The late Paul Walker, best known for his role as Brian O'Conner in the Fast & Furious franchise, is receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Per Variety, Walker's star will be affixed in 2023 along with fellow actors Uma Thurman, Christopher "Ludacris" Bridges, Bill Pullman, Vince Vaughn, John Waters, Jon Favreau, Mindy Kaling, Martin Lawrence, Ralph Macchio, Garrett Morris and Ellen Pompeo. Classic film star Juanita Moore is also set to be recognized as the year's second posthumous Walk of Fame acceptance.
Walker began acting as a child in the 1980s and later gained recognition for his role in The Young and the Restless. He then starred in several late '90s films before making his international debut with the first entry in the Fast & Furious franchise, 2001's The Fast and the Furious. Walker's Brian O'Conner appears in six mainline Fast & Furious films, and while the actor passed away in 2013, his character is still alive within the series' canon as of 2021's F9.
In November 2013, Walker and his friend Roger Rodas, who was behind the wheel of a 2005 Porsche Carrera GT, struck a lamp post and some trees at roughly 80-93 mph. Both men died due to trauma from the crash and burns from a fire caused by the impact. Walker and Rodas reportedly had no alcohol or drugs in their system at the time, and no mechanical issues or road conditions were found, leaving investigators to conclude the vehicle's speed and the age of its tires caused the accident.
Walker's influence can still be seen as the Fast & Furious franchise comes to a close with the 10th and 11th films. Longtime franchise director Justin Lin recently commented on how the film series' ending will memorialize the late actor. "In 2008, when I first met Paul Walker for Fast Four ... as we were getting to know each other, we would just talk about, "Well, where are we going to end this thing?" he said. "Paul is such a big part of those discussions ... And so, as I'm working on it, it has a special meaning for me, because he is such a big part of this franchise and this universe ... Anytime I get frustrated or I feel a little lost, I draw from those conversations."
The Walk of Fame, which boasts more than 2,700 stars representing influential figures across film, television, music and theater, runs 1.3 miles along Hollywood Boulevard in California. Hundreds of names are nominated each year, from which the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce Walk of Fame selection committee chooses roughly 20 to 24 celebrities to receive stars. The Chamber of Commerce charges a fee of $55,000 per star, usually paid by an organization or sponsor representing the nominee, which goes toward the installation of the star as well as general maintenance of the Walk of Fame.
Source: Variety