Where the 'Fast and Furious' cast are now as Vin Diesel confirms 'best script ever' for last film
It has been 25 years since The Fast and the Furious first sped into cinemas, launching one of Hollywood's biggest action franchises.
What began as a street-racing thriller has grown into a global phenomenon spanning 10 main films, with the 11th and final instalment, Fast Forever, due in 2028. Over the past two and a half decades, the stars who helped make the original film a hit have experienced extraordinary career highs, personal triumphs and heartbreaking setbacks.
Vin Diesel (Dominic Toretto)
Real name Mark Sinclair Vincent, Vin Diesel became the face of the Fast & Furious franchise after starring as street racer Dominic Toretto in the 2001 original. He went on to headline every main film except 2 Fast 2 Furious, helping transform the series into a multi-billion-dollar global phenomenon.
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Away from the franchise, Diesel has starred in the xXx, Riddick and Marvel films, voicing Groot in the Guardians of the Galaxy series. He shares three children with longtime partner Paloma Jimenez.
Diesel has since confirmed that the final Fast & Furious film is expected to arrive in 2028.
“I just read the ‘Fast Forever‘ script by [Michael Lesslie]. It is the best script I have read in decades,” he wrote on Instagram. “I am still crying…”
Paul Walker (Brian O'Conner)
Paul Walker was already an established actor before landing the role of undercover LAPD officer Brian O'Conner, but The Fast and the Furious turned him into a worldwide star.
He remained central to the franchise until his death in November 2013 at the age of 40, when the Porsche Carrera GT he was travelling in crashed after leaving a charity event.
Production on Furious 7 was halted before his brothers Caleb and Cody Walker helped complete remaining scenes using body doubles and CGI.
Walker's daughter, Meadow, made a cameo in Fast X in 2023, while Vin Diesel, her godfather, walked her down the aisle at her wedding in 2021. Brian remains one of the franchise's most beloved characters.
Michelle Rodriguez (Letty Ortiz)
Michelle Rodriguez became an action star through her role as Letty Ortiz, Dom's fearless partner. Beyond Fast & Furious, she appeared in Avatar, Avatar: The Way of Water, S.W.A.T. and television hit Lost.
Off-screen, Rodriguez attracted headlines during the 2000s after multiple drink-driving convictions, probation violations and short jail sentences.
She later rebuilt her career and has spoken openly about her bisexuality and relationships. Rodriguez remains one of the franchise's longest-serving cast members.
Jordana Brewster (Mia Toretto)
Jordana Brewster played Mia Toretto despite not having a driving licence when filming began. Since then she has starred in Dallas, Lethal Weapon and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning.
In 2022, Brewster revealed she had undergone awake brain surgery two years earlier after suffering seizures caused by a cavernous malformation, a cluster of abnormal blood vessels in the brain.
The operation was successful and she is now seizure-free. She is also the mother of two sons, both born via surrogacy.
Rick Yune (Johnny Tran)
Rick Yune played Johnny Tran, Dominic Toretto's chief rival in the original film. The role established him as a sought-after villain, leading to appearances in Die Another Day, Olympus Has Fallen and Alita: Battle Angel.
Chad Lindberg (Jesse)
Chad Lindberg's emotional performance as Jesse made him one of the original film's standout characters. Although Jesse's storyline ended in the first movie, Lindberg built a successful television career with recurring roles in Supernatural, The X-Files revival and numerous independent films.
Matt Schulze (Vince)
Matt Schulze portrayed Vince, Dom's loyal but hot-headed friend. Following The Fast and the Furious, he appeared in films including Blade II, The Transporter and The Fast and the Furious sequels before largely stepping away from acting during the 2010s to focus on family life.
Ja Rule (Edwin)
Already one of hip-hop's biggest stars in 2001, Ja Rule appeared briefly as street racer Edwin. His music career later suffered amid a long-running feud with 50 Cent, legal issues and prison sentences for weapons possession and tax evasion. Ja Rule has since returned to performing and business ventures.
Ted Levine (Sergeant Tanner)
Ted Levine portrayed Sergeant Tanner, Brian O'Conner's superior officer. Best known for playing Buffalo Bill in The Silence of the Lambs, Levine has continued working steadily in projects including Shutter Island, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom and Netflix's Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen. In 2014, he became involved in a legal dispute with siblings over the sale of the family's barbecue restaurant business.
Topics: Fast and Furious, Film, Celebrity, Vin Diesel
Anish Vij