Unseen Images Of Paul Walker

Modelling Diapers As A Baby

Source: TwitterMany actors start their careers young, but not this young! Paul was first seen on the small  screen wearing only a nappy, in a Pampers ad in the 1970s. He later became cute in a different way, but those chubby cheeks! He can even make stinky nappies adorable. What a babe.

Child Star

Source: unbelievable-facts.comA natural actor (well, we could see that in the nappy ad, right?) Paul was soon back in front of the camera. By 11, he had appeared in Highway to Heaven, Touched by an Angel and Throb. He would later come to see acting as a way to make a quick buck to fund his studies, but the kid was clearly very talented.

High School Stud

Source: rankerAw, 'aint he just the cutest? Here's Paul in his high school year book photo. He attended Village Christian School, a private school in Sun Valley, California. It would explain the sun kissed skin and beach-ready hair at least. Plus, there is no mistaking those eyes.

The Rebecca Year

Source: abeiku.netOne of his earliest loves and the mother of his only child, Meadow Rain, Paul and Rebecca Soteros met in 1998. She was a high school teacher and he had yet to step into the limelight of his acting career. Rebecca became pregnant pretty pronto and moved in with Paul for a while.

Not To Be

Source: abate.orgTheir relationship didn't last long however, and the pair split in following year. Rebecca reportedly asked Paul to marry her, so they could be a family with their daughter, but at 25 he didn't feel ready for that level of commitment. She returned to Hawaii shortly after, taking Meadow with her.

Afterwards

Source: PintrestWhen she was 13, Meadow moved to CA to live with her dad. After his tragic death, Rebecca flew out to California to support her daughter. After a custody battle with Paul's mum (Rebecca is rumoured to have had some issues with alcohol), she stayed living with Meadow in CA, and supported her in running several of Paul's charities in his name.

Friend of the Sea

Source: unbelievable-facts.comFor his college major, Paul chose marine biology and had full intentions to pursue it as a career. He took a role in Pleasantville in 1998 to generate enough cash so he could go on and finish school and pay off his loans. But the roles just kept on coming and, although he frequently professed an undying passion for the subject, he never got the job he'd fixed his gaze on. “That was my first passion," he said in 2011, "so I still find other ways to fulfill that.”

Surf Is Up

Source: PinterestAlong with his love of the sea, went Paul's enjoyment of surfing. He is quoted on his Facebook page as summing up his feelings as:

"Surfing soothes me, it's always been a kind of Zen experience for me. The ocean is so magnificent, peaceful, and awesome. The rest of the world disappears for me when I'm on a wave."

Daddy-Daughter Day

Source: Your TangoPaul's daughter, Meadow Rain, was an avid supporter of her dad's career; and who can blame her? Sure, it would have been hard to share him with the world like that, but the perks were obvious. Paul once told GQ Magazine: 

“She keeps encouraging me to do all this stuff. I thought at this point in my life I would need to be home with her, but she wants me to keep acting so she can travel around the world with me.”

Best Buds

Source: PeopleSince his death, Meadow has shared quite a few personal pics of herself and her dad at poignant moments, mainly on her Instagram. Along this gorgeous photograph went the equally gorgeous caption:

"A silly day to remember in sadness. today’s a celebration of the love and happiness you brought to the world. Here’s a photo of my best bud & I napping."

Always Show Up

Source: The Nation RoarVin Diesel summed up the kind of involved dad Paul was beautifully to Entertainment Tonight: 

"I told you that I was about to have a baby and didn't know what to expect at the hospital which I was heading to after work. Will never forget what you told me... you said a lot of tough guys will tell you to wait out side of the delivery room, but that’s wrong. Go in there, actually cut the umbilical cord and it will be the best day of your life."

He Is There, Though

Source: Outlook IndiaYes we know, this is not a picture of Paul Walker. But in the ultimate show of brotherhood and family, his co-star and best friend filled in for Paul at his daughter's wedding in 2021. He is, after all, her godfather and it was fitting that he step up in her wedding to actor Louis Thornton-Allan. Legend.

