Vin Diesel’s ‘Touching Tribute’ To Dead Friend Paul Walker
How tall is Vin Diesel? It’s a question that fans often ask about the action star, but part of the answer has to do with Vin’s personal strength and goodness. He’s tall enough to take on the burden of grief for Diesel’s dead friend Paul Walker and change it into something special for Walker’s friends. Vin cared a lot about his friend and Fast and Furious co-star Paul and turned to him for advice many times. When Vin was looking forward to becoming a father for the first time, it was Paul who helped him prepare for the challenges. USA Today reports that Vin recently decided to show his gratitude to Paul with a “touching” photo of his daughter with Walker.
Shortly before the birth of Vin’s first child, Walker gave his friend some advice that became an incredible link between the two, as well as a special link between Vin and his baby. Paul explained how important is would be to Vin to go into the delivery room and be part of the birth.
“A lot of tough guys will tell you to wait in the hallway, don’t go in the delivery room. But Vin, go into that delivery room, be present and cut that umbilical cord and it will be the best day of your life.”
The Metro reports that when Diesel’s third child was born a year ago, he did exactly what Paul had described to him years earlier. Vin, age 48, went into the room with his wife, Paloma Jimenez, when it came time for the baby to be born. Although he was an experienced dad by then, Diesel still kept his parenting mentor and friend in his mind. Vin said that he felt Paul’s presence in the room.
“There’s no other person that I’m thinking about as I’m cutting this umbilical cord.”
Walker died in a car crash in 2013, and that made the experience even more emotional and meaningful for Vin and his wife.
“I knew he was there and it felt like, you know, a way to keep his memory a part of my memory, a part of my world.”
Vin Diesel shares pic of daughter, with Paul Walker: The baby was named Pauline in Walker's honor.
— Kate Fashion Style (@lifestyleinform) June 12, 2016
As a way to honor Diesel’s dead friend, he named his daughter “Pauline,” a move that fans love.
A big hug to #VinDiesel who got a daughter and called her #Pauline because he was thinking of Paul Waker while he cutted umbilical cor! ?
— Lina (@LinSweety) March 28, 2015
Diesel, born Mark Sinclair, often takes opportunities to express his admiration and appreciation for Paul, especially in terms of becoming a good father. He credits Walker with playing “a big part” in the “transition into fatherhood.”
On the one-year anniversary of Vin’s friend’s death, Diesel posted a tribute to him on Facebook.
“He was a part of so much of my life… long personal talks with my mother, or babysitting the Alpha Angel… he took a certain pride in being Uncle Pablo.”
Vin Diesel Just Shared a Touching Tribute to Paul Walker https://t.co/NKq7y1feEv pic.twitter.com/WY7PpN80zJ
— Cosmopolitan (@Cosmopolitan) June 12, 2016
Diesel’s co-star died during Fast and Furious filming while working on the seventh in the popular series. The tragic death meant that the plot of the movie had to be changed and actors had to carry out their roles in the midst of grieving for Diesel’s dead friend. Walker was himself a father to one child, and family, friends, cast, and stars like Vin together mourned him with an “emotional farewell” that included Walker’s character, Brian.
Production on the newest of the franchise, Fast 8, is “well underway” with Diesel again as Dom Toretto. New cast members include Scott Eastwood and Charlize Theron, along with Dwayne Johnson, Tyrese Gibson, Michelle Rodriguez, and Ludacris.
And the question about how tall Diesel actually is? According to his IMDB biography, Vin is five feet and 11 and three-quarter inches, tall enough to carry the burdens of grief and the joy of fatherhood.
[Photo by Ralph Orlowski/Getty Images]
