Paul Walker, right, with his younger brother Cody in 2003.Photo:Frederick M. Brown/Getty
Frederick M. Brown/Getty
It’s hard to grasp it’s been a decade sincePaul Walker’s tragic death.
TheFast & Furiousstar, whose ocean-blue eyes and easy grin captured the box office and fans worldwide as Brian O’Conner, was finishing the franchise’s seventh film at the time of the car crash that caused his death on Nov. 30, 2013 at age 40.
“Paul did not realize the impact that he made on those around him,” his youngest brother Cody Walker, 35, tells PEOPLE in this week’s issue.
Cody and his brother Caleb would go on to stand in for Paul for the remainder of production ofFast 7,and ultimately the star’s face was digitally superimposed onto their bodies.
“We had to wear Paul’s tattoo, duplicates of the actual tattoo of Meadow’s name that Paul carried on his wrist,” recalls Cody of Paul’s tattoo ofhis daughter, now 25. “Every time you looked down, it was a reminder of Paul. It was difficult. It was also healing in a way.”
Paul Walker, right, with his youngest brother Cody, left, in 2003.Frederick M. Brown/Getty
On set the brothers were met with stories of their brother’s approachable nature. “The sound guy, the prop guy, a PA, everybody over the course of these months would want to share a story about Paul,” he recalls. “‘Dude, your brother, instead of eating his meals in his trailer, he’d get in line with the rest of us.’ ‘He sat down with me on the curb right over there, and we ate lunch one time.’ ‘Your brother’s the nicest guy in the world.'”
The anecdotes drove home the grace Paul brought to his daily interactions, no matter if it was with “the busboy or some other famous person,” says Cody. “He treated everybody the same. It really meant a lot to hear these different stories from these people that I had never even met before talking about these wonderful memories that they made with Paul.”
Cody Walker.AFF-USA/Shutterstock
AFF-USA/Shutterstock
Ten years after his brother’s death, Cody opens up to PEOPLE what he wishes he could say to Paul today:
It’s unbelievable that it’s been nearly 10 years, because it doesn’t feel like it. I wish I could tell you how much you’re missed and how much of an impact you made on the lives of not only members of your family, but people around the world.
This year we namedmy third child Paul Barrett Walker.We just held him and looked at him and thought about it. I felt it was right to honor you and the family name.
I want you to know that Meadow has grown to be such a beautiful young lady who has grabbed the torch and has done a wonderful job creating her foundation to preserve our oceans in honor of you. She’s pursuing a career [in modeling] that’s extremely difficult, but she’s finding her own way. You’d be so proud of her. You were so proud of her.
Paul Walker in 2009.Universal Pictures International/Courtesy Everett
Universal Pictures International/Courtesy Everett
You’d always say, “Be good.” It just meant be a decent person. You didn’t care if someone was the bellhop or some big CEO or other famous person. You treated everybody the same.
source: people.com
