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<b>'F&F' STAR WALKER KILLED:</b> First responders gather evidence from the burned Porsche that crashed into a pole in Valencia, California, killing 'Fast & Furious' star Paul Walker. <i>Image: AP/Santa Clarita Valley Signal/Dan Watson</i>
Santa Clarita Valley Signal/Dan Watson
LOS ANGELES, California - Paul Walker, a star of the "Fast & Furious" movie series, was killed on Saturday in a car crash that killed one other person north of Los Angeles, his publicist said. He was 40.
Walker died Saturday afternoon, Ame Van Iden told The Associated Press.
A statement on the actor's Facebook page said he was a passenger in a friend's car and that Walker was in the area to attend a charity toy drive for his organisation Reach Out Worldwide at Always Evoloving - Performance Motors Racing. Later reports said the car appeared to be a Porsche Carrera GT and that the passenger side hit first.
"We... are stunned and saddened beyond belief by this news," the statement said.
LIGHT POLE AND FLAMES
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said that deputies found a car engulfed in flames when they responded to a report of a collision in the community of Valencia. Two people found in the car were pronounced dead at the scene.
The Santa Clarita Signal reports a red Porsche crashed into a light pole and tree and burst into flames.
Walker was working on "Fast & Furious 7" at the time of his death. He also starred in the suspense drama, "Hours," which is set for release later this month (Dec 2013).
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."
DEBUT IN 'THE DEEDLES'
Walker, son of a fashion model and a sewer contractor, grew up in a working class, Mormon Los Angeles household as the oldest of five siblings. His mother began taking him to auditions as a toddler and he was a child model beginning at the age of two. Walker has said the early induction to show business wasn't to start him on a career path but to help provide for the family.
After a string of TV roles as a child in the 1980's, Walker made his feature film debut in a 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 Moritz who cast him in "The Fast and the Furious" as undercover police officer Brian O'Conner. The film became an unexpected hit.
In the sequel "2 Fast 2 Furious" Walker moved to centre stage with his co-star Vin Diesel dropping out. Walker, a self-described "gearhead", kept his character's sports car from the film.
Walker starred in other films, including the crime thriller "Running Scared," the Antarctic adventure "Eight Below" and the heist film "Takers". 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.
'WE WERE LIKE BROTHERS'
"Fast & Furious" proved unusually enduring. Released in May, "Fast & Furious 6" was the most lucrative of them all, grossing more than $788-million worldwide. The seventh instalment began shooting in September 2013 with a release planned for July 2014.
Ludacris, one of Walker's F&F co-stars, said on Twitter: "Your humble spirit was felt from the start. Wherever you blessed your presence you always left a mark, we were like brothers."
Walker is survived by a 15-year-old daughter.
Walker died Saturday afternoon, Ame Van Iden told The Associated Press.
A statement on the actor's Facebook page said he was a passenger in a friend's car and that Walker was in the area to attend a charity toy drive for his organisation Reach Out Worldwide at Always Evoloving - Performance Motors Racing. Later reports said the car appeared to be a Porsche Carrera GT and that the passenger side hit first.
"We... are stunned and saddened beyond belief by this news," the statement said.
LIGHT POLE AND FLAMES
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said that deputies found a car engulfed in flames when they responded to a report of a collision in the community of Valencia. Two people found in the car were pronounced dead at the scene.
The Santa Clarita Signal reports a red Porsche crashed into a light pole and tree and burst into flames.
Walker was working on "Fast & Furious 7" at the time of his death. He also starred in the suspense drama, "Hours," which is set for release later this month (Dec 2013).
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."
DEBUT IN 'THE DEEDLES'
Walker, son of a fashion model and a sewer contractor, grew up in a working class, Mormon Los Angeles household as the oldest of five siblings. His mother began taking him to auditions as a toddler and he was a child model beginning at the age of two. Walker has said the early induction to show business wasn't to start him on a career path but to help provide for the family.
After a string of TV roles as a child in the 1980's, Walker made his feature film debut in a 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 Moritz who cast him in "The Fast and the Furious" as undercover police officer Brian O'Conner. The film became an unexpected hit.
In the sequel "2 Fast 2 Furious" Walker moved to centre stage with his co-star Vin Diesel dropping out. Walker, a self-described "gearhead", kept his character's sports car from the film.
Walker starred in other films, including the crime thriller "Running Scared," the Antarctic adventure "Eight Below" and the heist film "Takers". 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.
'WE WERE LIKE BROTHERS'
"Fast & Furious" proved unusually enduring. Released in May, "Fast & Furious 6" was the most lucrative of them all, grossing more than $788-million worldwide. The seventh instalment began shooting in September 2013 with a release planned for July 2014.
Ludacris, one of Walker's F&F co-stars, said on Twitter: "Your humble spirit was felt from the start. Wherever you blessed your presence you always left a mark, we were like brothers."
Walker is survived by a 15-year-old daughter.
