Paul Walker

Paul Walker

Walker at a premiere for Fast & Furious in March 2009
Born Paul William Walker IV
September 12, 1973 (1973-09-12) (age 37)
Glendale, California, U.S.
Occupation Actor
Years active 1985–present

Paul William Walker (born September 12, 1973) is an American actor. He became well known in 1999 after his role in the hit film Varsity Blues. He is also known for starring in the surprise summer hit The Fast and the Furious and has since gone on to star in its sequels 2 Fast 2 Furious and Fast & Furious and soon to be released Fast Five. His other films include Joy Ride, Running Scared, Into The Blue and Eight Below. The films he has starred in have grossed more than $1.1 billion. He also appears in the National Geographic Channel series Expedition Great White.

Contents

Early life

Walker was born in California and raised in the San Fernando Valley the area of Los Angeles County.[1] The son of Paul Walker III (a sewer contractor)[2] and Cheryl (née Crabtree; a former fashion model),[3] he is the oldest of five (has two brothers and two sisters).[4] Walker was raised as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or Mormon, church.[2] He attended and graduated from Village Christian School.[5][6] After high school, he attended several community colleges where he majored in marine biology.[5]

Career

Walker's small-screen career began as a toddler, when he starred in a television commercial for Pampers.[7] He began modeling at the age of 2[8] and began working on television shows in 1985, with roles in shows such as Highway to Heaven, Who's the Boss?, The Young and the Restless and Touched by an Angel.

Walker's film career began in 1987, with the horror/comedy film Monster in the Closet. He has continued with roles in several other movies without much success. It wasn't until 1998 that Walker made his feature film debut in the comedy Meet the Deedles, which finally gained him fame. This subsequently led to supporting roles in the movies Pleasantville, Varsity Blues, She's All That, and The Skulls.

In 2001, Walker's breakthrough role arrived when he starred opposite actor Vin Diesel in the successful action film The Fast and the Furious. The film established Walker as a notable film star and leading man and led to his reprisal of the role in the 2003 sequel 2 Fast 2 Furious. He continued his career with leading roles in films such as Joy Ride, Into the Blue, and Timeline, and also had a supporting role in Clint Eastwood's 2006 adaptation of Flags of Our Fathers.

Walker's most recent feature films are crime thriller Running Scared and Walt Disney Pictures' 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 first weekend.[9] During the filming of Running Scared, director Wayne Kramer stated that "[Walker] is that guy on some level"[10] when comparing Walker with his character in the movie, Joey Gazelle. Kramer continued on to say that he "loved working with [Walker] because as a director he's completely supportive of my vision of what the film is. And even better, he's completely game for it."[10]

Walker starred in the independent film The Lazarus Project, which was released on DVD on October 21, 2008. He subsequently returned to The Fast and the Furious franchise, reprising his role in Fast & Furious, which was released on April 3, 2009.[11]

Walker has been cast opposite T.I., Idris Elba, Chris Brown, Matt Dillon, and Hayden Christensen in the crime drama Takers, which began filming in early September 2008.[12]

Paul Walker will also be starring in the upcoming film Blood, Sweat and Tears. He will portray a powerful and unethical music executive. The movie is being produced by David Johnson and is scheduled to start filming in Chicago and Miami in late 2010.

Personal life

Walker, who was named as one of People's Most Beautiful People in 2001,[13] currently resides in Santa Barbara, California, with his dogs, one of which is a Chesapeake Bay Retriever.[2][14] His daughter, Meadow Rain[3] (born in 1999), lives[15] with her mother in Hawaii. He is an avid surfer and enjoys the beach. Walker is a purple belt in Brazilian Jiujitsu under Paragon Jiujitsu.[16]

Walker's first passion was marine biology, with his idol being Jacques Cousteau,[17] and he joined the Board of Directors of The Billfish Foundation in 2006.[18] He recently fulfilled a lifelong dream by starring in a National Geographic Channel series Expedition Great White, which premiered in June 2010.[19][20] He spent 11 days as part of the crew, catching and tagging 7 great white sharks off the coast of Mexico.[17] The expedition, led by Chris Fischer, founder and CEO of Fischer Productions, along with Captain Brett McBride and Dr. Michael Domeier of the Marine Conservation Science Institute take measurements, gather DNA samples, and fasten real-time satellite tags to the great white sharks. This will allow Dr. Michael Domeier to study migratory patterns especially those associated with mating and birthing over a 5-year period of time.[21]

