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Vin Diesel
Vin Diesel (9349861614).jpg
Diesel in 2013
Born
Mark Sinclair

(1967-07-18) July 18, 1967 (age 57)
Education Hunter College, City University of New York
Occupation
  • Actor
  • producer
  • writer
  • director
Years active 1990–present
Partner(s) Paloma Jimenez (2007–present)
Children 3
Signature
Vin Diesal's signature.svg

Mark Sinclair (born July 18, 1967), known professionally as Vin Diesel, is an American actor and film producer. One of the world's highest-grossing actors, he is best known for playing Dominic Toretto in the Fast & Furious franchise.

Diesel began his career in 1990, but faced difficulty achieving recognition until he wrote, directed and starred in the short film Multi-Facial (1995) and his debut feature Strays (1997); the films prompted Steven Spielberg to cast Diesel in the war epic Saving Private Ryan (1998). Diesel subsequently voiced the titular character in The Iron Giant (1999) and then gained a reputation as an action star after headlining the Fast & Furious, XXX, and The Chronicles of Riddick franchises.

Diesel voices Groot I and Groot II in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU); he portrayed the characters in six superhero films, beginning with Guardians of the Galaxy (2014). Diesel has reprised his role as Groot for the Disney+ animated shorts series I Am Groot (2022–present), the television special The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (2022), and the animated film Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018). Diesel achieved commercial success in the comedy The Pacifier (2005) and his portrayal of Jackie DiNorscio in Find Me Guilty (2006) was praised.

He founded the production company One Race Films, where he has also served as a producer or executive producer for his star vehicles. Diesel also founded the record label Racetrack Records and video game developer Tigon Studios, providing his voice and motion capture for all of Tigon's releases.

Early life

Diesel was born Mark Sinclair on July 18, 1967, in Alameda County, California, where his mother was also born, though later moved to New York City with his fraternal twin brother, Paul. His mother, Delora Sherleen Vincent (née Sinclair), is an astrologer. He was raised by his white mother and adoptive African-American father, Irving H. Vincent, an acting instructor and theater manager. Diesel has stated that he is "of ambiguous ethnicity." His mother has English, German, and Scottish roots. He has never met his biological father, and has said that "all I know from my mother is that I have connections to many different cultures".

Diesel made his stage debut at age seven when he appeared in the children's play Dinosaur Door, written by Barbara Garson. The play was produced at Theater for the New City in New York's Greenwich Village. His involvement in the play came about when he, his brother and some friends had broken into the Theater for the New City space on Jane Street with the intent to vandalize it. They were confronted by the theater's artistic director, Crystal Field, who offered them roles in the upcoming show instead of calling the police. Diesel remained involved with the theater throughout adolescence, going on to attend NYC's Hunter College, where studies in creative writing led him to begin screenwriting. He has identified himself as a "multi-faceted" actor. Sinclair began going by his stage name Vin Diesel while working as a bouncer at the New York nightclub Tunnel, wanting a tougher sounding name for his occupation. Vin comes from his mother's married last name Vincent, while the surname Diesel came from his friends due to his tendency to be energetic.

Career

VinDieselMunich2005
Diesel in 2005

Diesel's first film role was as an uncredited extra in the drama film Awakenings in 1990. After several years of struggle to gain acting roles, Diesel decided to make his own short film to secure funds for his feature film debut. In 1994, he wrote, directed, produced, and starred in the short drama film Multi-Facial, a semi-autobiographical film which follows a struggling multiracial actor stuck in the audition process. The film was selected for screening at the 1995 Cannes Festival. As well as acting, Vin Diesel supported himself by working as a bouncer and telemarketer selling lightbulbs.

In 1997, Diesel secured funds to make his first feature-length film, Strays, an urban drama in which he played a gang leader whose love for a woman inspires him to try to change his ways. Written, directed, and produced by Diesel, the film was selected for competition at the 1997 Sundance Festival, leading to an MTV deal to turn it into a series which never came to fruition. Director Steven Spielberg took notice of Diesel after seeing him in Multi-Facial and cast him in a small role as a soldier in his 1998 Oscar-winning war film Saving Private Ryan. This marked Diesel’s first major Hollywood film role. In 1999, he provided the voice of the title character in the animated film The Iron Giant.

In 2000, Diesel had a supporting role in the drama thriller Boiler Room, where he appeared alongside Giovanni Ribisi and Ben Affleck. He got his breakthrough leading role as the anti-hero Riddick in the science-fiction film Pitch Black later that year.

Diesel attained action hero stardom with his portrayal of Dominic Toretto in the street racing action film The Fast and the Furious (2001) and as Xander Cage in the action thriller XXX (2002). He turned down the chance to reprise his roles in the sequels 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003) and XXX: State of the Union (2005). Instead he chose to reprise his role as Riddick in The Chronicles of Riddick (2004), which was a box office failure considering the large budget. He also voiced the character in two spin-off video games and the anime film The Chronicles of Riddick: Dark Fury.

