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Paul Walker's impact is still felt 11 years after his heartbreaking loss.
Known for his iconic role as Brian O'Conner in the Fast & Furious franchise, Walker's death on November 30, 2013, left an indelible mark on the hearts of fans and those who worked alongside the actor.
At just 40 years old, Walker died following a car crash while leaving a charity event for Reach Out WorldWide (ROWW), a nonprofit he founded to provide aid in the aftermath of natural disasters with a friend. He was a passenger in his friend Roger Rodas' Porsche Carrera when the vehicle lost control in a Santa Clarita neighborhood.
Though his passing was devastating, Walker's memory lives on through his films and his charity work, which continues to make a significant impact today. His daughter, Meadow Walker, who was only 15 when she lost her father, continues to honor his memory through The Paul Walker Foundation, which she founded in 2015. Walker shared Meadow with his ex-girlfriend, Rebecca Soteros.
On the 11th anniversary of Walker's passing, here's a look at some of his most iconic acting moments from the Fast & Furious franchise.
The first race
One of Walker's most memorable on-screen moments comes during his first race against Dom Toretto in the original Fast & Furious. Although Brian ultimately loses and his engine blows out in the process, his enthusiasm never wavers. When Dom asks why he's still smiling despite the loss, Brian answers with genuine excitement, saying the famous line, "Dude, I almost had you," to which Dom confidently responds, "You almost had me? You never had me - you never had your car."
The bridge jump
After the success of the first movie, the sequel 2 Fast 2 Furious provided even more epic scenes from Walker's Character, Brian.
When Carter (Cole Hauser) drives off with Monica (Eva Mendes) on his yacht, Brian knows the only way to save her is to take a wild leap of faith — literally. Without hesitation, he jumps his car off a bridge, landing it right on the moving boat. The scene shows Brian's fearlessness and willingness to do whatever it takes to get the job done.
Jumping off a moving train
Fast forward a few movies to Fast Five. After arriving in Rio de Janeiro, Dom, Brian, and Mia (Jordana Brewster) become embroiled in a heist to steal cars from a moving train, only to discover they were owned by a drug lord Hernan Reyes. When Reyes' men kill DEA agents, the trio is forced to flee, becoming targets of DSS agent Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson).
While Mia escapes in one of the cars, Brian is left on the train. In a daring move, Dom drives a Corvette off a cliff to rescue Brian, who first jumps off the train intp the back of the car, which then plummets off the cliff into a 15-second freefall before hitting the water below.
Breaking Dom out of a prison bus
Another daring scene comes from Fast Five, where after Dom is sentenced to prison for assaulting the man who he assumed killed his father, Brian goes rogue, and assembles a team to break him out.
After embarking into a pursuit, the crew and Brian manage to flip the prison bus multiple times after stopping short in front of it, seemingly putting everyone in danger — except for Dom, who miraculously survives the crash.
The final goodbye
While it may not be as adrenaline filled as other scenes, it sure is a memorable one.
After completing his final job in Furious 7, Brian reunites with his family, enjoying a peaceful moment with Mia, Jack (Charlie and Miller Kimsey), and others on the beach. But when Dom attempts to leave without saying goodbye, Brian tracks him down on the road. Pulling up alongside his "brother," they share one last race as memories of Brian's journey flash by as the two-lane road they are driving splits into two.
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