Paul Walker was more than just a friend and fellow actor to his "Fast & Furious" co-star Vin Diesel. Though he was six years younger, Walker was also a role model, and it was his influence that put Diesel on the path to parenthood.
Diesel has spoken out about the man he called "brother" many times since Walker's 2013 death, and on Saturday, he did so again in a Facebook Live clip that focused on the late star's guiding role in his life.
"He must've been God-sent, because he put me on the right path. He set me up," Diesel said in the video that was meant to raise awareness and donations for Walker's charity, Reach Out WorldWide. "When we did the first 'Fast & Furious,' I was already 30 years old or something, but he was a father. So when we were in the cars in between takes, he would tell me, 'Hey, Vin, it's not a scary thing to become a father,' (and) give me all this good advice. Next thing I know, I am a dad."
In fact, Diesel is now a father to three children — Hania (8), Vincent (6) and Pauline (1), who was named in honor of Walker.
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"Paul was very, very instrumental for me in my segue into fatherhood," Diesel explained in the clip, which also featured members of Walker's family. "He was the one that told me to go to the hospital. ... He's the one that told me to cut the umbilical cord! He was the only that knew, in California, that I was about to have a child."
Walker's own dad believes his son was right to encourage Diesel to become a father.
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"This big powerful man here just has a heart that fits that body of his," Paul Walker, Sr. said of the action star.
Diesel smiled and added, "That's Paul talking through you. That's what he used say."
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