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Creator / Vin Diesel

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"I am flattered that they think that many people would enjoy my work. I don't approach any genre a different way than I may approach another one. I treat every role I do like a role worthy of applying whatever kind of tactic, process and talent I have."

Mark Sinclair (born July 18, 1967), better known as Vin Diesel, is an American actor, producer, director and screenwriter. He is the Scary Black Man, only (mostly) white.

Vin has spent most of his film career playing bald, brawny badass guys who sound like they use mint-flavoured gravel and whiskey for mouthwash (which is the basis of his appeal for some). However, unlike most action stars, Vin has a huge advantage that helps to get him fanboys: he is a massive geek. A massive geek who could break your spine. Seriously, the guy loves Dungeons & Dragons so much, he wrote his own campaigns, got a temp tattoo of the name of his D&D character in XXX (it's "Melkor", if you're wondering), and even started his own video game company because he was tired of people making crappy video games out of his movies. Their first project (although not for long) was teaming up with Starbreeze Studios to make The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay, which many people named as actually being better than the accompanying film, and was named as being the best action game on the Xbox at the time. When they released the sequel, a large percentage of its sales were just because it included the original levels. So yeah, it was pretty good.

He also pushed to have Judi Dench appear in the aforementioned Riddick just so that she could DM for him in a game of D&D, like she did for her grandchildren. He sent her lots of fresh flowers throughout the production in gratitude.

It gets better: one of the upcoming games is about his player character. Penny Arcade is actually attempting (kind of) to get him to join them in one of their podcasted D&D campaigns (despite the very real possibility that putting both Riddick and Wesley Crusher in the same room would destroy the universe).note 

Vin's probably most known for his work on the The Chronicles of Riddick and The Fast and the Furious franchises, but he's done many things, from big budget action flicks like XXX and Saving Private Ryan, to writing, directing, and starring in indie docu-dramas. He also voiced the title character in The Iron Giant. While Riddick is a murderer, Vin Diesel is reportedly a very sweet, polite guy. And by the way, it turns out that He Really Can Act, as evidenced by his acclaimed performances in Find Me Guilty and Boiler Room, as well as the aforementioned voice acting role in The Iron Giant.

Also, you know that "Chuck Norris Facts" fad that you may have heard of? Originally, those were all Vin facts. The best one of the lot? "Rearranging the letters in Vin Diesel's name reveals his credo: I End Lives."


Filmography:

This actor's roles provide examples of:

  • Action Genre Hero Guy: Textbook example.
  • Anti-Hero: He's played criminals, murderers, and mercenaries in most of his roles, but all have some redeeming qualities and few are genuinely malevolent.
  • Chewing the Scenery: When he raises the voice in dramatic scenes, he does it in an extremely hammy manner. Especially in A Man Apart.
  • He Also Did: There's a clip circulating around the Internet from the video Breakin' in the USA. Yes, folks, that is a very young Vin Diesel (with hair!) break-dancing.
  • So My Kids Can Watch: He starred in the The Pacifier for the sole reason of his niece and nephew being allowed to watch "Uncle Vin" on screen in a Disney movie.

 
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The Rock vs. Vin Diesel

No amount of family talk could bring peace between Vin Diesel and the People's Champion.

How well does it match the trope?

4.67 (6 votes)

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