Born: July 18, 1967
Vin Diesel has become a global action star known for his commanding screen presence, deep voice, and versatility.
Early Life
- Full Name: Mark Sinclair
- Place of Birth: Alameda County, California, USA
- Parents: Raised by his astrologer/psychologist mother, Delora Sherleen Vincent; has never met his biological father.
- Siblings: Fraternal twin brother, Paul Vincent.
- Ethnicity: Has described himself as being of “ambiguous ethnicity” with connections to multiple cultures.
- Education: Attended Hunter College in New York City, studying creative writing and fine arts.
Career Beginnings
- Early Theatre Work: Began acting at the age of seven in the children’s play “Dinosaur Door,” produced by the Theater for the New City in Greenwich Village.
- First Film Role: “Awakenings” (1990) in an uncredited role.
- Directorial Debut: “Multi-Facial” (1995), a semi-autobiographical short film that was selected for the Cannes Film Festival.
- First Feature Film: “Strays” (1997), which he wrote, directed, produced, and starred in.
Breakthrough and Major Roles
- Saving Private Ryan: Cast by Steven Spielberg in the Oscar-winning film (1998) after Spielberg saw “Multi-Facial.”
- The Fast and the Furious Franchise: Gained international fame as Dominic Toretto, starting with “The Fast and the Furious” (2001). This role has become synonymous with his career and he has appeared in multiple sequels.
- xXx Series: Starred as Xander Cage in “xXx” (2002) and reprised the role in subsequent films.
- The Chronicles of Riddick: Played the anti-hero Richard B. Riddick in “Pitch Black” (2000) and its sequels.
Voice Acting and Other Notable Works
- The Iron Giant: Provided the voice for the titular character in the animated film (1999).
- Guardians of the Galaxy: Voiced Groot in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, starting with “Guardians of the Galaxy” (2014) and continuing in various MCU films.
- Other Films:
- “A Man Apart” (2003)
- “The Pacifier” (2005)
- “Find Me Guilty” (2006)
- “Babylon A.D.” (2008)
- “Bloodshot” (2020)
Personal Life
- Relationships: In a long-term relationship with Mexican model Paloma Jiménez since 2007.
- Children: Three children – Hania Riley (born 2008), Vincent Sinclair (born 2010), and Pauline (born 2015, named in honor of his late co-star and friend Paul Walker).
- Interests: Passionate about Dungeons & Dragons, has been playing for decades, and wrote the foreword for the book “30 Years of Adventure: A Celebration of Dungeons & Dragons.”
Philanthropy and Business Ventures
- Philanthropy: Actively involved in various charitable activities and causes, including Paul Walker’s charity, Reach Out Worldwide.
- Business Ventures: Founded production company One Race Films, video game company Tigon Studios, and record label Racetrack Records.
Awards and Honors
- Awards: Multiple awards for his work in film and contributions to the entertainment industry, including an MTV Movie Award and a People’s Choice Award.
- Hollywood Walk of Fame: Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2013.
Legacy
Vin Diesel has become a global action star known for his commanding screen presence, deep voice, and versatility. With a career that spans acting, directing, producing, and voice work, Diesel has cemented his status as one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars. His portrayal of Dominic Toretto in “The Fast and the Furious” franchise has become iconic, making him a key figure in contemporary action cinema.
