Vin Diesel biography, net worth, wife, height, family, ethnicity, twin 2025

Vin Diesel Biography

Vin Diesel (real name Mark Sinclair) is an American film actor, producer, screenwriter and director, winner of the "MTV Movie Awards". He is widely recognized for his roles in the film series "Fast & Furious", "The Chronicles of Riddick", and "xXx".

Early Years

Vin Diesel, or rather Mark Sinclair, was born on July 18, 1967, in Alameda County, California. His mother, astrologer Delora Sherleen (Sinclair) Vincent, raised Mark and his twin brother Paul as a single parent - the boys never knew their biological father.

Diesel has consistently described his ethnic background as "mixed": his mother has English, German, and Scottish roots, while his father was definitely of a different ethnicity, possibly also mixed.

In 1970, his mother remarried, and their African American stepfather, Irvin Vincent, took the three of them to live with him in New York. That's how Vin gained a stepbrother and stepsister, Tim and Samantha. The stepfather was a theatre manager and acting teacher, and he frequently took the children to theatre performances and movie premieres, which greatly influenced the boy's future passion.

Mark first hit the stage at age 7 through a chance encounter. He and his brother Paul, along with some other boys, broke into the "New City" theatre to cause trouble. It turned out a rehearsal was happening at the time, but director Crystal Field didn't call the police. Instead, she offered the boys a chance to try acting and read from a script.

At school, the future actor was laughed at for his slim physique

Mark outshone everyone else, so Field cast him in the play "Dinosaur Door" for $20 per performance. The young performer continued acting on that stage until he was 17, significantly developing his skills. "I always knew I would be a movie star," Diesel later admitted, "I knew this even as a kid."

As a teenager, Mark was tall and skinny, earning him the nickname "Worm" - he wasn't exactly popular with girls. Self-conscious about his "awkward" build, he hit the gym and started working out regularly. At 17, with a noticeable muscular build, he left the theatre and took a job as a bouncer at the "Tunnel" nightclub in Manhattan.

That's when the young man completely transformed his look: he shaved his head and started going by "Vin Diesel". During his three years at the club, Diesel gained serious experience dealing with women and just as much experience in street fights. That rough period later helped him nail the "tough guy" persona on screen.

I fought, probably more than five hundred times, practically every day, and these were not pretty staged fights

But Diesel wasn't content with just bouncing, so while working, he enrolled at Hunter College, part of New York University. There, he studied literature and creative writing, training to become a screenwriter. But Diesel never graduated: in 1987, he dropped out and headed to Los Angeles to chase his Hollywood acting dreams.

Young Vin Diesel dancing breakdance (1994)

Hollywood wasn't exactly rolling out the red carpet for the ambitious newcomer. Despite his best efforts, no movie roles materialized, so Diesel landed a gig at a teleshopping network. He spent a full year there and had some success, but wasn't getting any closer to his real goal - making it in movies. Therefore, he decided to leave Los Angeles and return to New York.

Beginning of Film Career

Vin Diesel made his film debut in 1990 in Penny Marshall's "Awakenings," but his role was so small he didn't even get credited. Frustrated by his failed attempts to break into Hollywood, his mother gave him Rick Schmidt's book "Feature Filmmaking at Used-Car Prices," suggesting he take control of his own career.

At 17, Vin Diesel started working as a bouncer in a nightclub

Inspired by the book, Diesel wrote a script for "Strays," but quickly realized he couldn't tackle a feature film right away, so he wrote a short film called "Multi-Facial" instead. He independently produced and shot the film, starred in it, and even composed the music.

Vin Diesel Short Film Multi-Facial (1995)

Completed in 1994, the largely autobiographical film featured his character Mike, an actor who struggled to land roles because his mixed-race background didn't fit Hollywood's narrow casting expectations. After a private screening, the film was selected for the Cannes Film Festival in 1995.

Diesel then returned to Hollywood and took a telemarketing job to save money for "Strays," his original feature film idea, which he eventually brought to life. In this feature drama, he starred as a hardened drug dealer whose life transforms through the power of love.

