Paul Walker, also known as Brian O’Connor to the fans of the Fast and Furious series, passed away on November 30, 2013 in a tragic car accident in Valencia, CA, just 30 minutes from Hollywood, CA. Walker was one of the most iconic figures in the Fast and Furious movies, playing a key role in keeping the franchise alive, working alongside other famous names such as Vin Diesel and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Walker was also in many other notable films of the early 2000’s such as Flags of Our Fathers and Joy Ride.
Not only was he a famous Hollywood actor, but he was also a philanthropist, founding the organization called REACH OUT Worldwide. The organization was aimed at helping people who are affected by natural disasters. Most recently, ROWW has been focused on relief for the disasters in the Philippines, as well as tornado victims in Illinois. It is rumored that Walker was allowing people to pay a fee in order to drive his $450,000 2005 Porsche Carrera GT in order to raise money for this organization. Unfortunately, during one of these supposed test drives, Walker and the driver of the car crashed into a phone pole and lost their lives due to the crash.
Many of his family members and other famous entertainment icons around the world were caught by surprise due to this horrific accident, and memorials have been scheduled accordingly. Car enthusiasts around the world that have been influenced by his presence in the F&F movies have planned car shows and cruises (long-distance slow-paced driving on roads with little to no traffic stops) in order to commemorate his everlasting imprint onto the automotive culture worldwide.