Vin Diesel is every inch the action hero, but perhaps an unexpected movie star. Over his nearly 25 years onscreen, the actor (born Mark Sinclair) has found a sweet spot with roles that call on his physicality as well as something a bit more cerebral — whether that’s one of the military men he’s portrayed (including a role Steven Spielberg wrote especially for him) or a lovable talking tree.
Then there’s the Fast and Furious movies, which proved Diesel is not just a leading man but a business man, as he took the reigns on the franchise with Fast & Furious 6 and ushering it into its renaissance (and making himself one Hollywood’s most bankable actors in the process).
Below, A.frame looks back at some of Diesel’s best work, including the roles he’s best known for as well as a few surprises.
In one of his first major film roles, Diesel joined the battle on the European front in Steven Spielberg’s nail-biting World War II epic. Diesel appears as Private First Class Adrian Caparzo, a soldier in Captain John H. Miller’s (Tom Hanks) platoon, as they’re sent on a dangerous mission to rescue Private First Class Ryan (Matt Damon) after he’s gone missing. Like so many others throughout the film, Diesel’s character meets a tragic fate, serving as a reminder of the human cost of war. The film was nominated for 11 Oscars and won five, including a Best Director Oscar for Spielberg.