Paul Walker made action films less solemn, especially beside Vin Diesel. We value that lightness, even when the writing gives him little to do; the tougher parts away from Brian O’Conner deserve attention too.
Fi1m perspective
In The Fast and the Furious (2001), Paul Walker lets Vin Diesel be the imposing one. His Brian O’Conner is a lighter presence beside Diesel’s Dominic Toretto, which helps keep their scenes from becoming too solemn. Rob Cohen’s film has plenty of male self-importance; Walker is useful because he does not add much more. We like him in that sort of partnership, where his straightforward delivery and ease in physical action give a more forceful actor someone to work with.
The late-1990s supporting parts in Pleasantville (1998) and Varsity Blues (1999) gave way to the breakthrough as Brian and a leading role in the road thriller Joy Ride (2001). The racing films then became the centre of his career, though they were never all of it. 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003) brought Brian back without Diesel, removing the contrast that had made the first pairing work. Repeated action roles suited Walker’s physical confidence but offered fewer chances to find out what else he could do.
We warmed to Walker in the first film because his scenes with Diesel made their relationship matter amid the noise and driving. The writing leaves those relationships simpler than they ought to be, and Walker does not make Brian seem much more complicated than the script allows. Nor does his presence cure the thin crime story. But he helps Cohen keep a noisy, enjoyable thriller from becoming an endurance test of how seriously men can take themselves.
The work away from Brian is worth remembering without pretending it reveals a wholly different actor. Clint Eastwood’s ensemble war drama Flags of Our Fathers (2006) and the family survival film Eight Below (2006) gave him other settings for his grounded presence. The more intense lead in Running Scared (2006), followed by the demanding central role in Hours (2013), suggests that the familiar casting did not exhaust what he could do. If car chases are your sort of evening, start with The Fast and the Furious and watch how much that partnership helps.
Biography
Paul William Walker IV (12 September 1973 – 30 November 2013) was an American actor. He began his career as a child actor and model, appearing in television commercials and guest roles on series such as Highway to Heaven and Growing Pains. He gained notice in the late 1990s with supporting parts in the films Pleasantville (1998), She's All That (1999) and Varsity Blues (1999).
Walker became widely known for portraying Brian O'Conner in the Fast & Furious film series, beginning with The Fast and the Furious (2001) and 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003). He reprised the role in subsequent entries including Fast & Furious (2009), Fast Five (2011) and Fast & Furious 6 (2013). Other notable films include Joy Ride (2001), Into the Blue (2005), Eight Below (2006), Flags of Our Fathers (2006) and Takers (2010).
Walker died in a car crash in Santa Clarita, California. Several of his final films, including Furious 7 (2015), were released posthumously.
