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Vin Diesel

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Vin Diesel
Vin Diesel XXX Return of Xander Cage premiere.png
Diesel in 2017 at the premiere of XXX: The Return of Xander Cage
Born
Mark Sinclair

(1967-07-18) July 18, 1967 (age 54)
Alameda County, California, U.S.
Occupation
  • Actor
  • filmmaker
Years active1990–present
Partner(s)Paloma Jimenez (2007–present)
Children3
Signature
Vin Diesal's signature.svg

Mark Sinclair (born July 18, 1967), known professionally as Vin Diesel, is an American actor and filmmaker. One of the world's highest-grossing actors, he is best known for playing Dominic Toretto in the Fast & Furious franchise.

Diesel began his career in 1990 but struggled to gain roles until he wrote, directed, produced, and starred in the short film Multi-Facial (1995). This attracted the attention of Steven Spielberg, who was developing Saving Private Ryan (1998), and re-wrote elements of the film to allow Diesel to appear in a supporting role. Diesel subsequently voiced the titular character in The Iron Giant (1999) while gaining a reputation as an action star after headlining the Fast & Furious, XXX, and The Chronicles of Riddick franchises.

Diesel portrays Groot in the Marvel Cinematic Universe superhero films, appearing in Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), Avengers: Endgame (2019), and the upcoming Thor: Love and Thunder (2022). He also portrayed Groot in the animated film Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018). Diesel has also earned commercial success in other genres, such as in the comedy The Pacifier (2005), while his performance in Find Me Guilty (2006) was praised. Diesel portrayed Bloodshot in its 2020 superhero film adaptation, and is slated to appear in the upcoming Avatar films.

He founded the production company One Race Films, where he has also served as a producer or executive producer for his star vehicles. Diesel also founded the record label Racetrack Records and video game developer Tigon Studios, providing his voice and motion capture for all of Tigon's releases.

Early life

A young Sinclair

Diesel was born Mark Sinclair[2] on July 18, 1967,[3] in Alameda County, California, where his mother was also born, though later moved to New York City with his fraternal twin brother, Paul.[4][5] His mother, Delora Sherleen Vincent (née Sinclair), is an astrologer.[6] He was raised by his white mother and adoptive African-American father, Irving H. Vincent, an acting instructor and theater manager.[5][7][8] Diesel has stated that he is "of ambiguous ethnicity."[9] His mother has English, German, and Scottish roots.[10] He has never met his biological father, and has said that "all I know from my mother is that I have connections to many different cultures,"[11] "I'm definitely a person of colour," says Diesel, who prefers not to dwell on his origins but begrudgingly decides to uncloak some of his past. All he would say was: "I never met my biological father."[7] and that his parents' relationship would have been illegal in parts of the United States due to anti-miscegenation laws.[12]

Diesel made his stage debut at age seven when he appeared in the children's play Dinosaur Door, written by Barbara Garson. The play was produced at Theater for the New City in New York's Greenwich Village. His involvement in the play came about when he, his brother and some friends had broken into the Theater for the New City space on Jane Street with the intent to vandalize it. They were confronted by the theater's artistic director, Crystal Field, who offered them roles in the upcoming show instead of calling the police.[13][14][15] Diesel remained involved with the theater throughout adolescence, going on to attend NYC's Hunter College, where studies in creative writing led him to begin screenwriting. He has identified himself as a "multi-faceted" actor.[16] Sinclair began going by his stage name Vin Diesel while working as a bouncer at the New York nightclub Tunnel, wanting a tougher sounding name for his occupation. Vin comes from his mother's married last name Vincent, while the surname Diesel came from his friends due to his tendency to be energetic. [17]

Career

Diesel in 2005

Diesel's first film role was a brief uncredited appearance in the drama film Awakenings (1990). In 1994, he wrote, directed, produced, and starred in the short drama film Multi-Facial, a semi-autobiographical film which follows a struggling multiracial actor stuck in the audition process. The film was selected for screening at the 1995 Cannes Festival. As well as acting, Vin Diesel supported himself by working as a bouncer and telemarketer selling lightbulbs.[18]