Vin Diesel sells toys in a teleshop (1994)

Though "Strays" screened at Sundance in 1996 and earned positive reviews, it didn't generate significant profits for its creator. However, "Strays" did catch the attention of legendary director Steven Spielberg, who invited him to a supporting role in his film "Saving Private Ryan" (1998) with Tom Hanks and Matt Damon.

Sergeant Caparzo – Vin Diesel's first big role

This marked Diesel's first major studio role, and he was thrilled. Later, this film won 5 Academy Awards, and Diesel, along with his co-stars, was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for "Outstanding Performance by a Cast". "Strays" helped once more: thanks to his participation in the Sundance festival, Diesel was invited to voice the main character of the animated film "The Iron Giant" (1999), directed by Brad Bird.

Career Peak

In 2000, Vin Diesel starred in Ben Younger's drama "Boiler Room" and in the sci-fi film "Pitch Black" by David Twohy, where he played the lead role of the antihero Riddick. This film launched the beloved "The Chronicles of Riddick" franchise and finally brought Diesel the stardom he'd been chasing.

Riddick became one of Diesel's most famous characters

Filming proved grueling for Diesel: he hurt his shoulder during a stunt and damaged his eye with the special contact lenses that gave him that signature glowing look.

2001 cemented Diesel's breakthrough – Rob Cohen's crime thriller "The Fast and the Furious" hit theaters, with Diesel starring alongside Paul Walker. Critics praised Diesel's performance, noting how he perfectly balanced quiet intensity with barely contained fury.

A shot from the first 'The Fast and the Furious' (2001)

The film received several awards and nominations. The Diesel and Walker duo won the "MTV Movie Award" for best on-screen team, and Diesel was also nominated in the "Best Male Performance" category. However, when it came time for the sequel, Diesel and the studio clashed over his paycheck, leaving Paul Walker to carry "2 Fast 2 Furious" solo.

That same year, the gangster drama "Knockaround Guys" was released, in which Diesel played one of the main roles alongside John Malkovich, Seth Green, and Dennis Hopper. In 2002, the adventure thriller "xXx" by director Rob Cohen was released, with Samuel L. Jackson as Diesel's co-star. While Diesel relished playing a super-agent in the "007" tradition, critics weren't impressed:

The film is charming in its silliness, and Vin Diesel has more than enough muscles for the main hero, but the attempt to breathe new life into the spy thriller genre failed.

Still, Diesel earned another "MTV Movie Award" nomination for "Best Male Performance," and the film was a box office hit.

In 2003, the American-German action film "A Man Apart" was released, in which Diesel played the lead role and also served as an executive producer. The following year, 2004, the second film from "The Chronicles of Riddick" series was released, in which the actor combined the lead role and production.

Photos from 'The Fast and the Furious' shooting signed by Vin Diesel and Paul Walker

The film's success spawned an animated movie and video game, with Diesel reprising his role in both.

Next, Diesel switched gears and dabbled in comedy: Adam Shankman's "The Pacifier" (2005) and Sidney Lumet's "Find Me Guilty" (2006) were released.

Critics especially praised the director for "recognizing Vin Diesel's dramatic chops, which had been overlooked by those who only saw him as an action star."

When the third installment "The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift" hit theaters, fans were disappointed to find Vin Diesel's character appearing only in a brief scene at the very end.

Riddick's famous eyes – Vin Diesel wore phosphorescent lenses

Shortly after, Diesel faced a difficult decision between two projects: Xavier Gens's thriller "Hitman" or Mathieu Kassovitz's sci-fi action film "Babylon A.D." Diesel ultimately passed on "Hitman", with Timothy Olyphant stepping into the lead role instead. His choice, "Babylon A.D." (2008), proved disastrous – despite meticulous production, the film bombed spectacularly, failing to recoup its massive $70 million budget, with the director later admitting the film "is not worth watching."

