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PAUL WALKER, ONE of the stars of the popular ‘Fast and Furious’ action movie franchise, died in a car crash on Saturday, his publicist confirmed.
He was 40 year old.
Walker’s publicist Ame Van Iden confirmed the actor’s death. A statement on Walker’s Facebook page said he was a passenger in a friend’s car, and that the star was in the area to attend a charity event for his organization Reach Out Worldwide.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said that speed was a factor in the crash.
Deputies found a Porsche Carrera GT engulfed in flames when they responded to a report of a collision in the community of Valencia, north of Los Angeles. Two people who were found in the car were pronounced dead at the scene.
The Santa Clarita Valley Signal reported that the Porsche crashed into a light pole and tree and burst into flames. The fundraiser, to benefit victims of Typhoon Haiyan, took place at a nearby racecar shop. Attendees rushed to put out the flames with fire extinguishers to no avail.
Movies
Walker was best known for his role as undercover agent Brian O’Connor in the “Fast and Furious” movies. He appeared in all but one of the six movies in the series, and was one of the leading protagonists along with Vin Diesel and Michelle Rodriguez.
“All of us at Universal are heartbroken,” Universal Pictures, which released the franchise, said in a statement. “Paul was truly one of the most beloved and respected members of our studio family for 14 years, and this loss is devastating to us, to everyone involved with the ‘Fast and Furious’ films, and to countless fans.”
Diesel posted this photograph on Instagram:
[Vin Diesel via Instagram]
The son of a fashion model and a sewer contractor, Walker grew up in a working class, Mormon household in Glendale, California. The oldest of five siblings, his mother began taking him to auditions as a toddler. He was a child model beginning at the age of 2.
Walker has said the early induction to show business wasn’t to start him on a career path, but as a way to help provide for the family.
After a string of TV roles as a child in the ’80s, including small roles on “Who’s the Boss” and “Charles in Charge,” Walker made his feature film debut in the 1998 comedy “Meet the Deedles.” Supporting roles in the films “Pleasantville,” ”Varsity Blues” and “Flags of Our Fathers” followed.
His performance in the 2000 thriller “The Skulls” caught the eye of producer Neal H. Moritz, who cast him in “The Fast and the Furious” as undercover police officer Brian O’Conner. Adapted from a Vibe magazine article about underground street races, the film became an unexpected hit.
(Youtube: Empire Magazine)
In the sequel, “2 Fast 2 Furious,” Walker moved to center stage with Diesel temporarily dropping out. Walker, a self-described “gearhead,” kept his character’s sports car from the film.
He starred in other films, including the crime thriller “Running Scared,” the Antarctic adventure “Eight Below” and the heist film “Takers.” Though his stardom didn’t make as much of an impact outside the “Fast & Furious” series, Walker continually drew praise from his co-stars and directors as a kind-hearted and eager collaborator.
“Your humble spirit was felt from the start,” Ludacris, Walker’s “Fast & Furious” co-star, said on Twitter. “Wherever you blessed your presence you always left a mark, we were like brothers.”
This article includes reporting from AP and AFP
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Great day for democracy. Deny the will of the people, face the consequences.
@Valthebear: I genuinely believed her election manifesto that had has Jo Swinson on the cover, with the caption ‘”Your next Prime Minister”.
@Valthebear: You are aware she was beaten by a SNP MP? As in hardcore remain SNP? Not a brexiteer? Scarlet for ya!
@Valthebear: and they said turkeys don’t vote for Christmas!
@Shazam37: why..?
@Writeon: no need to be scarlet for anyone other than yourself you clueless amadán. Swinson was the poster girl for Remain, the ultra remainer in Britain leading the most hard core remainer party, with huge resources thrown in behind her. Her nauseating patronising claptrap was dismissed by both remain and leave voters hence the swing to the SNP. The vote was a win for Scottish nationalism and a reaction to the upper middle class disdain for democracy that people like you are so fond of.
@Valthebear:
It would have still been democratic, regardless of who won.
We need to remember that the brits didn’t know if they wanted leave the eu when they voted in a hung parliament with Theresa May (indicating an indecisiveness).
