. Walker's untimely death sent Diesel into a state of shock. On the eighth anniversary of his death last year, Vin showed his 80 million social media followers that Paul still holds a special place in his heart by sharing a heartfelt tribute to the late actor. "The tragedies of life are always accompanied by blessings if you stay open and have faith," Diesel summed up

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The coflict with Dwayne Johnson.

The public squabble between Vin and his colleague from the four "Fast and Furious" films began with a post on social media that became famous in August 2016. Johnson then posted a puzzling comment: "Some (colleagues) behave like decent men and real professionals, while others do not. They're too cowardly to do anything about it. When you see this movie ('Fast and Furious 8') next April and you think I'm not acting in some scenes and my blood is really boiling, you're right." Vin responded by promising to "tell it all." The men's conflict was confirmed by their on-screen partner Michelle Rodriguez. Another member of the franchise Tyrese Gibson accused Johnson of delaying production, which led to the departure of the latter from the main franchise and his participation in the spin-off "Fast and Furious: Hobbs and Shaw." After the film's release, the controversy seemed to subside, but in December 2021 Johnson accused Diesel of "manipulative" behavior in order to get him back into the main film series.

A real family man.

In 2007, Vin married Mexican model Paloma Jimenez. Over 15 years of marriage, the couple had three children who have his real last name - Sinclair. The youngest daughter, Pauline, according to the actor, is named after Paul Walker. Diesel was prompted to settle down and start a family by the action comedy film "The Bald Babysitter: Special Assignment" (2005). "When I was in that movie, I became deeply aware of the desire to have a child," he admitted. "It took me two years to find the right person and prepare for the role of father. And that's what I really, really wanted to do."