Very, Very Young Love

Source: In Touch WeeklyDespite the 17 year age difference, you can't deny, Paul and girlfriend Jasmine Pilchard-Gosnell were very cute together. However, yes it does make us feel rather uncomfortable that they began dating when she as only 16 (in a state where the age on consent is 18, just saying) but it's seemingly not that unusual in Hollywood... probs does't make it ok though...

Real Grief

Source: In Touch WeeklyWhatever we may think of the age gap early on, Jasmine is clearly devastated by the actor's tragic death. Her father revealed on Facebook that she is in grief counselling  and she had this to say on her own page:

“Every day, in some small way, memories of you come our way. Though absent, you are ever near, still missed, still I will always love you. Rest in peace love.”

Not His Only Gal Mind...

Source: PinterestThat awkward age gap incident aside, Paul has been linked to many a beautiful woman over the years. Presumably after meeting on the set of Into the Blue in 2003, Jessica Alba and Paul shared plenty of happy moments, arms around each other, that summer. She went on to marry Fantastic 4 film and television producer Cash Warren. Shame.

Bros

Source: Yahoo NewsAgain, sorry, not a photo of Paul. Wait - what?! Yup. Meet Cody and Caleb, Paul's brothers, pictured here around the time they were working on the documentary I am Paul Walker. Meadow declined to join the rest of the family in the show about her father. The brother's sighted her reserved nature and noted that 5 years just isn't very long time when you're dealing with that kind of loss.

Family

Source: kalyanportal.blogspotAs crazy as it must be to have an older brother who's an international movie star, Celab and Cody had some lovely reflections on their big bro when talking to E! News:

"He was just a good big brother to me. I still struggle for shoes to fill now that's gone. That's the hardest part. He was such a great person and such a dynamic personality. I learned a lot from him." (Caleb)"Paul was Peter Pan or like a Lost Boy or something. He was a big kid and he never grew up. And that's what was so fun about him…It was always fun." (Cody)

Bromance

Source: DiplyPaul's own mum was fond of referring to her boy as "Vin Diesel's other half." Both on and off the screen, these guys were truly a great duo - perhaps that's part of the reason that the Fast and Furious franchise is so loved. Meadow has also posted several pics of herself and the Diesel family with some heart wrenching captions. Just all so cute.

Never Written Out

Source: Eonline.comVin once told Men's Health that he and Paul had once made a pact to continue the F&F movies until they reached number 10. There is a reason that Brian, Paul's character, is never killed off, only written out, of the films. As Vin told Today in 2022:

"I never think I'm continuing the franchise in his absence. I always feel like I'm continuing the franchise in his honor."

A Fighter: Through and Through

Source: Grappling InsiderNot just a force to be reckoned with on screen, Paul was also a brown belt at the Paragon Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy in CA. After his death, Paul's family were presented with an honorary black belt by his instructor Ricardo 'Franjinha' Miller. A fitting tribute to a man who prized discipline and dedication.

Not Just a Petrol Head

Source: PinterestMiller once said that Paul was very keen to not just be seen as a guy who drives fast cars; he wanted to be known for cars, and Jiu-Jitsu. Rather than just throw a couple of punches and kicks as may be the case in other action movies, he wanted to use his platform to showcase his art form.

A Knock-Out Dad

Source: PinterestKicking ass clearly runs in the family. Paul's own dad, Paul Sr, was a two time "Golden Gloves" champ and his Grandad was boxer 'Irish' Billie Walker. As the executor of his son's estate, Paul began legal proceedings against Porche, whom he believes to be responsible for his son's early death.

Let's Go Racing

Source: bmwblog.comPaul wasn't just a petrol head on screen; he was an accomplished driver himself, completing in the Redline Time Attack racing series, was a member of the AE Performance Team and races a BMW M3 E92. He even owned his own car shop, Always Evolving, in CA.

ROWW

Source: ROWWPaul was also a great humanitarian. After the devastating earthquake in Haiti 2010, he spontaneously organised a relief team. Whilst out there, Paul realised the gap between the availability of skilled responders (mainly medial and constriction teams) and their deployment in disaster zones. And so Reach Out World Wide was formed.

