KiriBear:The Contemplations of an Aspiring Author, Chef, & Single Mom: An Ode to The Life of Paul William Walker IV

Saturday, November 30, 2013

An Ode to The Life of Paul William Walker IV

I was actually planning on writing about something else tonight, when he tragic news came across my news feed that a

wonderful man, Mr. Paul William Walker IV had passed away. With all of the internet death hoaxes I immediately wanted to wish that away and have it turn out to be another scam, but it is with heavy heart that I read confirmation from his publicist see news footage and pictures of the wreckage for confirmation. I haev grown up as an avid fan and with a girlish crush on Paul Walker since I first saw him in Varsity Blues, I remember watching Pleasant Ville repeatedly for him in color. Back before any of them (he was also with Reese Witherspoon and Tobey macguire) would come near the fame that they ended up with.

Paul Walker was born on September 12th 1973 in Glendale California. He was raised int he Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and majored in Marine Biology in college. His first film was in 1986 as a role in Monsters in the Closet. But it wasn't until 1998 that his career really took off.

This was the year of Meet the Deedles and Pleasantville first came out, leading to the 1999 hits Varsity Blues, She's All That, Brokedown Palace and The Skulls in 2000.
2001 was the start of his franchise career as Brian O'Conner in The Fast and the Furious. and also the Horror film Joy Ride (which was actually quite good) that came out this year. This really cemented his fame in Hollywood. And it wasn't long before the sequel 2 Fast 2 Furious came out in 2003 adding some more standards to the franchise.

We have countless other movies within this time some good and some bad with Noel, Eight Below, Timeline, Into the Blue, Running Scared, Flags of Our Fathers, Death and Life of Bobby Z, and my personal favorite: The Lazarus Project.
It wasn't until 2009 that he would reprise his role in the fast and furious franchise under the same title as the original dropping "THE" with Fast & Furious. Takers in 2010
Fast Five in 2011 Vehicle 19, Hours and Fast & Furious 6 in 2013. With Fast 7 in production, who knows what will become of this.

But enough of his movie career, let's talk about the man. As a fan that has grown up with him, I feel like I have in someway lost a friend, or a classmate, someone you have known and cared for and been involved in their life for years, even without knowing them. Now not like a close friends mind you more of an acquaintance but I feel the loss all the same. He had taken on a much stronger role as a father with his now 15 year old daughter Meadow coming to live with him and being a full time father. Now this is a fairly recent transition and now I can't imagine the emotional toll this must have on her. Skeptics will say that she is financially set for life, but with him she would have been the same, he has had immensive success in his career, and nothing can replace a father in yoru life, especially when you have made the move to live with him during your teenage years.

There is so much irony in him dying in a car crash after so many car movies and stunts. And that he was not even the driver makes it even more sad. I hope that alcohol was not a factor in this crash because that would be very tragic indeed and something that could have been easily avoidable.

At the time of his death Paul Walker resided in Santa Barbara (I knew I should have visited again sooner) with his dogs. He was reportedly an avid surfer and had a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. In 2010 he was able to fulfill a lifelong dream of marine biology study inspired by his idol Jacques Cousteau when he was a part of a National Geographic Wildlife Expedition Great White. (I also had a dream to be a part of National geopgraphic wildlife).

He also had a big role in Charitable organizations and events and had his own humanitrian aid team"Reach Out worldwide"

He reportedly died at 3:30 pm in Santa Clarita/Valencia, California (Outside of LA) while attending a Reach Out charitable event. He was a passenger in a red Porsche and the driver lost control of the car and hit a light pole bursting into flames, later exploding and killing both occupants inside.