Paul William Walker
Paul William Walker IV[4] (September 12, 1973 – November 30, 2013) was an American actor and the founder of Reach Out Worldwide. He became famous in 1999 after his role in the hit film Varsity Blues, but later garnered fame as Brian O'Conner in The Fast and the Furious film series. His other well known works are Eight Below, Running Scared, The Lazarus Project, Into the Blue, Joy Ride, She's All That, Takers, and Hours.
Walker, the son of Cheryl (née Crabtree), a fashion model, and Paul William Walker III, a sewer contractor and a fighter who was a two-time Golden Gloves champion,[5] was born in Glendale, California.[6][7] His ancestry is mostly English, with smaller amounts of German, and possible Irish. His paternal grandfather was a professional boxer, born to English parents.[8][9][10] One of his grandfathers raced factory cars for Ford in the 1960s.[5] The oldest of five siblings, Walker was raised primarily in the Sunland community of Los Angeles and attended high school in the San Fernando Valley, graduating from Sun Valley's Village Christian School in 1991.[11][12] He was raised as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.[6] After high school, Walker attended several community colleges in Southern California, majoring in marine biology.[13]
Death
On November 30, 2013, at approximately 3:30 p.m. PST, Walker and friend Roger Rodas, age 38, a former professional racer and who worked as Walker's financial adviser[41] left an event for Walker's charity Reach Out Worldwide for victims of Typhoon Haiyan[42][43] in Rodas' red 2005 Porsche Carrera GT. The car crashed into a light pole and tree on Hercules Street, a 45 mph speed zone near Kelly Johnson Parkway in Valencia, Santa Clarita, California, after which the vehicle burst into flames.[42][44][45][46][47] Authorities determined that Rodas was driving the car, while Walker was the passenger.[48] The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department declared both victims dead at the scene.[45][49] Rodas died of multiple traumatic injuries, while Walker died from the combined effects of traumatic and thermal injuries, according to the Los Angeles county coroner's office.[48]
The curve where Walker and Rodas were killed is a popular spot for drifting cars.[50] Investigators believe the car reached at least 90 mph before the crash.[51] Police investigated as to whether drag racing played a role, but were unable to find evidence of a second car's involvement.[52] Walker's family claims that reflectors on the road may have contributed to the crash, claiming this particular kind of Porsche loses control if it comes into contact with even the tiniest bumps in the road at high speeds.[53] Pieces of the car were stolen off the tow truck as the wreckage was towed away on a flatbed. Two men were arrested for grand theft.[54]
With Fast & 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.[55] His brother, Cody Walker, was asked to be the stand-in to complete this film.[56] Numerous friends and movie stars have posted tributes to Walker on social media.[57] Two weeks after his death, Walker's ashes were buried in a non-denominational ceremony at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park.