Legacy

Source: The MirrorPaul will no doubt be remembered for his onscreen personas, but for Operations Manager JD and his teams, he will always be much more. He once told The Mirror:

"Doing what he did in Haiti, treating people and seeing every horrific image, well, you don’t leave that experience without taking something away.  Paul had the connections to open doors, and to use them for good, but he never, ever wanted publicity for it....We lost one of the good ones, but he’s left a lasting legacy.'

Heart of Gold

Source: Orlando SentinelHis dad once commented that Paul preferred to live modestly, but that doesn't mean for one moment he didn't know how to be generous. Once, when out and about, Paul spotted a military veteran and his fiancé ring shopping. After a surreptitious listen in, Paul quietly told the manager to put her ring on his tab. What a gent.

Paul's Great Loves: Animals and Water

Source: PinkVillaAs one of her many tribute pics, Meadow shared this on her Instagram with the simple caption: "Thinking of you xx." It hit a reminiscent nerve for many, with Fast & Furious co-star Tyrese Gibson taking to the comments section to write "Animal and Ocean lover!!! Never seen this pic! So cool!"

Final Image

Source: Irish MirrorOn that fateful day (November 30, 2013), Paul and and his friend Roger Radas were on their way to a fundraiser for ROWW, organised by Paul of course, when Roger lost control of the Porsche Carrera at 100mph. It hit a tree and ignited. The crux of Paul's father's case against Porsche was that all of his son's immediate injuries were survivable; it was the fire which was the ultimate cause of his tragic death.Trigger Warning: Car accident on next page

Tragic End

Source: Irish MirrorAlways viewing life as a great adventure, Paul's friend Thorp remembers well the last words he ever heard him speak. As Roger backed the car into the garage, Paul called out: 'Hey, let's go for a drive.' That's how he's want to be remembered surely: as a fun loving guy who loved cars (and Jiu-Jitsu). His final journey however, was just too fast.

The Great Man, Remembered

Source: Republic WorldBut we really don't want that to be your lasting picture of this great man. Yes he had his scruples and parts of his private life might have made us cringe. But he was, undoubtedly, a great supporter of those in need and a top level dad. RIP, Paul Walker.

That Time He Was On A Game Show

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Not only was Paul a contestant on a game show, but he was on there with his sister! In 1988, both Paul and his sister Ashlie, who were only young, were on the show I'm Telling! - which is like a sibling version of the show The Newlywed Game where you prove how much you know about each other!

2 Years Old And Acting

image source: entertainmenttonight.com

Another shot of an adorable baby Paul - and you can see why he was chosen for that Pampers commercial! Always great to see baby photos of celebrities. Usually child stars start acting at a very young age, like at 6 or 7 years old, but that wasn't good enough for Paul - he wanted straight in that showbiz career!

Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Paul Walker: He Paid For A Veteran's Wedding Ring

image source: cnn.com

A young US veteran was shopping in a jewelry store for a ring for his soon-to-be-wife, and Paul Walker happened to be in the same store. Showing his kind-hearted nature - and appreciation for veterans - the actor went to the manager to tell them that he would be paying for the ring.

He Was The Founder Of A Disaster Relief Organization

image source: youtube.com

Trying to help out wherever he could - including wildlife and sharks - he also founded a disaster relief organization called Reach Out Worldwide. This was after he'd visited Haiti in the wake of a devastating earthquake, and decided he wanted to help. To make it more tragic, he'd been leaving an event for the organization when he got into his fatal car accident.

His Grandfather Was Actually Famous: As A Boxer

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Keeping it in the family - but not exclusively acting! - Paul Walker's grandfather was actually famous, too. The professional boxer was known as 'Irish' Billy Walker in the ring, and he enjoyed 21 wins before retiring in 1969 at 30 years old! He then even went on to race cars...

He Didn't Always Want To Be An Actor: He Wanted To Be A Marine Biologist!

image source: abcnews.com

We all know that feeling of wanting to be one thing growing up and being at a completely different place now - some actors have a million different jobs before they make the big screen! But Paul actually wanted to be a marine biologist - which makes sense with his interest in protecting sharks - and he actually studied the subject at community colleges.

