• Paul Walker was a child actor and soap opera star.
• His mother was a fashion model and his father was a retired boxer.
• He rose to fame with the ‘Fast and Furious’ film saga.
• His relationship with Rebecca McBrain and his only child are often confused with Iron Maiden’s drummer, Nicko McBrain’s wife.
• In the wake of Paul’s death, there has been a public legal battle, his daughter has taken over his philanthropic work, and a song was released in his memory.
Paul Walker’s name will forever live on in the history books of Hollywood. Even now, almost seven years after his passing, Paul will be remembered as many people’s favourite action hero, who once made street racing one of the most popular activities of the twenty-first century. Despite rising to fame as the character Brian O’Conner in the ‘Fast and Furious’ film saga, there are plenty of things that people don’t know about the late actor.
Among these obscured details are his relationship with Rebecca McBrain, and his slow rise to fame.
Many don’t know that he was a child actor, as well as a soap opera star, and that the mother of his only child is often confused with Iron Maiden’s drummer, Nicko McBrain’s wife, also Rebecca McBrain. In the wake of Paul’s departure, the drama has not ceased, as Walker’s mother filed for custody of his child, which led to a public legal battle. If you want to know more, feel free to read on as we reflect on the life Paul Walker left behind and what has happened since.
Paul’s Walk To Fame
Paul William Walker IV was born in Glendale, California on 12 September 1973.
His mother, Cheryl Crabtree was a fashion model, and his father, Paul William Walker III was a sewer contractor, and retired boxer who had been a two time Golden Gloves Champion. Paul was the oldest of five siblings that included two brothers, Cody and Caleb. Most likely due to his mother’s influence, Paul began his career as a child model and actor in the early 1980’s.
He gained recognition when he landed a role in the soap opera ‘The Young and The Restless’, but shot to fame for his role in ‘The Fast and The Furious.
It seemed only fated that Paul would gain widespread fame for acting as a street racer, since one of his grandads drove factory cars for Ford in races in the sixties.
Paul was raised in Sunland, Los Angeles, California and attended the San Fernando Valley Village Christian School. After matriculation in 1991, Paul went to several Southern California community colleges, and finally graduated with a major in marine biology – this passion motivated his participation in a National Geographic Channel series ‘Shark Men’, as well as joining the Billfish Association’s board of directors.
Apart from this, Paul was also very passionate about cars and by the time of his departure owned more than thirty collectables, which included several vintage models.
Paul’s film credits grew rapidly following the success of the first ‘The Fast and The Furious’ films, and included titles such as ‘Into The Blue’, ‘Joy Ride’ and the very heart moving film ‘Eight Below’. However, Paul was never able to finish the filming of ‘Fast 7’, and it required the producer to use his brothers as stand-ins in order to complete the film. Paul was killed as a result of a car accident, on 30 November 2013, and is dearly missed by all his fans, family and friends.
His Relationship with Rebecca McBrain
Rebecca McBrain was born in 1974, so was one year younger than her long term boyfriend Paul Walker. Until she started dating Paul in 1998, Rebecca was fairly unknown. She worked as a primary school teacher in Hawaii, but when she started seeing Paul Walker given up teaching to live with him in California.
Though the couple never married, they did have a child together, Paul’s only child. Meadow Rain Walker, was born on 4 November 1998 in Northern California.
In 2009, after Rebecca insisted that the two marry and Paul refused, they separated. During this time Rebecca and Meadow moved back to Hawaii, where Meadow was raised by her mother. Rebecca became a servicewoman, has since lived quietly away from media attention.
Paul Walker’s Controversial Relationship With Jasmine Pilchard-Gosnell
After Paul’s failed relationship with Rebecca McBrain, he met Jasmine Pilchard-Gosnell.
At the time Jasmine was 16 and Paul was 33, but despite the major age gap and the controversial nature of their relationship, they apparently had a happy time together, and dated for seven years until Paul’s untimely passing.
Although no children were born from the relationship, Jasmine had a very healthy and close relationship with Paul’s daughter Meadow. Jasmine had been devastated with Paul’s departure, but has since moved on and is currently engaged to musician Travis Turpin.
In The Wake of Paul’s Death
Even though Paul Walker’s demise had been a tragedy, many felt compelled to add to the drama. This happened with a lawsuit filed against Porsche by both Paul’s daughter and his father, as well as a custody battle filed by Paul’s mother for Meadow, that gained public attention in 2014.
Since the late actor’s funeral, Meadow Rain Walker has taken over her father’s philanthropic work, and raises a lot of money for charity in his honour. The theme song of ‘Fast 7’ entitled ‘See You Again’, performed by Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth, was released in memory of Paul Walker.