Trivia

Wrote a three-page letter to director Steven Spielberg expressing his admiration for his work, particularly Schindler's List (1993). Spielberg was impressed with the heartfelt prose, prompting him to invite Diesel into the star-studded cast of Saving Private Ryan (1998).

Vin revealed in several interviews that he has remained extremely close to friend and The Fast and the Furious (2001) co-star Michelle Rodriguez. His children even refer to her as their aunt.

Has a fraternal twin brother, Paul Vincent, who is a film editor.

His third child, a daughter, is named Pauline after late best friend and co-star Paul Walker. Mother is Paloma Jiménez.

Traded a cameo in The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006) for the rights to the character Riddick from Pitch Black (2000) and The Chronicles of Riddick (2004).

Was considered to voice the role of Ultron in Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) before James Spader was cast.

Revolution Studios wanted him for the title role in Hellboy (2004), but director Guillermo del Toro thought that Ron Perlman was the perfect choice for the role, and would not direct the movie if he was not cast.

Is an admitted fan of "Dungeons and Dragons", and, according to an interview on Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993), had then-played it for 24 years.

He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7000 Hollywood Blvd. on August 26, 2013.

Once worked as a telemarketer, selling light bulbs.

He and his girlfriend, Paloma Jiménez, welcomed their first child, daughter Hania Riley, on April 2, 2008.

Wrote an original screenplay titled "Doormen" (based on his experiences as a bouncer) as a follow-up to Strays (1997), his directorial debut. However, his acting career exploded and his plans to direct the film fell by the wayside. The concept eventually developed into the Fox Digital Entertainment web series The Ropes (2011), which Diesel created and produced.

Is the cousin of rapper/producer Kwamé "The Boy Genius". Kwame says if you watch his old videos, you'll see Vin in a few of them.

Started the video game company Tigon Studios in 2002. It in turn worked on the movie-based game The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay (2004). Tigon is working on more next-gen games as well as having a hand in all Diesel-based games.

During his teens, he performed breaking (breakdancing) in an instructional video on the subject.

His second child, a boy named Vincent Sinclair Diesel, was born in 2010. Mother is Paloma Jiménez.

Born Mark Sinclair in Alameda County, CA (where his mother was also born). He later moved to New York City, where he was raised. His mother has English, German, Scottish, Irish, and Austrian ancestry, while his biological father's identity and background are not publicly known. He has described himself as "definitely a person of color." He was raised by his Caucasian mother and African-American stepfather.

He worked as a bouncer in New York at the famous nightclubs Tunnel (which has since closed) and Mars.

Was offered the role of Matt Murdock/Daredevil in Daredevil (2003) that eventually went to Ben Affleck.

Credits the book "Feature Filmmaking at Used Car Prices" by Rick Schmidt as the one resource above all upon which he built his career. This book, according to Diesel, gave him the tools, knowledge, and most importantly, the inspiration to develop his short film Multi-Facial (1995), which he wrote, produced, directed and starred in.

Has a younger sister, Samantha Vincent, and a younger brother, in addition to his fraternal twin Paul.

Has an Italian Mastiff named "Roman".

Attended Hunter College and got his jump start by Steven Spielberg just like fellow actors Sam Feuer and Edward Burns.

He was in 2 movies that were nominated for best picture at the Oscars, Awkenings and Saving Private Ryan.

Walked goddaughter Meadow Walker down the aisle at her wedding. Meadow is the daughter of his close friend the late Paul Walker.

He was cast opposite Ben Affleck in Reindeer Games (2000), but left the production shortly after filming began over concerns with the quality of Ehren Kruger's screenplay and creative differences with director John Frankenheimer.

Producing partner with George Zakk. Their company is called One Race Productions. Also owns a record label called Racetrack Records.

He gained 35 pounds so he could portray Fat Jackie in Find Me Guilty (2006).

Revealed that the daughter he welcomed in April 2008, is named Hania Riley. (September 2008)

His favorite movie is Gone With The Wind.

In addition to being considered for the role of Hellboy in 2004, he was also considered for the part of Abe Sapien.

Ranked #46 in Premiere magazine's 2003 annual Power 100 List. Had ranked #95 in 2002.

Despite being only 5' 11¾" (1.82 m), his muscular physique makes him look bigger and taller.

Both of his movies that came out in 2000 came out on the same day. Boiler Room (2000) and Pitch Black (2000) were both released on February 18, 2000.

Was listed as a potential nominee on both the 2003 and 2004 Razzie Award nominating ballots. He was listed as a suggestion for the Worst Actor category on the 2003 ballot for his performances in the films Knockaround Guys (2001) and xXx (2002). And was listed as a suggestion again on the nominating ballot in the Worst Actor category the next year for his role in A Man Apart (2003). He did not receive either nomination. The following year though, he finally received his first Razzie nomination for Worst Actor in the film The Chronicles of Riddick (2004). However, he did not "win".

He has appeared in one film that has been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: Saving Private Ryan (1998).

Lives in Los Angeles, CA.

He was at one point in mind for the role of a terminator in terminator 3 rise of the machines.

Born at 3:35pm-PDT.