Vin Diesel's filmography had not only ups but also downs

In 2009, Diesel refocused on "The Fast and the Furious" franchise, returning to both produce and star as Dominic Toretto, reclaiming his central role. This launched a rapid-fire sequence of releases: the promotional short "Los Bandoleros" and "Fast & Furious" in 2009, "Fast Five" in 2010, "Fast & Furious 6" in 2013 (which brought Dwayne Johnson into the action), and "Furious 7" in 2015.

Furious 7»: Vin Diesel versus Jason Statham

The seventh film was originally slated for 2014, but production was devastated by the tragic death of Paul Walker in a car accident – Diesel's co-star and close friend who played the franchise's other lead character.

"Furious 8" hit theaters in 2017, featuring Jason Statham in place of Paul Walker, alongside stars like Kurt Russell and Charlize Theron.

In 2013, the third film from "The Chronicles of Riddick" series was released, and in 2015 the fantasy-action "The Last Witch Hunter", in which Diesel's co-stars were Rose Leslie and Elijah Wood. Critics panned the film as "gloomy and slow".

In 2017, the sequel "xXx: The Return of Xander Cage" hit screens – the third film in the series, with Diesel returning as lead actor and producer despite skipping the 2005 sequel.

Vin Diesel gave voice and facial expressions to Groot from 'Guardians of the Galaxy'

In addition, the actor worked on the filming of films based on comics from the "Marvel Comics" publishing house – "Guardians of the Galaxy" (2014) and "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2" (2017). He brought Groot to life through motion capture and voice work for the animated character.

Making of Groot - Behind the Scenes

In "Avengers: Infinity War" and "Avengers: Endgame" his character underwent serious changes, but the role was still kept by Vin. The actor was happy to work on the same set with Chris Hemsworth (Thor). The two met at a 2010 party, and Vin has since praised his friend as one of the best people he knows.

Vin Diesel Says I Am Groot in Multiple Languages

Vin Diesel continues his Marvel work as Groot in "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3".

Vin Diesel remains the star of Hollywood action movies

Vin Diesel and Dwayne Johnson had a conflict

Diesel returned as producer and star for the 9th and 10th "Fast and Furious" installments. Serious tensions erupted between Diesel and Dwayne Johnson in fall 2017, with Johnson eyeing franchise leadership, but the stars eventually worked things out and likely reunited for "Fast & Furious 9".

In 2020, the superhero action film "Bloodshot" was also released, starring Vin Diesel as the resurrected US soldier Ray Garrison. His body is enhanced by technology, but he remembers nothing about his past life. Initially, Jared Leto was considered for the role of Bloodshot, but ultimately Diesel was chosen.

In 2021, Vin Diesel starred in the long-awaited "Avatar" sequel and prepared to shoot the fourth "xXx" film, though its release date remains unknown.

In addition, he continued to voice Groot in Marvel films: his character will appear in the fourth part of "Thor" (2022) and the third "Guardians of the Galaxy" (2023).

Vin Diesel's Personal Life

In his younger years, Vin Diesel had several passionate flings, though details remain largely private. He was linked to Playboy models Layla Roberts (1997) and Summer Altice (2000), actress Carmen Electra, "Pussycat Dolls" leader Kaya Jones, actress Michelle Ruben, actress and model Chanel Ryan, model Asia Argento, TV host Maria Menounos, and others.

In 2001, Diesel began a relationship with actress Michelle Rodriguez, whom he met on the set of "The Fast and the Furious". However, the relationship lasted only a few months.

The romance between Vin Diesel and Michelle Rodriguez began on the set

After "xXx" was released in 2003, he had a romance with Czech model Pavla Hrbkova, who appeared in the film. But this relationship was also short-lived. In a 2006 interview, Diesel explained that he prefers keeping his personal life private.

I'm not going to spill everything about myself on magazine covers like some actors do... I prefer the code of silence, like Harrison Ford, Marlon Brando, Robert De Niro, and Al Pacino.