Before that, the Brexit ref vote was just over 50%, which meant that just about half the country said no. But yesterday they have decided, decisively. Which is good.
I just think the brits shouldn’t have easy access to Irish passports; they made their choice.
@Dean: but Swinson was simply arguing that Brexit should be revoked, full stop. As for Brits looking for our passports, it’s nearly all remainers who have suddenly discovered a new found interest in being Irish that they had no interest in previously.
@Valthebear: great tits
It’s like waking up on Christmas morning.
Nigel Dodds gone as well. Delighted.
@milton friedman: yep, fantastic. The UK will break up and England/Wales will get a deal with the EU that’s so close to membership that Brexit will have been pointless.
@milton friedman: a dirty gotten
Good she’s a gobshyte
@Luap: & Jeremy Corbyn, & Anna Soubry, Gina Miller.
Deliver the will of the people please!
@Dom Layzell: When it Dawn’s that leaving will bring no change and it will actually cause more poverty another referendum will happen its nailed on…..
@Peter Hughes:
*dawns
*it’s
I’m glad she was given the boot. She voted for all the austerity measures she now wanted rid of. To say she is two faced is being kind.
@Ed: Absolutely right Ed, & she doesn’t understand democracy either! The people voted for Brexit and she didn’t get it! Doh!
But she was meant to be the next pm?
One good thing from the UK election. She’s only got herself to blame.
Good luck and close the door behind you.
Isn’t that sexist?
@Gisbert Bayertz: No, Gisbert, it doesn’t work that way!
@Dom Layzell: sarcasm is not your strength is it?
Bye bye shouty.
Best candidate should replace her
surely the best person for the job should replace her
How is first past the post a true democracy representative of all people?
@David Lafferty FCCA: Democracy favours the favourite? FPTP is true democracy, PR is a 1 for everyone in the audience type of democracy!
@David Lafferty FCCA: Under pr labour + lib dems are 0.2% above the Torys. if you add snp even more. Labours fault for not getting behind a pr system. this archaic undemocratic uk system only suits the Torys.
Sexist much?? Imagine Jeremy Corbyn hinting that a man should take over Labour for *any* reason.
Jo Swinson is no great friend to women who were actually born women – she is a supporter of gender self-ID and has thrown “cis” women under the bus in support of same.
@Karen Lord: yes, she couldn’t define “woman” when asked.
As a former resident of East Dumbartonshire I can’t say I’m too upset at Jo’s loss and Amy’s gain.
That area was always such a strong Lib Dem seat, so much has changed over the last few years. I don’t think I could ever have predicted the swings between the SNP and the Lib Dems over the last few years!
And by woman, she possibly means bearded person who was assigned male at birth.
Leader of the Lib Dems is only a token role anyway, so nothing your average woman shouldn’t be able to handle.
That’s great, give someone else the kiss of death after you fail dismally. How did she become a politician?
How utterly sexist.
SNP make gains, that’s bad news for Ireland. An Independent Scotland could very well send Ireland back to the 50′s economically.
@MunsterPI: can you please explain,
@Paul O’Sullivan: Scotland would go back into the EU, first. Second they will still have an open border with England & Wales. Third, they already have gas & oil, so they will be able to reduce their Corporation tax rate to a rate that could be well lower than ours, they will tempt multinationals away from us, the ones here now and the ones that are thinking of coming here, as they have better infrastructure, will be members of EU and able to trade with what’s left of the UK.
@MunsterPI: LOL. Nice crystal ball you have.
@MunsterPI: and we have a corp rate that was never higher than it is, we came for a zero percent rate. That’s far different to lowering from 20%.
I pretty much don’t agree with anything you’re saying.
@MunsterPI: they also have free third level education which also makes them an attractive location.
@MunsterPI: Scotland can’t have an open border with the UK if they were to join the EU (assuming the UK hold their present course) or else NI could now.
Look she messed up the election. Above all today is just a sad day as the Uk leaves the Eu.
Yes, any woman.
It should always be the best person for the job, bitter loser she is
No way, she found out she lost down the Sports Centre, oh that’s just fantastic!!
HAHAHA, gubbed doon the Sportsie!!
Drip
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