Mark Sinclair Vincent or Vin Diesel as he is better known, turned 49 on 18 July. Thought you knew everything about the birthday boy? Think again! Did you know that Vin Diesel has a twin brother named Paul Vincent who is a film editor? What's more, the twins have never met their father.
Unlike other actors, Vin launched his own career by making a short film based on himself. The short, titled Multi-Facial was screened at Cannes where it was noticed by Steven Spielberg.
The rest, as they say, is history. Spielberg cast him in Saving Private Ryan and Vin was no longer small fry. Well, technically speaking, he never really was, what with being 5 feet 11 3/4 inches and 102 kgs.
Are you a Vin Diesel fan? Then you might want to watch these today:
1)The Fast and the Furious
The 2001 film, starring Vin Diesel, Paul Walker and Michelle Rodriguez, follows the story of an LA undercover police officer who has been assigned to end the menace of street racing but succumbs to the sport instead.
2) Saving Private Ryan
Yes, Tom Hanks and Matt Damon are the leads of this Oscar winning 1998 film. However, the heroes of this film are the band of US soldiers who risked their lives to bring back the body of a paratrooper who lost his life on enemy territory. Watch out for Private Caparzo, who doesn't survive the film but is memorable nonetheless.
3) The Chronicles of Riddick
Starring Vin Diesel, Judi Dench, Thandie Newton and Colm Feore, this is an all-out action fantasy series that follows the adventures of a criminal named Riddick. A criminal who ultimately saves the world.
4) Pitch Black
This installment of the Riddick series also stars Radha Mitchell, Cole Hauser, Keith David and Claudia Black. Like a true Earth-born criminal on an alien planet, Riddick again saves the day.
5) xXx
Excited about xXx - The Return of Xander Cage? You might want to watch the first part - which stars Vin Diesel, Samuel L Jackson, Asia Argento, and Marton Csokas - before the second installment, starring Deepika Padukone, hits the screens this year.
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Edited by Blassy Boben