In a departure from his previous tough guy action hero persona, in 2005, he played a lighthearted role in the action comedy film The Pacifier, which was a box office success.

Fast Five Cast 2
Diesel with the Fast Five cast and Natalie Morales for Today in 2011

In 2006, he chose a dramatic role playing real-life mobster Jack DiNorscio in Find Me Guilty. Although he received critical acclaim for his performance, the film did poorly at the box office grossing only $2 million against a budget of $13 million. Later that year, Diesel made a cameo appearance in The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, reprising his role from The Fast and the Furious.

Dodge Charger - The Fast and the Furious
Diesel's main car, a Dodge Charger, from Fast & Furious

In 2007, Diesel was set to produce and star as Agent 47 in the film adaptation of the video game Hitman, but eventually pulled back and served as executive producer on the film instead. In 2008, he starred in the science-fiction action thriller Babylon A.D. which was a critical and box office failure. Diesel returned to the Fast & Furious series, alongside most of the principal cast from the original 2001 film, in Fast & Furious, which was released in April 2009.

Diesel reprised his role as Dominic Toretto in installments five through to ten of the Fast & Furious franchise, Fast Five (2011), Fast & Furious 6 (2013), Furious 7 (2015), The Fate of the Furious (2017), F9 (2021) and Fast X (2023). He reprised his role as Riddick in the third film of The Chronicles of Riddick series, simply titled Riddick (2013). In August 2013, Diesel received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He voiced Groot in the 2014 Marvel Cinematic Universe film Guardians of the Galaxy.

In 2015, he starred in the supernatural action film The Last Witch Hunter. In 2016, Diesel appeared as a supporting character in Ang Lee's war drama Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk.

In 2017, Diesel also reprised his roles as Xander Cage in XXX: Return of Xander Cage, and Groot in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. Over the course of several years, Diesel has discussed playing two separate roles within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In November 2016 director of Guardians of the Galaxy, James Gunn, confirmed that Diesel had been in talks to play Blackagar Boltagon / Black Bolt for the planned Inhumans film, but it was turned into a television series instead without Diesel involved.

Diesel reprised his role of Groot once again in the crossover films Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019) which combined the superhero teams of Guardians of the Galaxy and The Avengers. He has said, "[I] think there's gonna be a moment that we're all waiting for, and whether you know it or not, you are waiting to see [Groot] and [the Hulk] get down."

Diesel portrayed Valiant Comics character Bloodshot in the film of the same name which released in March 2020.

In September 2020, Diesel announced his venture into music, with the release of the song "Feel Like I Do", produced by Kygo. He debuted the song on The Kelly Clarkson Show on September 24, stating: "I am blessed that on a year that I would normally be on a movie set — and as you know, that's not possible — I've had another creative outlet. Another way to show you, or share with you, my heart."

Diesel will appear in Riddick: Furya, the fourth installment of The Chronicles of Riddick franchise, announced in February 2023.

Personal life

Diesel has said he prefers to maintain his privacy regarding his personal life, stating: "I'm not gonna put it out there on a magazine cover like some other actors. I come from the Harrison Ford, Marlon Brando, Robert De Niro, Al Pacino code of silence."

Sometime around 2001, Diesel dated his Fast & Furious co-star Michelle Rodriguez. Since 2007, he has been in a relationship with Mexican model Paloma Jimenez; the couple have three children, two daughters born in April 2008 and March 2015, and a son born 2010. The youngest daughter is named in honor of his co-star and close friend Paul Walker, who died in November 2013. He is also the godfather of Walker's daughter, Meadow. Diesel also shares a close friendship with Fast & Furious co-star Tyrese Gibson.

Diesel is noted for his distinctive deep voice. He said his voice broke around age 15, giving him a mature-sounding voice on the telephone, which he often uses for his acting performances. Diesel is a longtime Dungeons & Dragons fan, and wrote the foreword for 30 Years of Adventure: A Celebration of Dungeons & Dragons (2004). Canadian video game designer and developer Merritt k created the 2015 ASMR game Vin Diesel DMing a Game of D&D Just For You for him. He has expressed his love for the Dominican Republic and how he relates to its multicultural facets. He is acquainted with its former president, Leonel Fernández, and appeared in one of Fernández's earlier campaign advertisements. He later secured film production in the country for Los Bandoleros and Fast & Furious (both 2009).