In 1997, Diesel made his first feature-length film, Strays, an urban drama in which he played a gang leader whose love for a woman inspires him to try to change his ways. Written, directed, and produced by Diesel, the film was selected for competition at the 1997 Sundance Festival, leading to an MTV deal to turn it into a series. Director Steven Spielberg took notice of Diesel after seeing him in Multi-Facial[19] and cast him in a small role as a soldier in his 1998 Oscar-winning war film Saving Private Ryan. In 1999, he provided the voice of the title character in the animated film The Iron Giant.[20]

In 2000, Diesel had a supporting role in the drama thriller Boiler Room, where he appeared alongside Giovanni Ribisi and Ben Affleck. He got his breakthrough leading role as the anti-hero Riddick in the science-fiction film Pitch Black later that year. Diesel attained action hero stardom with two box office hits: the street racing action film The Fast and the Furious (2001), and the action thriller XXX (2002). He turned down the chance to reprise his roles in the sequels 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003) and XXX: State of the Union (2005).[21] Instead he chose to reprise his role as Riddick in The Chronicles of Riddick, which was a box office failure considering the large budget.[22] He also voiced the character in two spin-off video games and the anime film The Chronicles of Riddick: Dark Fury. In a change from his previous action hero roles, in 2005, he played a lighthearted role in the comedy film The Pacifier, which was a box office success.[23]

Diesel with the Fast Five cast and Natalie Morales for Today in 2011

In 2006, he chose a dramatic role playing real-life mobster Jack DiNorscio in Find Me Guilty. Although he received critical acclaim for his performance,[24] the film did poorly at the box office grossing only $2 million against a budget of $13 million.[25] Later that year, Diesel made a cameo appearance in The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, reprising his role from The Fast and the Furious.

Diesel's main car, a Dodge Charger, from Fast & Furious

In 2007, Diesel was set to produce and star as Agent 47 in the film adaptation of the video game Hitman, but eventually pulled back and served as executive producer on the film instead. In 2008, he starred in the science-fiction action thriller Babylon A.D. which was a critical and box office failure. Diesel returned to The Fast and the Furious series, alongside most of the principal cast from the original 2001 film, in Fast & Furious, which was released in April 2009.

Diesel reprised his role as Dominic Toretto in installments five through nine of the Fast & Furious franchise, Fast Five (2011), Fast & Furious 6 (2013), Furious 7 (2015), The Fate of the Furious (2017) and F9 (2021).[26][27] He reprised his role as Riddick in the third film of The Chronicles of Riddick series, simply titled Riddick (2013). In August 2013, Diesel received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.[citation needed] He voiced Groot in the 2014 Marvel Cinematic Universe film Guardians of the Galaxy.[28] He starred in the supernatural action film The Last Witch Hunter (2015).[29] In 2016, Diesel appeared as a supporting character in Ang Lee's war drama Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk.

In 2017, Diesel also reprised his roles as Xander Cage in XXX: Return of Xander Cage,[29] and Groot in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.[30] Over the course of several years, Diesel has discussed playing two separate roles within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.[31][32][33][34][35] In November 2016 director of Guardians of the Galaxy, James Gunn, confirmed that Diesel had been in talks to play Blackagar Boltagon / Black Bolt for the planned Inhumans film, but it was turned into a television series instead without Diesel involved.

