Meadow Walker shares a profound connection with her late father, actor Paul Walker. On November 4, 1998, she was born in Los Angeles to Paul and his then-girlfriend, Rebecca Soteros. Raised primarily in Hawaii with her mother, Meadow would see her father occasionally.
Later, she returned to Los Angeles, where her parents had shared custody for a few years until she lived with Paul full-time. Tragically, less than a year after this transition, he died in a car accident on November 30, 2013.
Meadow remains close to Paul’s Fast & Furious co-stars, joining the franchise herself
Reflecting on his relationship with Meadow shortly before his passing, Paul expressed deep love and concern for his daughter. “My heart was desperate for so many years with the situation with my daughter,” he told Entertainment Weekly. “My daughter lives with me full-time now, and she’s the best partner I’ve ever had. It’s so nuts. I’ve never had anything like this in my life.”
Since her father’s death, Meadow, now 26, has established herself as a successful model and continues to honor his legacy through charitable endeavors. She has also maintained close ties with his Fast & Furious co-stars and even became a part of the franchise.
In October 2021, Meadow wed actor Louis Thornton-Allan, but the couple announced their separation in December 2023. Meadow’s birth on November 4, 1998, marked the beginning of her journey. Growing up in Hawaii with her mother, she later relocated to Los Angeles to be nearer to her father.
Paul described his daughter’s impact on him during a 2009 interview with PARADE, saying, “Little girls soften their daddy’s hearts.” When Meadow moved to L.A. in 2011, he noted her qualities, saying, “She’s a bit more like her mother, but she’s also how I am innately. She appreciates the little stuff.”
Beginning her modeling career in 2017, Meadow joined DNA Models, as noted in her Instagram bio. She has since walked the runway for prominent designers like Proenza Schouler and Alexander McQueen, in addition to being the face of Givenchy Beauty. In March 2023, she celebrated one of her campaigns by sharing an ad photo on social media.
In September 2015, Meadow took legal action against Porsche, the manufacturer of the Carrera GT involved in her father’s fatal crash. The lawsuit claimed that the vehicle lacked necessary safety features that could have prevented the accident or allowed Paul to survive. By 2017, she reached a settlement with Porsche and received a $10.1 million settlement from Rodas’ estate, which was placed into a trust.
To commemorate her father’s legacy, Meadow launched the Paul Walker Foundation on what would have been his 42nd birthday in September 2015. The foundation focuses on goodwill initiatives that empower youth and promote environmental conservation, aligning with her father’s passions. Meadow shared on Instagram, “I wanted to start this foundation because I want to share that piece of him with the world.”
Through the foundation, she has initiated several philanthropic projects, including the “PWF Do Good Scholarship,” announced in June 2022, which supports a deserving student passionate about community and environmental needs.
After a whirlwind romance, Meadow exchanged vows with Louis Thornton-Allan in October 2021 during an intimate ceremony in the Dominican Republic. Dressed in a custom Givenchy Haute Couture gown, she was walked down the aisle by Vin Diesel, a close family friend and Fast & Furious co-star.
In December 2023, Meadow and Thornton-Allan shared news of their separation, emphasizing their mutual respect and support for each other in their statement.
Maintaining connections with her father’s Fast & Furious co-stars, Meadow celebrated her wedding with Diesel and Jordana Brewster present. Diesel, who walked her down the aisle, has been protective of her. He expressed his fondness for her, saying, “She’s the first person on Father’s Day to wish me Happy Father’s Day.”
In 2020, Meadow made a personal decision regarding her health, speaking out about an abortion she had during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in June 2022, she shared her experience on Instagram, stating, “I was lucky enough to have a great doctor who supported me through the debilitating process.” Meadow labeled the court’s ruling as a setback for women’s rights.
In November 2021, she also revealed her health journey after undergoing surgery to remove a tumor, expressing gratitude for her recovery through a post commemorating the two-year anniversary of the procedure.
Each year, Meadow pays tribute to her father on social media, sharing heartfelt memories on his birthday and the anniversary of his death. In 2021, she posted a nostalgic photo of them together, writing, “I love and miss you endlessly. Today and every day I celebrate your life, your love. And you, my best friend.”
On the 10th anniversary of his passing in 2023, she shared an unseen video of her father, captioning it with “10 years without you… I love you forever.” Another tribute for what would have been his 51st birthday in 2024 included a childhood photo, with her writing, “Happy birthday to my best friend. I love and miss you so much every day. Thank you for everything. My forever guardian angel.”
Meadow made a special appearance in Fast X, which premiered on May 19, 2023. She shared her excitement about the film on Instagram, recalling her childhood experiences on set with her father and his co-stars. “Thanks to my dad, I was born into the fast family. I can’t believe now I get to be up there too,” she remarked.
Following the film’s release, PEOPLE spoke with Diesel, Brewster, and Michelle Rodriguez about Meadow’s presence on set. Diesel noted, “It did something to my soul, to see her want to honor her father.” Rodriguez emphasized the importance of keeping Paul’s memory alive within the franchise, while Brewster praised Meadow’s hard work during her time with the cast.
