Vin Diesel has had no problem becoming one of the most well known action stars of this generation thanks in large part to his iconic role as Dominic Toretto in The Fast and the Furious franchise. For a long time, Diesel presented himself as the “strong and silent” type, but in recent years has shown fans a different side to him, and opened up about his extremely private personal life. He’s a tough action star, but he is a loyal friend, a funny entertainer, and a dedicated family man. Clearly there is a lot more to Vin Diesel than it seems, so check out 10 things you never knew about the handsome and talented star!
10. Early Life and Family History
First of all, it is surprising for many fans to learn that Vin Diesel isn’t the star’s real name. He was born on July 18, 1967 as Mark Sinclair to his mother, Delora Sherleen Vincent, in Alameda County, California. It is also surprising to know that Diesel is a twin; he is just moments older than his fraternal twin brother, Paul! He also has a younger sister and a younger brother, and to this day, his ethnicity remains a mystery. Diesel was raised by his mother and his step-father Irving H. Vincent, but he never knew his biological father, and his mother hasn’t given him much information. His mother’s background includes English, German, and Scottish descent and, as for his father, Diesel has only stated that he identifies “definitely as a person of color,” and that his parents’ relationship would have been illegal in some parts of the U.S. because of anti-miscegenation laws.