It was an emotional night for the family of the late Paul Walker, as they came together for last Friday’s Noble Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
The group gathered to honor Paul’s younger brother, Cody, for carrying out the work Paul did with the humanitarian relief organization he founded, Reach Out Worldwide.
Access Hollywood was exclusively backstage when Cody, older brother Caleb, and Paul’s “Fast & Furious” family members Michelle Rodriguez and Tyrese Gibson came offstage and straight to our interview spot.
Cody – who choked back tears while accepting the award, as mother Cheryl proudly looked on from the audience – was clearly still overcome with emotion as he spoke to Access.
“What this means for us is that so many other people loved Paul and loved the work that he was doing,” he told Access. “And we just feel the love by being here and being a part of this and being honored by this. It just makes it super special.”
Paul was filming the seventh installment in the “Fast & Furious” franchise when he died tragically in a car accident on November 30, 2013, at the age of 40. Castmates Michelle and Tyrese felt it was important for them to pay tribute to Paul, because they consider him, and now his brothers, part of their family.
“You know, the family goes beyond the work. You know, outside of the work we’re a phone call away,” Michelle said to Cody. “Remember that.”
Turning to Caleb, she added, “Don’t be shy, guys.”
Tyrese told us, “A lot of times you’ll have folks on movie sets and they form relationships and then action, then cut. And as soon as the movie is over, no one talks, no one connects, no one exchanges any type of energy. And it just becomes like okay well this is a job. But this family is a real family and you know, these are my brothers and that’s my sister. Period. And we were happy to be here to continue to put Paul Walker’s efforts and Reach Out Worldwide on the map, because we love what the intentions are behind the organization.”
Cody quit his job as a paramedic in Oregon and moved to Los Angeles after his brother’s death, to continue Paul’s work.
Not only have Cody and Caleb stepped in to continue Paul’s charity work, they also helped the filmmakers complete work on “Furious 7.” Both of them filmed scenes for the movie (Caleb’s stature closely resembles Paul’s, while Cody is his Paul’s virtual twin).
Press for “Furious 7,” which is due in theaters on April 3, has already begun, and Tyrese and Michelle told us it’s been very challenging.
“It’s the most uncomfortable press junket any of us have ever done, because obviously, you know, it’s my first time ever being a part of a movie where someone I know and love is on the poster and they’re not there, ” Tyrese said. “It’s almost like, just release the movie and we’ll stay at home, because to be smiling on red carpets or doing interviews [is hard].”
Added Michelle, “Pretending everything is just fine and dandy it’s just – it’s not real, you know?”
— Nancy Derderian Potts
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