It's hard to believe but it has been seven years since Paul Walker passed away on November 30, 2013, in a car accident at the age of 40 alongside his friend, Roger Rodas. I still remember where I was when I heard it & I remember the utter disbelief of the situation because he was so vibrant & full of life that it almost seemed impossible that we lost him in his prime.
I guess the amazing thing that came from his death was that so many people learned about what a good guy he actually was after he passed. Paul Walker didn't do good things for recognition or for media attention. Most of his good deeds were in secret because he did them because he felt it was the right thing to do. There is fantastic a story about how Walker secretly bought a $10,000 engagement ring for a U.S. veteran in 2004 because he overheard in the jewelry store how they couldn't afford it. The actor quietly paid for the ring & the couple didn't know it was him for nearly 10 years. He didn't do this deed to gloat. He did it because he could and knew that it would be appreciated by the couple in need. He was an activist & cared deeply about charity, primarily through his Reach Out Worldwide foundation that was founded in 2010. The foundation helps bring first responders to disaster areas to augment local relief efforts and The Paul Walker Foundation, founded after his death by his daughter Meadow Walker, continues his good work by embracing his "passion for the ocean, animals, helping people & his spontaneous goodwill."
The anniversary of his passing has his fans taking to Twitter sharing their thoughts of the actor and his impact on their lives. It's strange because while he was alive, I merely looked at him as a likable performer who made entertaining films but it's clear that he was much more than that. He transcended his celebrity and his roles in films like THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS, VARSITY BLUES, JOY RIDE, RUNNING SCARED, and INTO THE BLUE. It seemed like he did love acting but the job was more of a means to an end. It was his pathway to do better things for other people. He played the game because he knew that the benefit for those less fortunate was far greater than any fame he achieved. Check out some of the Twitter tributes below to see just how much Paul Walker's fans really appreciate his legacy that still lives on long after his death:
Walker's greatest role was that of a father. From what I have gathered his love for his daughter was unparalleled and it's amazing to see how she has grown up with the help of her immediate family & the second family she inherited through the Fast Family, who continue to carry on his legacy through a franchise that afforded him the means to seek out causes he really loved. To us, he was an actor, entertainer & all-around good guy but to those who really knew him, he was so much more. Thank you for sharing him with us. He truly left his mark in such a short amount of time.
What are some of YOUR favorite Paul Walker films and memories?