Vin Diesel has garnered a reputation for pushing the boundaries of the concept of family, channeled through his ‘Fast & Furious’ character Dominic Toretto. The California native may be an action hero and tough guy on screen, but he is a devoted family man in real life as well.
Actor Vin Diesel arrives at the Premiere Of Universal Pictures ‘Fast & Furious 6’ on May 21, 2013, in Universal City, California (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
In ‘Fast & Furious 7’, Diesel delivered one of his most iconic lines, “I don’t have friends, I got family.” While the line is attributed to Toretto, it mirrors the actor’s dedication to his family. Diesel has three children with his partner Paloma Jimenez. He also has a brother, a sister and a doting stepfather whom he adores. His latest movie, ‘Fast X’, the latest installment in the ‘Fast & Furious’ franchise, was released on May 19.
To Diesel, family is about love and love is everything. In the ‘Fast & Furious’ franchise, the word family is mentioned at least 33 times and has been notably celebrated in memes. However, fiction follows fact in Diesel’s case. Not only is he devoted to his own family, but the actor has also cared for his late ‘Fast & Furious’ co-star Paul Walker’s daughter, Meadow, since 2013.
Actors Vin Diesel and Paul Walker arrive at the premiere of Universal’s ‘Fast & Furious’ held at Universal CityWalk Theaters on March 12, 2009, in Universal City, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
The ‘Pacifier’ star has been rather candid about his devotion to his family and often brings them up in interviews. He is also known to post shoutouts on social media to his parents, Jimenez, his children and his siblings.
Jimenez has been by Diesel’s side for the past 15 years, and while the pair likes to keep their love life private, it is known they started dating in 2007. The Mexican actress and model prefers to stay out of the limelight, but that doesn’t stop her partner from raving about his leading lady in public. “She’s so stunningly beautiful, but the thing people don’t realize is she’s my rock, so she’s so stunningly beautiful on the inside,” he told KARE11 in 2017, adding, “She’s just so wonderful in so many ways.”
Vin Diesel and Paloma Jimenez attend the 2019 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on February 24, 2019, in Beverly Hills, California (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)
Jimenez and Diesel have three children together. Their daughter Hania Riley Diesel was born in April 2008, followed by their son Vincent Sinclair in 2010. They welcomed their second daughter Pauline — named after Paul Walker — in 2015. “My kids move me to tears all the time,” he told People in 2017, adding, “My daughter Similce said to me a couple of weeks ago, ‘Daddy, I know what song should [be played] at every funeral.’ I said, ‘What is it?’ And she said, ‘See You Again.’” Hania’s screen name is Similce and she has already started working with her father on the ‘Fast & Furious’ franchise.
Similce Diesel and Vin Diesel arrive at the premiere of Netflix’s ‘Fast And Furious: Spy Racers’ at Universal Cinema AMC at CityWalk Hollywood on December 07, 2019, in Universal City, California (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Diesel’s mother, Delora Sherleen Vincent, is an astrologer by profession. His stepfather, Irving Vincent, is a theater director and acting instructor. The family was raised in an artist’s commune in the heart of New York City’s West Village, where artists, musicians, and actors lived near each other. The ‘Riddick’ actor admitted in the past that his stepfather has always been his greatest inspiration. Since he never met his biological father, he has been dedicated to Vincent. “Happy 88th birthday to my first inspiration… my dad,” the actor wrote on Instagram, adding, “All love, Always.”
That said, Diesel also has a twin, Paul Vincent, who looks nothing like the Hollywood star. Despite being fraternal twins, they are very close to each other. Not much is known about Paul, but he reportedly helped his twin with his first movie ‘Multi-Facial’. Diesel once posted a sweet birthday message to Paul. “Happy Birthday to my original twin brother Paul! I have watched you grow into such a wonderful dad and family man. You have made me proud every step of the way. We love you!” he wrote.
Diesel and Paul also have a younger half-sister named Samantha Vincent, who is a successful producer and has worked with her brother on ‘Riddick,’ ‘xXx: Return of Xander Cage,’ ‘Fast & Furious,’ ‘Fast 5,’ and ‘Furious 7.’
Executive producer Samantha Vincent, actors Vin Diesel and Jordi Molla pose at the after party for the premiere of Universal Picture’s ‘Riddick’ at The W Hotel on August 28, 2013, in Los Angeles, California (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Aside from being a doting sister to Diesel and Paul, Samantha is an adoring mother to her daughter, who travels with her everywhere. A devotion to family is something all the siblings share, according to AmoMama.
