The Fast And Furious star turns 55 years old today, July 18, though there are few signs of Vin Diesel slowing down.
The racing franchise that helped make him a household name is set to receive two more instalments over just as many years, though Dwayne Johnson won’t be appearing in them.
Vin will be back leading the series, once again putting “family” above everything else.
Away from the cameras, the star has been famously private about his own family life, though the Californian-born actor took on his moniker thanks to his previous career.
He started work as a bouncer but changed his name after embarking on a new career.
What is Vin Diesel’s real name?
(Image: FilmMagic)
When Vin was just 17 years old, he was working as a bouncer in New York.
At the time, he was attending Hunter College and enjoyed stepping out on stage during his time off.
He originally went by the name Mark Sinclair, but eventually changed it to separate his work life from pleasure.
Why did Vin Diesel change his name?
(Image: FilmMagic for HBO)
During Vin’s part-time work as a bouncer, he was known for his high energy and dancing talents on stage.
However, because of his work, he needed to take on a stage name to protect his identity.
He chose Vin as it is a shortened version of Vincent, the name of his stepfather, Irving H Vincent, who raised him.
Diesel was more of a joke, because his friends teased him for ‘running on diesel’ as he was always so high-energy.
At first, the new title was just his stage name, though he eventually officially changed it, long before he became the movie star he is today.
Ironically, it did him many favours, as Vin Diesel sounds way more like the name of an action star than Mark Sinclair.
In the late 90s he got his big break when he appeared in Steven Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan and just one year later, he voiced the title role in The Iron Giant.
After this, he led the cast in Pitch Black, the first instalment in the Riddick franchise.
In 2001, he landed the role of Dominic Toretto in The Fast And The Furious, cementing himself as one of the biggest names in Hollywood.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