In March 2010, Walker went to Chile, specifically to Constitución, to offer his help and support to the people injured in the 8.8 magnitude earthquake that struck on February 27. He also flew with his REACH OUT team to Haiti to lend a helping hand to the 2010 Haiti earthquake victims.[22]

He is also an avid car enthusiast who currently competes in the Redline Time Attack racing series in which he uses a 2009 BMW M3 and is on the AE Performance Team. His car is currently sponsored by Etnies, Brembo Brakes, Ohlins, Volk, OS Giken, and Hankook.[23]

Filmography

Films

Year Film Role Notes
1985 Highway to Heaven Eric Travers

E|TV series
1986 Monster in the Closet 'Professor' Bennett
Highway to Heaven Todd Bryant TV series; 2 episodes
Throb Jeremy Beatty TV series; 23 episodes, 1986-1987.
1987 Programmed to Kill Jason
1988 I'm Telling! Contestant TV series; 1 episode.
1990 Charles in Charge Russell Davis TV series; 1 episode, "Dead Puck Society"
1991 Who's the Boss? Michael Haynes TV series; 1 episode, "You Can Go Home Again"
1992 The Young and the Restless Brandon Collins TV series; 1992-1993.
1994 Tammy and the T-Rex Michael
CBS Schoolbreak Special Dill TV series; 1 episode, "Love in the Dark Ages"
The Boys Are Back Jesse Hansen TV series; 1 episode, "Pilot"
1996 Touched by an Angel Jonathan TV series; 1 episode, "Statute of Limitations"
1998 Meet the Deedles Phil Deedle
Pleasantville Skip Martin
1999 Varsity Blues Lance Harbor
She's All That Dean Sampson
Brokedown Palace Jason (uncredited)
2000 The Skulls Caleb Mandrake
2001 The Fast and the Furious Brian O'Conner
Joy Ride Lewis Thomas
2002 Life Makes Sense If You're Famous Mikey
2003 2 Fast 2 Furious Brian O'Conner
Timeline Chris Johnston
2004 Noel Mike Riley
2005 Into the Blue Jared
2006 Running Scared (2006 film) Joey Gazelle
Eight Below Jerry Shepard
Flags of Our Fathers Hank Hansen
2007 Stories USA Mikey
The Death and Life of Bobby Z Tim Kearney
2008 The Lazarus Project Ben Garvey
2009 Fast & Furious Brian O'Conner
2010 Takers John Rahway
The Diplomat Pre-production
Shady Talez Pre-production
2011 Fast Five Brian O'Conner Filming

Awards

Year Award Category Film/TV Show Result
1988 Young Artist Award Best Young Actor – Guest Starring in a Television Drama
For episode "A Special Love"		 Highway to Heaven Nominated
1993 Young Artist Award Best Young Actor in a Daytime Series The Young and the Restless Nominated
1994 Soap Opera Digest Award Outstanding Male Newcomer Nominated
Young Artist Award Best Youth Actor in a Soap Opera Nominated
2000 Young Hollywood Award Exciting New Face – Male Won
2001 Hollywood Breakthrough Award Breakthrough Male Performance
Received at the Hollywood Film Festival		 Won
Young Hollywood Award New Stylemaker – Male Won
2002 MTV Movie Award Best On-Screen Team
Shared with Vin Diesel		 The Fast and the Furious Won
Breakthrough Male Performance Nominated
2003 Teen Choice Award Choice Movie Chemistry
For Paul Walker and his car		 2 Fast 2 Furious Won
2009 Teen Choice Award Choice Movie Actor: Action Adventure Fast & Furious Nominated
(Source: IMDb.com)