Since 2007, the actor has been in a long-term relationship with Mexican model Paloma Jiménez (born 1983). They met at a social event and kept their relationship under wraps for years – the couple avoided journalists and rarely appeared together in public.

Paloma Jiménez – Vin Diesel's common-law wife

The couple has three children: daughter Hania Riley (born April 2, 2008), son Vincent (born 2010, with the exact date kept private), and daughter Pauline, named after the late Paul Walker (born March 16, 2015).

Vin Diesel is a devoted father who adores his children and spends all his free time with them. His eldest daughter Hania follows in her father's footsteps and is seriously into sports – Brazilian jiu-jitsu and judo. Vincent, who strongly resembles his father, is in elementary school and has already begun participating in school plays. Diesel is also godfather to Meadow Rain Walker, daughter of his late colleague and friend.

Diesel maintains close relationships with his mother, brothers, and sister. His twin brother Paul and half-siblings Tim and Samantha work with him in the film industry: Paul is an editor, while Samantha and Tim assist with producing.

The actor takes meticulous care of his health and appearance: he spends hours in the gym, maintains a bronze tan using tanning beds, and follows a healthy diet rich in proteins and vegetables.

Vin Diesel's workout

His hobby is gaming, particularly the classic "Dungeons & Dragons". In 2002, he founded "Tigon Studios" and began developing his own game "Wheelman", voicing the main character himself.

In 2017, Forbes named Vin Diesel the third highest-paid actor – he earned $54 million, behind only Mark Wahlberg ($68 million) and Dwayne Johnson ($65 million).

Vin Diesel Now

In December 2023, Vin Diesel became embroiled in scandal. His former assistant, Asta Jonasson, accused him of sexual harassment. She claims the incident occurred during the filming of "Fast 5" in 2010. She was in Diesel's hotel room with several women Vin was "entertaining." After the women left, she alleges the actor grabbed her, groped her breast, forcibly kissed her, lifted her dress, tried to remove her underwear, grabbed her hand and placed it on his erect penis before masturbating. She tried to break free, but couldn't overpower him, so she closed her eyes to distance herself from what was happening.

Asta explained she'd stayed silent for years, fearing consequences given Diesel's powerful Hollywood connections and her status as a green card holder. But inspired by brave women who came forward during the #MeToo movement, she decided to tell her story. Vin Diesel's lawyer has stated his client categorically denies all accusations and can provide substantial evidence.

Josh Funk

Hi I think vin diesel is starting to change a lot his dating someone that’s not a actor or that’s not famous. I ha e heard he was dating some girl that lives in Michigan names Kerry Boterbaugh. She is a person that no one knows as a famous person. He supposed to be picking her up from Michigan on June 20th. Take her back to California with him and there supposed to be getting married. They never meet each other in person they only been taking on the phone for 4 mouth. I didn’t think she will married someone he really don’t know.

2021-05-18 22:57:45
Mary Hammond

Vin Diesel is aging and balding actor who already played all his biggest roles. I don`t think that he will make us happy with a few more new movies.

2021-05-11 23:01:15
Dean Klein

In my opinion `The Chronicles of Riddick` it`s the best movie with Vin Diesel. In this movie he was able to be more open as an actor.

2021-04-10 08:35:46
Jean Johnson

In my opinion Vin Diesel is an actor of one role, or he is a cool bandit or just a hooligan on the nice car and always with a gun. Is unlikely that he can transform to someone else.

2021-03-25 22:40:28
Larry Cole

Vin Diesel is an actor who made himself. Without connections and rich parents he was able to be one of the famous actors, he made it to be on the top of the Olympus and got a Hollywood Walk of Fame`s star.

2021-03-11 17:19:06
Tracy Gomez

Its hard to imagine `The Fast and the Furious` without handsome Vin Diesel. That tandem of him and a racing car is indestructible!

2021-02-24 14:56:04
Why are you taking selfies of yourself Are you that vain

I'm bored can't sleep my I pad is going to go died once again

2018-11-14 14:05:59

Photos: Vin Diesel