They don’t have friends, they have family. Since Paul Walker‘s 2013 death, his former Fast and Furious castmates have worked together to make sure his daughter, Meadow Walker, always has support.
The California native welcomed Meadow in November 1998 with his ex-girlfriend Rebecca Soteros. Meadow was just a toddler when The Fast and the Furious premiered in June 2001, but her dad was already establishing friendships that would last the rest of his life.
Paul and his costar Vin Diesel connected right away while doing research for the first Fast film years before the franchise became a billion-dollar global enterprise. The Bloodshot actor played Dominic Toretto, a street racing kingpin, while Paul played Brian O’Conner, an LAPD officer assigned to infiltrate Dom’s crew of racers.
“Our chemistry is that we don’t have any chemistry,” the Joy Ride star said of Diesel in 2009. “That’s the funny thing. He’s east coast, I’m west coast, you know? We respect each other as human beings. And that’s about all it takes. We get around, we laugh. But we have such two totally different approaches to this whole game.”
Along the way, Paul named the Riddick star godfather to Meadow, and Diesel began calling his friend by the affectionate nickname “Pablo.” After sitting out 2006’s The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, the pair reunited with original franchise stars Michelle Rodriguez and Jordana Brewster for 2009’s Fast & Furious. At that point, the Fast Saga became the juggernaut that it still is.
Just four years later, however, the family suffered a blow when Paul, then 40, was involved in a single-car collision that left him and friend Roger Rodas dead. Furious 7 was still in production at the time, but Paul’s brothers, Cody and Caleb Walker, filled in to film his remaining scenes as Brian.
As a final tribute to his beloved friend, Diesel convinced Fast producers to keep Paul’s character alive in the franchise. In Furious 7, Brian decides to “retire” from the crew so he can focus on raising his family with Mia (Brewster). Since then, subsequent Fast movies have included nods to an offscreen Brian living a happy and relaxed life.
“I can’t envision making a Fast film continuing this mythology without my brother Pablo’s soul being the guiding spirit,” Diesel said in June 2021 ahead of the F9 release. “The fact that I can make these movies and these chapters with people that I love is probably the biggest blessing of all.”
Keep scrolling to see how Paul’s Fast family has supported Meadow over the years:
The Guardians of the Galaxy star is so close to Meadow that he stepped in for her father to walk her down the aisle during her October 2021 wedding to Louis Thornton-Allan. "Meadow counts Vin and his kids as family and will talk to them on days she’s struggling, and she has their backs too,” a source told Us Weekly exclusively in June of that year. Diesel has said that Meadow is the first person to wish him a happy Father's Day every year. “To see her with my children is one of the most beautiful things," the actor said in June 2021. "There are moments when I see her playing with [my daughter] Pauline and it hits me so deep, ’cause I can only imagine what my brother sees when he sees that.” The Pacifier star also hinted that his goddaughter may have a cameo in an upcoming Fast film. "I would not count anything out,” the XXX star teased that same month. “Without giving you all of the secrets of Fast 10, let’s just say nothing’s ruled out.” MediaPunch/Shutterstock
The Faculty actress also attended Meadow's nuptials, giving the bride a big hug in a video the model shared via social media. After the wedding, Brewster shared a few snaps from the photo via Instagram, writing, "I’m so happy for you beauty." Meadow replied, "I love you." Rob Latour/Shutterstock
The rapper, who joined the Fast franchise in 2003's 2 Fast 2 Furious, sent Meadow his well wishes after her wedding. He's also said he would be happy to have her join the Fast crew for a future film. "She is a phenomenal person," he said in October 2021. "She has those great genetics, and I would love to see it. That’s all I can say. I can’t confirm or deny. I’m hearing the rumors as well, but I know her personally, and her heart is made of gold." Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP/Shutterstock
The former wrestler's eldest child, Simone, was born just over two years after Meadow. When Johnson and Paul began working together on 2011's Fast Five, they became close by swapping stories about their young daughters. "I never post about my friend. Personal thing, but I prefer to keep our memories and bond private and quiet," the Rampage star wrote via Instagram in September 2019, honoring Paul on what would have been his 46th birthday. "But something about today compelled me as a moving reminder of how fragile life is for all of us. It’s Paul’s birthday and rightfully so, his legacy celebrated around the world. Our friendship was bonded over our daughters, Meadow & Simone and the pride and protection we took being their fathers. ... All this stuff got me thinking about how beautiful, yet wildly unpredictable life is. We never know what’s around the corner, so we gotta live as greatly as we can in the honor of our loved ones and ancestors who are no longer with us." Eric Charbonneau/Shutterstock
The Masked Singer alum has signed some of his social media messages to Meadow as "Uncle Ty," telling her that the Fast cast will always have her back. "We love you Meadow!" he wrote via Instagram in December 2020 when the model commemorated the seventh anniversary of her father's death. "We love you and miss your father everyday……. Prayers love and light to you angel….. I know none of this has been easy especially days like this." Marion Curtis/StarPix/Shutterstock
"We just try to be supportive and let her know we're here if she ever wants it," the Girlfight actress said of the Fast cast's relationship to Meadow in 2015. "Whatever she wants, she's got it." Rob Latour/Shutterstock
from Celebrity News – Us Weekly https://ift.tt/31c1Abf
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