He Owned A Car Shop!

image source: upi.com

Paul's talent with cars was true off screen as well as on, and he even owned a car shop called Always Evolving. The shop was a high-end (of course) performance shop, based in Valencia, California, and car meet ups were common so everyone could show off their new tune ups!

And He Was Actually A Race Car Driver

image source: autoblog.com

Not only did Paul Walker have a healthy interest in cars off-screen - both for business and for fun! - but he was also a race car driver officially. He competed in the Redline Time Attack racing series, on the AE performance team (which stood for his car shop, Always Evolving).

He Was On MTV Cribs... With His Mobile Home!

image source: youtube.com

It was always exciting to explore a celebrity home on MTV cribs, but you don't usually expect to tour a mobile home when you're dealing with Hollywood's finest! He was happy to stay as low-key as possible and use his home to park up wherever he wanted - mainly by the ocean!

He Was Actually In A Music Video

image source: billboard.com

Paul was actually in a music video for the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, which is a ska punk band from Boston. They were very big in the 90s, so it makes sense why Paul would be happy to appear with them. He starred in the video for Wrong Thing Right Then, where he cruised in the back of a car!

He Almost Got A Role In Star Wars

image source: usatoday.com

From one big franchise to another, and his role in Star Wars wasn't even a secondary character... it would have been Anakin Skywalker himself! Walker auditioned but was told he was too old for the role, which then went to Hayden Christensen. We definitely think they should have give him another role, though!

He Actually Owned The Nissan Skyline In Fast & Furious

image source: fastandfurious.fandom.com

There are many awesome cars in the Fast & Furious franchise, and Walker's Nissan Skyline R34 was just one of them. That wasn't just a prop car for the movie, though - Walker actually owned that in real life! He also did touch ups to it in his real life car shop, Always Evolving!

He Was Raised As A Mormon

image source: showbizcheatsheet.com

Walker's childhood and upbringing saw him raised in a Mormon household, but as he got older, he then converted to non-denominational Christianity. He was always private about his religious life and upbringing, but he was obviously a faithful man who took pride in that faith.

And He Doesn't Understand Atheists

image source: smh.com.au

One of the reasons that Walker was so religious was because of his love of nature and the world around him. For someone so passionate about wildlife, being outdoors and the ocean, it would make sense why he saw all of that as God's wonders! He actually said he didn't understand atheists because it just blew his mind how incredible nature was.

He Really Didn't Like Watching Himself On Screen

image source: abcnews.com

Walker definitely wasn't the first actor to cringe at watching himself on screen, and he won't be the last! Even though Paul was a huge car fan in real life (so you'd think watching the F&F franchise would be fun for him) he really didn't like switching on to see his face!

Paul Walker Signed With F&F Because He Thought It Would Be Cool To Be A Cop

image source: distractify.com

We know that Paul Walker played amazingly well as undercover cop turning racing driver in the movies, and one of the main reasons he signed on to do the films was because he loved the idea of being an undercover cop specifically! He was a huge fan of Donnie Brasco.

He Performed All His Own Stunts In The First Movie

image source: hindustantimes.com

Paul Walker definitely didn't shy away from an action scene or two - it makes sense for a guy who's active and spends most of his time outdoors in the thick of it! He wanted to do his own stunts and when you watch the movies, we all know how epic that actually is based on how dangerous most of them are!

He Won A Teen Choice Award!

image source: bbc.co.uk

Paul Walker (rightly) won an award at the Teen Choice Awards when he was 30 years old, but it might not be for what you think! He actually won an award for best on-screen chemistry... with his car! The Nissan we spoke about from the first movie, of course. Well, some people really do love their cars!

He Also Appeared On National Geographic

image source: youtube.com

When he wasn't appearing on Teen Choice shows, he was of course proving once again why he loved nature and helping the world around him. He joined the TV documentary Shark Expedition - where his Marine Biology background came in to help - where they followed great white sharks.

He Had A Brown Belt In Jiu-Jitsu

image source: graciemag.com

Walker was active and fit enough to perform his stunts in the movies, and some of that can be attributed to his brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu! Brown belt is only one away from black belt, so he wasn't one to be messed with. After he passed, Walker was actually posthumously awarded the black belt.