References

  1. ↑ "Paul Walker Biography". Yahoo!. http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800019262/bio. Retrieved 2008-09-28. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Keck, William (2005-09-27). "Fame lets Paul Walker dive in". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2005-09-27-paul-walker_x.htm. Retrieved 2008-09-28. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Paul Walker". Complex. http://www.complex.com/CELEBRITIES/Cover-Story/Paul_Walker. Retrieved 2008-09-28. 
  4. ↑ Aames, Ethan (2004-11-12). "Paul Walker on Noel". Cinema Confidential. http://www.cinecon.com/news.php?id=0411121. Retrieved 2008-09-28. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Paul William Walker I-IV bio: The Faster & Furiouser 5/4DEEMAS&JESUS ADAM Actor". Tribute.ca. http://www.tribute.ca/people/Paul+Walker/1379/17622. Retrieved 2008-09-28. 
  6. ↑ Kim, Beatrice (2003-11-21). "Pretty boy is pretty coy: Walker talks the talk". The Stanford Daily. http://www.stanforddaily.com/cgi-bin/?p=1013576. Retrieved 2009-11-15. 
  7. ↑ "Netflix: Paul Walker". Netflix. http://www.netflix.com/RoleDisplay?personid=11638956. Retrieved 2008-09-28. 
  8. ↑ Chean, Steven (2003-06-15). "Walker on the wild side". USA Weekend. http://www.usaweekend.com/03_issues/030615/030615paulwalker.html. Retrieved 2008-09-28. 
  9. ↑ "Eight Below (2006)". Box Office Mojo. http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=antarctica.htm. Retrieved 2008-09-28. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Murray, Rebecca. "Interview with "Running Scared" Writer/Director Wayne Kramer". About.com. http://movies.about.com/od/runningscared/a/runningwk021406.htm. Retrieved 2008-09-28. 
  11. ↑ "Apple - Movie Trailers - Fast and Furious". Apple. http://www.apple.com/trailers/universal/fastandfurious/. Retrieved 2008-09-28. 
  12. ↑ Fleming, Michael (2008-09-09). "Screen Gems digs up 'Bone' cast". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117991957.html?categoryid=13&cs=1&query=bone+deep. Retrieved 2008-09-28. 
  13. ↑ Perchuk, Kate. "Paul Walker on the Wild Side". iVillage. http://entertainment.ivillage.com/features/0,,qgbd,00.html?arrivalSA=1&cobrandRef=0&arrival_freqCap=1&pba=adid=7428229. Retrieved 2008-12-07. 
  14. ↑ Koltnow, Barry (2006-02-18). "Just chillin'". Orange County Register. http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/entertainment/homepage/article_1005204.php. Retrieved 2008-09-29. 
  15. ↑ Longsdorf, Amy (2006-02-24). "Paul Walker: People.com". People. http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,1166867,00.html. Retrieved 2008-09-29. 
  16. ↑ Duane, Daniel. "Paul Walker's Adventure Sports Workout Routine". Men's Health. http://www.menshealth.com/cda/article.do?site=MensHealth&channel=fitness&category=motivation&conitem=e718d0a0d1c26010VgnVCM200000cee793cd____&page=1. Retrieved 2008-09-28. 
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Itier, Emmanuel. "Paul Walker Interview". http://www.buzzine.com/2009/08/paul-walker-interview/. 
  18. ↑ "Paul Walker Joins The Billfish Foundation to Kick-Off 20th Anniversary Celebration". marlinmag.com. 2006-09-25. http://www.marlinmag.com/news/news/paul-walker-joins-the-billfish-foundation-to-kick-off-20th-anniversary-celebration-44209.html. Retrieved 2009-11-15. 
  19. ↑ "Paul Walker Leads Shark Expedition". Starpulse.com. 12 November 2009. http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2009/11/12/paul_walker_leads_shark_expedition_. Retrieved 2009-11-15. 
  20. ↑ "Actor Paul Walker Joins National Geographic Shark Expedition". DiverWire. 13 November 2009. http://www.diverwire.com/scuba-environment-news/358-paul-walker-national-geographic-sharks.html. Retrieved 2009-11-15. 
  21. ↑ "Expedition Great White". National Geographic. http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/expedition-week/4906/Overview?sicontent=0&sicreative=4194840652&siclientid=804&sitrackingid=107542971&source=banner_semygwngc_113. Retrieved 2009-11-15. 
  22. ↑ "REACH OUT Worldwide". REACH OUT Worldwide. http://www.roww.org/. 
  23. ↑ "AE Performance". Redline Time Attack. http://redlinetimeattack.com/ti/rl/content/7Ye8Ikji.html. 

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