On the solemn occasion of her father’s 10th death anniversary, Meadow Walker, the only child of the late Hollywood actor Paul Walker, pours her heart out in a touching tribute with heartfelt words she shared on her Instagram with her 4 million followers, remembering and honoring her dad’s legacy that resonates with countless fans across the globe of the beloved actor who’s best known for his role as Brian O’Conner in the Fast & Furious franchise.
An Instagram post uploaded on Thursday, which has since gone viral and, within a few hours, has now accumulated more than 175 K likes, took the die-hard fans of the actor by surprise as the post included one of the most cherished memories that the 25-year-old model and actress shared with her late father, as she was seen surprising her dad for his birthday in a sweet throwback video that was simply captioned, “10 years without you… I love you forever.”
In the short clip, Meadow can be heard crying “hi” at the start as her dad opens a door with a surprised expression, which many fans find adorable. He is shown beaming and toppling over a bed in a state of shock upon realizing that his daughter is standing in front of him. After Meadow tells him “Happy Birthday,” he reaches to hug her and says, “You just scared the hell out of me. What the hell are you doing? Oh, man!” Take a look at the official post below:
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Meadow’s tribute serves as a poignant reminder of the enduring impact Paul Walker had on both the silver screen and in the hearts of those who loved him. As many friends of the actor have left heartwarming comments remembering him on his 10th death anniversary, Jordana Brewster, who starred in Fast & Furious movies alongside Walker, commented on the post, “Love you so much ❤️.” On the other hand, Meadow’s husband, Louis Thornton-Allan, added, “Forever smiling on you ❤️.” Nathalie Emmanuel, who also stars in the most recent Fast & Furious movie, Fast X (2023), also left a comment, “❤️❤️❤️❤️”
Earlier this year, on the occasion of what would have been Walker’s 50th birthday, Meadow opened up about what she learned from her father in an Instagram tribute written in September, captioned: “Happy birthday to my guardian angel 🤍 Thank you for your love, guidance, friendship, sunshine and for raising me to see all of the beauty in the world. You are the most kind, humble, generous, and caring soul I know. You taught me at a young age to always treat everyone with respect, to do good, and to take care of our planet. I love you and miss you every day.”
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In addition to this, the late actor’s brother, Cody Walker, opened up to PEOPLE about how much Walker “loved being a father, and was so proud of her daughter.” Cody also told the outlet that he wishes he could tell his brother how much his daughter “has just grown to be such a beautiful young lady.” He adds, “She’s pursuing a career that’s extremely difficult, but she’s finding her own way and she’s landing success, and he’d be so proud of her.” Moreover, Cody and his wife Felicia named their son Paul Barrett (“Bear”) Walker (born on Sunday, April 30, in Arizona) after his late brother.
“This November will mark 10 years since we lost my brother, Paul, and I just felt now was the appropriate time,” Cody said. He continues to add, “My brother, Caleb, and I are both done having children. My brother, Paul, was Paul William Walker IV and that name goes back four generations.” Further counting, “Within the family, he went by ‘little Paul’ or ‘Paul 4,’ even though he quickly outgrew our father in height. It was important to me to have that name carry on.”
At the time, Walker, 40, and Roger Rodas, 38, died in a single-vehicle collision on November 30, 2013, as a passenger in a speeding car after they left an event for Walker’s charity Reach Out Worldwide for victims of Typhoon Haiyan, with Rodas driving his red 2005 Porsche Carrera GT. His body was cremated, and his ashes were buried in a non-denominational ceremony at Forest Lawn Memorial Park. The song “See You Again” by Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth was commissioned as a tribute.
His life was later chronicled in the documentary I Am Paul Walker, which was released on August 11, 2018. As a part of the original documentary series, “I Am,” it gives an inside look at the star by the people who knew him the best.