Paul Walker dead at 40 following car crash; how he got his start on TV
The news breaking today is casting a somber light over Thanksgiving weekend, especially if you either knew or were simply a fan of Paul Walker’s. The actor, best known for his role in “The Fast and the Furious” movie franchise, was killed in a car crash today while at a charity event. While details are still pouring in, his reps and the studio have confirmed that he was a passenger in a Porsche that caught fire after striking either a pole or a tree. He was 40 years old.
Walker’s career, like that of many actors, spans back several decades; not only that, but he originally got his start in TV. He was a series regular for a season on the short-lived comedy “Throb,” and then as a teenager and young adult guest-starred on some iconic shows including “Charles in Charge,” “Who’s the Boss?”, “Touched by an Angel” and also “The Young and the Restless.” (The photo attached above is from his brief stint on a holiday episode of the soap.) His first role in the action movie franchise was not until 2001, more than 15 years after his first major acting credit. Walker was also present often on the talk-show circuit, doing interviews with the likes of Jimmy Fallon, Jay Leno, and Ellen DeGeneres.
This is obviously something that is difficult to say very much on, except that it really shows you just how precious life can be. While there are all sorts of tributes pouring in from friends and colleagues of Walker already, despite this being a holiday weekend with many disconnected from the web, we found the following message from his recent film co-star Ludacris on Instagram to be especially poignant:
“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.”
Walker is survived by a teenage daughter, Meadow and our thoughts go out to his family and friends.
Photo: CBS