Paul Walker, one of the main stars of the popular Fast and Furious action-movie franchise, was killed on Saturday in a car accident in Santa Clarita, Calif.
The actor’s representative, Ame Van Iden, confirmed his death to USA TODAY. He was 40.
Walker had returned home for the holidays from the Atlanta set of Fast and Furious 7 and was scheduled to return next week.
A statement on Walker’s Facebook page says the actor died while attending a charity event for his organization Reach Out Worldwide.
Reports say the car Walker was riding in hit either a post or a tree before bursting into flames. The driver, who has not yet been identified, was also reportedly killed.
Walker, who had appeared in some 32 films throughout his 27-year career, is most well known for starring in The Fast and the Furious franchise of films as the character Brian O’Connor opposite Dominic Torreto, played by Vin Diesel. The two can be seen together in the above image that was taken earlier this year while they were promoting the release of Fast & Furious 6. The series’ seventh film is scheduled to be released in 2014, and Walker himself had previously been reported as saying the studio had already guaranteed an eighth film. Sadly, the future of the franchise without Walker involved is unknown.
Our condolences go out to Walker’s family and friends, as well as those of the driver.