Diesel reprised his role of Groot once again in the crossover films Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019) which combined the superhero teams of Guardians of the Galaxy and The Avengers. He has said, "[I] think there's gonna be a moment that we're all waiting for, and whether you know it or not, you are waiting to see [Groot] and [the Hulk] get down."[36]

Diesel portrayed Valiant Comics character Bloodshot in the film of the same name[37] which released in March 2020. He is also joining the cast of James Cameron's Avatar 2.[38]

In September 2020, Diesel announced his venture into music, with the release of the song "Feel Like I Do", produced by Kygo.[39] He debuted the song on The Kelly Clarkson Show on September 24, stating: "I am blessed that on a year that I would normally be on a movie set — and as you know, that's not possible — I've had another creative outlet. Another way to show you, or share with you, my heart."[40]

Personal life

Diesel has said he prefers to maintain his privacy regarding his personal life, stating: "I'm not gonna put it out there on a magazine cover like some other actors. I come from the Harrison Ford, Marlon Brando, Robert De Niro, Al Pacino code of silence."[41]

Sometime around 2001, Diesel dated his Fast & Furious co-star Michelle Rodriguez.[42] Since 2007, he has been in a relationship with Mexican model Paloma Jimenez; the couple have three children: daughter Hania Riley (born April 2008),[43][44] son Vincent Sinclair (born 2010),[45] and daughter Pauline (born March 2015).[46] The last is named in honor of his co-star and friend Paul Walker, who died in November 2013.[47] He is also the godfather of Walker's daughter, Meadow.

Diesel is noted for his distinctive deep voice; he said his voice broke around age 15, giving him a mature-sounding voice on the telephone.[48] He has played Dungeons & Dragons for over 37 years as of 2021,[49] and wrote the foreword for the commemorative book 30 Years of Adventure: A Celebration of Dungeons & Dragons. Canadian video game designer and developer Merritt k created the 2015 ASMR game Vin Diesel DMing a Game of D&D Just For You based on his D&D fandom.[50][51][52][53] He has expressed his love for the Dominican Republic and how he relates to its multicultural facets.[54] He is acquainted with its former president, Leonel Fernández, and appeared in one of Fernández's earlier campaign ads. Los Bandoleros, a short film directed by Diesel, was filmed in the Dominican Republic.[55]

Filmography

Diesel at the premiere for Fast & Furious in 2009

Film

Key
Films that have not yet been released Denotes films that have not yet been released
Vin Diesel in film
Year Title Role Notes
1990 Awakenings Orderly Uncredited
1995 Multi-Facial Mike Short film
Writer, director, producer
1997 Strays Rick Writer, director, producer
1998 Saving Private Ryan Private Adrian Caparzo
1999 The Iron Giant The Iron Giant Voice
2000 Boiler Room Chris Varick
Pitch Black Richard B. Riddick
2001 The Fast and the Furious Dominic Toretto
Knockaround Guys Taylor Reese
2002 XXX Xander Cage Executive producer
2003 A Man Apart Sean Vetter Producer
2004 The Chronicles of Riddick Richard B. Riddick Producer
The Chronicles of Riddick: Dark Fury Voice
2005 The Pacifier Lieutenant Shane Wolfe
2006 Find Me Guilty Jackie DiNorscio
The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift Dominic Toretto Uncredited cameo
2008 Babylon A.D. Hugo Cornelius Toorop
2009 Fast & Furious Dominic Toretto Producer
Los Bandoleros Short film
Writer, director, producer
2011 Fast Five Producer
2013 Fast & Furious 6
Riddick: Blindsided Richard B. Riddick Short film
Voice
Riddick Producer
2014 Guardians of the Galaxy Groot Voice
2015 Furious 7 Dominic Toretto Producer
The Last Witch Hunter Kaulder
2016 Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk Shroom
2017 XXX: Return of Xander Cage Xander Cage Producer
The Fate of the Furious Dominic Toretto
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Groot Voice
2018 Avengers: Infinity War
Ralph Breaks the Internet
2019 Avengers: Endgame
2020 Bloodshot Ray Garrison / Bloodshot Producer
2021 F9 Dominic Toretto
2022 Thor: Love and Thunderdagger Groot Voice; Post-production
Avatar 2dagger TBA Post-production
2024 Avatar 3dagger TBA Filming

