By Alex Greg of DailyMail UK
Fast & Furious actor Paul Walker died in a car crash this afternoon when his friend lost control of a Porsche GT and collided with a street light.
The star’s representatives and official Facebook page confirmed his death this evening.
Walker, 40, was a passenger in the high-powered super-car when it spun out of control in Santa Clarita at 3:30pm today.
The LA County Sheriff’s department has confirmed that two people died in a collision at 3:30pm today, but no names have yet been released.
However, representatives for the actor have confirmed that Paul Walker was one of the two men who died this afternoon.
‘It is with a truly heavy heart that we must confirm that Paul Walker passed away today in a tragic car accident while attending a charity event for his organization Reach Out Worldwide,’ reads a Facebook update on Walker’s official page.
‘He was a passenger in a friend’s car, in which both lost their lives. We appreciate your patience as we too are stunned and saddened beyond belief by this news. Thank you for keeping his family and friends in your prayers during this very difficult time. We will do our best to keep you apprised on where to send condolences. – #TeamPW.’
Walker was reportedly an investor in the Always Evolving auto shop in Valencia, California and was in the area for a car show to support the Philippines typhoon relief effort.
Witnesses at the crash scene posted video of the site on YouTube, showing debris from the crash and emergency workers cordoning off the area.
Photographs from the scene show a completely wrecked, burnt out shell of a car.
Friends of the star told a local newspaper that they ‘went through fire extinguishers’ in a futile bid to fight the blaze that engulfed the car after the crash.
‘We all ran around and jumped in cars and grabbed fire extinguishers and immediately went to the vehicle. It was engulfed in flames. There was nothing. They were trapped. Employees, friends of the shop. We tried. We tried.’ Antonio Holmes told the Santa Clarita Signal.
Horror crash: First responders gather evidence near the wreckage of a Porsche sports car that crashed into a light pole on Hercules Street near Kelly Johnson Parkway in Valencia on Saturday, November 30, killing actor Paul Walker
Engulfed: This witness photo shows the Porsche completely consumed by flames after the driver lost control, hitting a pole and killing himself and Paul Walker
Desperate: Bystanders desperately tried to put out the flames with fire extinguishers but the fire was too strong
Friends at the scene said that Walker and his friend were taking the Porsche out for a joyride.
‘Him and his buddy, his brother in arms at heart just decided to joyride, take a spin. Something we all do. We’re all car enthusiasts. … We’re all here driving, enjoying each other, and God must’ve needed help,’ said Holmes, who said he was a friend of Walker.
‘When we saw Paul and Roger leave, Paul was the passenger in the vehicle. They both were experienced drivers.
‘This was just a tragic accident that happened on a joyride,’ said witness Jim Torp of Santa Clarita.
Crash site: Sheriff deputies work near the wreckage of the Porsche sports car that crashed into a pole on Hercules Street near Kelly Johnson Parkway in Valencia on Saturday
A friend lost: Bill Townsend posted this picture of himself with Paul Walker taken hours before his tragic death in a car accident in California
Walker rode the Fast & Furious franchise to stardom, starring in all but one of the six action blockbusters, beginning with the first film in 2001.
The blond-haired, blue-eyed Los Angeles-native brought California surfer good-looks and an easy, warm charm to the popular street-racing series.
‘All of us at Universal are heartbroken,’ Universal Pictures 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.’
The son of a fashion model and a sewer contractor, Walker grew up in a working class, Mormon Los Angeles household. The oldest of five siblings, Walker’s mother began taking him to auditions as a toddler. He was a child model beginning at the age of two.
Walker, the son of a fashion model mother and a sewer contractor father, began modeling as an infant, and starred in a Pampers commercial as a toddler.
Heart throb: Walker was a child model and the face of Davidoff Cool Water, appearing in print commercials for the brand
He was born in Glendale, California and raised in the San Fernando Valley area along with his four siblings.
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, Walker made his feature film debut in the 1998 comedy Meet the Deedles. Supporting roles in the films Pleasantville, Varsity Blues and She’s All That 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.
In the sequel, 2 Fast 2 Furious, Walker moved to center stage with his co-star Vin Diesel momentarily dropping out. Walker, a self-described ‘gearhead,’ kept his character’s sports car from the film.
Too soon: Paul Walker with co-star Vin Diesel (right) in the 2001 film The Fast and the Furious and with Ludacris (left) in the sequel, 2 Fast 2 Furious
Tragic ending: Walker starred in Fast & Furious, the fourth installment of the franchise in 2009 (left) and the next one, Fast Five (right) in 2011
Other roles include Brokedown Palace, She’s All That, Flags of Our Fathers and the Hurricane Katrina drama Hours, which is set to be released in December. 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.
And Fast & Furious proved unusually enduring. Released in May, Fast & Furious 6 was the most lucrative of them all, grossing more than $788 million worldwide.
Walker is the father of a 15-year-old daughter, Meadow, whose mother had recently moved to California from Hawaii so the two could be closer.
Early days: Walker as a young child (left) and pictured in Village Christian High School yearbook in 1991, the year he was voted ‘Best Hair’
At the time of his death, Walker was filming the seventh Fast & Furious movie with Vin Diesel. Just yesterday, he tweeted the following message to his followers.
The boys are back. Will you be ready? - #TeamPW #FastFridays (Photo Credit: http://t.co/kkce2shzvM) pic.twitter.com/RDnrDBGs2n
— Paul Walker (@RealPaulWalker) November 30, 2013
Hollywood stars have paid tribute to the actor, including rapper and actor Ludacris, who tweeted his shock and sadness at his Fast and Furious co-star’s untimely death.
Alongside a touching picture of the film’s cast holding hands, he wrote: ‘Your humble spirit was felt from the start, wherever you blessed your presence you always left a mark.
‘We were like brothers & our birthdays are only 1 day apart, now You will forever hold a place in all of our hearts @paulwalker legacy will live on forever. R.I.P.’
Action star: Walker starred in the film Into the Blue with Jessica Alba in 2005
Animal lover: Walker at the premiere of his film Eight Below (left) said the best thing about the film was the dogs. The star had two dogs, including a Chesapeake Bay retrieve called Boone
Castmates: Paul Walker with Tyrese Gibson (left), Vin Diesel (center left), and Ludacris (right) at the premiere of Fast & Furious 5 in Brazil, 2011
‘No, @RealPaulWalker. No. No. No,’ tweeted actress Alyssa Milano. Walker guest-starred with her in the 80s comedy, Who’s The Boss? ’Rest with the angels. You. Sweet boy. #beauty #love #RIP.’
Veteran actress Goldie Hawn said: ‘Our family mourns the loss of Paul. A very special Human being. Our prayers go his beloved family.’
Bring It On star Gabrielle Union said: This is awful. Awful. #RIPPaulWalker pls pray for his family, friends & fans. We’ve lost a great, laid back, sweet, cool man & father.’
The Wire actor Michael B Jordan said: ‘Man life is so short. People you care about can be here one min and gone the next Don’t take life for granted RIP Paul Walker.’
TV host Vanessa Lachey said: ‘I just heard and am in shock. Prayers to Paul Walker’s family. Life is precious, never take a day for granted. #RIPPaulWalker’
James Franco said: ‘Much love to paul walker. So sad. He gave a lot of joy.’
Others, including Mario Lopez, Jenna Dewan-Tatum, Jack Osborne and DMX also tweeted their sorrow.
No comments:
Post a Comment