Filmography

VinDieselMarch09
Diesel at the premiere for Fast & Furious in 2009

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1990 Awakenings Orderly Uncredited
1995 Multi-Facial Mike Short film; also writer, director and producer
1997 Strays Rick Also writer, director and producer
1998 Saving Private Ryan Private Adrian Caparzo
1999 Iron Giant, TheThe Iron Giant The Iron Giant (voice)
2000 Boiler Room Chris Varick
Pitch Black Richard B. Riddick
2001 The Fast and the Furious Dominic Toretto
Knockaround Guys Taylor Reese
2002 XXX Xander Cage Also executive producer
2003 The Turbo Charged Prelude for 2 Fast 2 Furious Dominic Toretto Short film; uncredited; archive footage
A Man Apart Sean Vetter Also producer
2004 The Chronicles of Riddick Richard B. Riddick Also producer
The Chronicles of Riddick: Dark Fury Richard B. Riddick (voice) Short film
2005 The Pacifier Lieutenant Shane Wolfe
2006 Find Me Guilty Jackie DiNorscio
The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift Dominic Toretto Uncredited cameo
2008 Babylon A.D. Hugo Cornelius Toorop
2009 Fast & Furious Dominic Toretto Also producer
Los Bandoleros Dominic Toretto Short film; also writer, director, producer
2011 Fast Five Dominic Toretto Also producer
2013 Fast & Furious 6 Dominic Toretto Also producer
Riddick: Blindsided Richard B. Riddick (voice) Short film
Riddick Richard B. Riddick Also producer
2014 Guardians of the Galaxy Groot (voice)
2015 Furious 7 Dominic Toretto Also producer
The Last Witch Hunter Kaulder Also producer
2016 Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk Shroom
2017 XXX: Return of Xander Cage Xander Cage Also producer
The Fate of the Furious Dominic Toretto Also producer
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Groot (voice)
2018 Avengers: Infinity War Groot (voice)
Ralph Breaks the Internet Groot (voice) Cameo appearance
2019 Avengers: Endgame Groot (voice)
2020 Bloodshot Ray Garrison / Bloodshot Also producer
2021 F9 Dominic Toretto Also producer
2022 Thor: Love and Thunder Groot (voice)
2023 Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 Groot (voice)
Fast X Dominic Toretto Also producer

Television

Vin Diesel in television
Year Title Role Notes
2019, 2021 Fast & Furious Spy Racers Dominic Toretto (voice) 4 episodes; Executive producer
2022–present I Am Groot Groot (voice) Main role
2022 The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special Groot (voice) Television special
2023 Ark: The Animated Series Not yet released Santiago Da Costa (voice) In-production; also executive producer
Key
Television series that have not yet been released Denotes television series that have not yet been released

Video games

Vin Diesel in video games
Year Title Voice role Notes
2004 The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay Richard B. Riddick
2009 Wheelman Milo Burik
The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena Richard B. Riddick
2020 Fast & Furious Crossroads Dominic Toretto
2024 Ark 2 Santiago Da Costa Also executive producer

Other

Year Title Role Notes
2015 Fast & Furious: Supercharged Dominic Toretto Attraction at Universal Studios Florida

Discography

Singles

Title Year Album
"Feel Like I Do" 2020 Non-album singles
"Days Are Gone"

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result
1999 Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by a Cast
Saving Private Ryan Nominated
Online Film Critics Society Award Best Cast Won
2001 Blockbuster Entertainment Award Favorite Actor Pitch Black Nominated
2002 MTV Movie Award Best Male Performance The Fast and the Furious Nominated
Best On-Screen Team Won
Black Reel Award Best Actor Nominated
2003 MTV Movie Award Best Male Performance xXx Nominated
Teen Choice Award Choice Movie Actor: Drama/Action Adventure xXx
A Man Apart
Nominated
2004 Spike Video Game Award Best Performance by a Human Male The Chronicles of Riddick:
Escape from Butcher Bay
Nominated
2005 Teen Choice Award Choice Movie Actor: Comedy The Pacifier Nominated
Golden Raspberry Award Worst Actor The Chronicles of Riddick Nominated
Video Software Dealers Association Award Male Star of the Year Won
2009 Spike Video Game Award Best Performance by a Human Male The Chronicles of Riddick:
Assault on Dark Athena
Nominated
MTV Movie Award Best Male Performance Fast & Furious Nominated
2010 People's Choice Award Favorite Action Star Nominated
2011 CinemaCon Award Action Star of the Year Fast Five Won
Teen Choice Award Choice Movie Actor Nominated
2012 Image Award Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture Nominated
Black Reel Award Best Cast Ensemble Nominated
People's Choice Award Favorite Action Star Nominated
2013 Teen Choice Award Choice Movie: Chemistry Fast & Furious 6 Nominated
2014 People's Choice Award Favorite Action Movie Actor Nominated
MTV Movie Award Best On-Screen Duo Won
2015 Phoenix Film Critics Society Best Cast Guardians of the Galaxy Nominated
Teen Choice Award Choice Movie Actor: Action Furious 7 Won
Choice Movie: Chemistry Nominated
2016 People's Choice Awards Favorite Movie Won
Favorite Action Movie Won
Favorite Action Movie Actor N/A Nominated
2022 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards Favorite Movie Actor F9: The Fast Saga Nominated

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Vin Diesel para niños

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