Television

Vin Diesel in television
Year Title Role Notes
2019 Fast & Furious Spy Racers Dominic Toretto Voice

Video games

Vin Diesel in video games
Year Title Role Notes
2004 The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay Richard B. Riddick Voice
2009 Wheelman Milo Burik
The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena Richard B. Riddick
2020 Fast & Furious Crossroads Dominic Toretto Voice and motion capture
2022 Ark 2 Santiago Da Costa[56] Voice and motion capture; Also executive producer

Theme park attractions

Vin Diesel in theme park attractions
Year Title Role Venue
2015 Fast & Furious: Supercharged Dominic Toretto Universal Studios Hollywood
2018 Universal Studios Florida

Discography

Singles

Title Year Album
"Feel Like I Do" 2020 Non-album singles
"Days Are Gone"

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result
1999 Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by a Cast
Shared with the rest of the cast		 Saving Private Ryan Nominated
Online Film Critics Society Award Best Cast
Shared with the rest of the cast		 Won
2001 Blockbuster Entertainment Award Favorite Actor Pitch Black Nominated
2002 MTV Movie Award Best Male Performance The Fast and the Furious Nominated
Best On-Screen Team
Shared with Paul Walker		 Won
Black Reel Award Best Actor Nominated
2003 MTV Movie Award Best Male Performance xXx Nominated
Teen Choice Award Choice Movie Actor: Drama/Action Adventure xXx
A Man Apart		 Nominated
2004 Spike Video Game Award Best Performance by a Human Male The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay Nominated
2005 Teen Choice Award Choice Movie Actor: Comedy The Pacifier Nominated
Golden Raspberry Award Worst Actor The Chronicles of Riddick Nominated
Video Software Dealers Association Award Male Star of the Year[57] Won
2009 Spike Video Game Award Best Performance by a Human Male The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena Nominated
MTV Movie Award Best Male Performance Fast & Furious Nominated
2010 People's Choice Award Favorite Action Star Nominated
2011 CinemaCon Award Action Star of the Year[58] Fast Five Won
Teen Choice Award Choice Movie Actor Nominated
2012 Image Award Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture Nominated
Black Reel Award Best Cast Ensemble
Shared with the rest of the cast		 Nominated
People's Choice Award Favorite Action Star Nominated
2013 Teen Choice Award Choice Movie: Chemistry
Shared with Paul Walker & Dwayne Johnson		 Fast & Furious 6 Nominated
2014 People's Choice Award Favorite Action Movie Actor Nominated
MTV Movie Award Best On-Screen Duo
Shared with Paul Walker		 Won
2015 Phoenix Film Critics Society Best Cast Guardians of the Galaxy Nominated
Teen Choice Award Choice Movie Actor: Action Furious 7 Won
Choice Movie: Chemistry
Shared with the rest of the cast		 Nominated
2016 People's Choice Awards Favorite Movie Won
Favorite Action Movie Won
Favorite Action Movie Actor Himself Nominated

References

  1. ^ "How Much Are Vin Diesel, Jon Cena and the Stars of 'F9' Worth?". Yahoo. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
  2. ^ "Diesel breaks silence over Walker". Press Association via The Press (Christchurch, New Zealand). December 3, 2013. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved March 21, 2015.
  3. ^ "Famous birthdays for July 18: Vin Diesel, Kristen Bell". United Press International. July 18, 2019. Archived from the original on July 19, 2019. Retrieved August 7, 2019. Actor Vin Diesel in 1967 (age 52)
  4. ^ Paul Sinclair birth record at California Birth Index. Retrieved on March 29, 2015.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b "Vin Diesel Biography (1967–)". Filmreference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2010.
  6. ^ "Vin Diesel: From nightclub bouncer to action hero". CNN. August 12, 2002.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b "Diesel is running hot". Jam.canoe.ca. February 17, 2000. Archived from the original on July 15, 2012. Retrieved September 8, 2010.
  8. ^ Pearlman, Cindy (August 9, 2002). "Fame game stumps Diesel". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
  9. ^ Vincent, Mal (June 22, 2001). "'The Fast and the Furious' Vin Diesel Opens the Throttle in New Speed Movie and Joins an Elite 'Action-Star' Fraternity". The Virginian-Pilot. Norfolk, Virginia. Retrieved March 2, 2008.
  10. ^ "VinDiesel explains why Glasgow was perfect to shoot Fast 6". May 15, 2013. Archived from the original on June 18, 2013. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
  11. ^ Carter, Gregory T. (2008). "From blaxploitation to mixploitation: Male leads and changing mixed race identities". In Beltrán, Mary; Fojas, Camilla (eds.). Mixed Race Hollywood. New York: New York University Press. p. 210. ISBN 978-0814799895.
  12. ^ Chu, Hanna (August 26, 2013). "Vin Diesel receives star on Hollywood Walk of Fame". KABC-TV. Archived from the original on December 12, 2013. Retrieved December 6, 2013.
  13. ^ Krulik, Nancy E. (November 1, 2002). Vin Diesel: Fueled for Success. New York: Simon Pulse, Gallery Books. p. 14. ISBN 978-0689859823.
  14. ^ Vincent, Mal (August 9, 2002). "xXx". The Virginian-Pilot. Norfolk, Virginia. Retrieved March 2, 2008.
  15. ^ Wloszcyna, Susan (June 4, 2004). "Vin Diesel, driving on a tankful of cool". USA Today. Retrieved March 2, 2008.
  16. ^ "Vin Diesel Shifts Acting Career into High Gear In 'The Fast and the Furious'". Findarticles.com. July 9, 2001. Archived from the original on May 4, 2010. Retrieved September 8, 2010.
  17. ^ Fallo, Julie (June 24, 2021). "The Real Reason Vin Diesel Changed His Name". The List. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  18. ^ "Vin Diesel: From nightclub bouncer to action hero". CNN. August 12, 2012. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  19. ^ "Vin Diesel on Being Recruited by Steven Spielberg for 'Saving Private Ryan'". www.yahoo.com. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  20. ^ The Iron Giant (1999), retrieved January 9, 2018
  21. ^ Stice, Joel (July 18, 2014). "Why Vin Diesel Turned Down '2 Fast 2 Furious' And Six Other Popular Roles". Uproxx. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  22. ^ "The Chronicles of Riddick (2004) - Box Office Mojo". Boxofficemojo.com. Retrieved October 7, 2017.
  23. ^ "The Pacifier (2005) - Box Office Mojo". Boxofficemojo.com. Retrieved October 7, 2017.
  24. ^ "Find Me Guilty – Moviehole". moviehole.net. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved October 7, 2017.
  25. ^ "Find Me Guilty (2006) - Box Office Mojo". Boxofficemojo.com. Retrieved October 7, 2017.
  26. ^ Ford, Rebecca (April 23, 2015). "'Furious 8' Gets 2017 Release Date". The Hollywood Reporter. (Prometheus Global Media). Retrieved April 24, 2015.
  27. ^ Lang, Brent (April 23, 2015). "'Furious 8′ to Debut April 14, 2017". Variety. (Penske Media Corporation). Retrieved April 24, 2015.
  28. ^ Truitt, Brian (December 21, 2013). "He is Groot: Diesel to star in 'Guardians of the Galaxy'". USA Today.
  29. ^ Jump up to: a b Han, Angie. "'xXx 3′ Is Definitely Happening, Will Shoot in Asia, Says Vin Diesel". /film. Retrieved August 18, 2014.
  30. ^ "Marvel Studios Begins Production on Marvel's 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2'". Marvel.com. February 17, 2016. Archived from the original on February 17, 2016. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  31. ^ Collinson, Gary. "Vin Diesel hints at second Marvel role, teasing Black Bolt of the Inhumans?". Flickering Myth.
  32. ^ Krupa, Daniel (October 16, 2015). "Vin Diesel Gives IGN His Best Black Bolt Audition". IGN.
  33. ^ ColliderVideos (October 12, 2015), Vin Diesel teases Black Bolt role in Marvel's Inhumans - Collider, retrieved January 17, 2017
  34. ^ "Vin Diesel Teases 'Inhumans' Involvement Again". Screen Rant. December 29, 2014. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
  35. ^ "Vin Diesel Teases 'Genius' Plan For Black Bolt & Inhumans". Screen Rant. October 16, 2015. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
  36. ^ Welch, Alex (January 20, 2016). "Vin Diesel: Groot & Hulk Must 'Get Down' in Avengers: Infinity War". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on January 21, 2017. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
  37. ^ "Vin Diesel Will Be VALIANT'S BLOODSHOT In Upcoming Sony Adaptation". Nerdist. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  38. ^ "Vin Diesel will star in James Cameron's long awaited Avatar sequels". The Independent. April 5, 2019. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  39. ^ Gerken, Marika (September 27, 2020). "Vin Diesel partners with Kygo to release his first single 'Feel Like I Do'". CNN. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  40. ^ "Vin Diesel is the unexpected pop singer 2020 didn't know it needed". LA Times. September 25, 2020. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
  41. ^ "Diesel says rumors about him being homosexual are untrue". WENN via Hollywood.com. March 29, 2006.
  42. ^ Wloszczyna, Susan (August 6, 2002). "Vin Diesel, in high gear". USA Today. Gannett. Retrieved February 4, 2007.
  43. ^ Marquina, Sierra (March 16, 2015). "Vin Diesel, Girlfriend Paloma Jimenez Welcome Third Child -- See the Sweet Photo". Us Weekly. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  44. ^ Jordan, Julie (June 5, 2008). "Vin Diesel Becomes a Father". People. Retrieved June 6, 2008.
  45. ^ "Vin Diesel Welcomes Third Child". People. March 16, 2015. Retrieved March 17, 2015. Diesel and the 31-year-old model are also parents to son Vincent Sinclair, 4½....
  46. ^ Vulpo, Mike (March 16, 2015). "Vin Diesel Welcomes His Third Child With Girlfriend Paloma Jiménez—See the First Baby Photo!". E! News. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  47. ^ Hines, Ree (March 23, 2015). "Vin Diesel reveals his new baby's very special name, a tribute to Paul Walker". Today. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  48. ^ Vin Diesel on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross on YouTube[dead link]
  49. ^ Diesel in Adler, Shawn (n.d.). "Vin Diesel of 'The Chronicles of Riddick Interview". UGO.com. Archived from the original on June 16, 2004. Retrieved September 13, 2007.
  50. ^ Alexander, Leigh (May 27, 2015). "Having Vin Diesel as your dungeon master is really soothing". Offworld. Boing Boing. Retrieved April 15, 2017.
  51. ^ Alexander, Leigh (October 14, 2015). "Are any of your favorites in this awesome game curation?". Offworld. Boing Boing. Retrieved April 15, 2017.
  52. ^ Kuchera, Ben (May 27, 2015). "Let Vin Diesel be your Dungeon Master in this relaxing, comforting game". Polygon. Vox Media. Retrieved April 15, 2017.
  53. ^ Kuchera, Ben (May 27, 2015). "Let Vin Diesel be your Dungeon Master in this relaxing, comforting game". Yahoo! News. Yahoo!. Retrieved April 15, 2017.
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  55. ^ "Vin Diesel "adores" Dominicans, presents 'Los Bandoleros'". DominicanToday.com. July 30, 2009. Archived from the original on December 7, 2014. Retrieved March 21, 2015.
  56. ^ "ARK II Announcement Trailer (1440p Final Version)". ARK: Survival Evolved. December 12, 2020. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
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