Looking back at Vin Diesel’s wild B-boy instructional video
Vin Diesel is a name that you attribute to blockbuster movies, questionable acting and a glimmeringly bald head. Diesel has achieved quite a career on the silver screen, most notably being the lead in both the Riddick and Fast and Furious franchises, along with the extremely challenging voice acting role of Groot in the Marvel movies.
Movies weren’t always in the actor’s plans, he happened to fall on the dream by accident. At seven years old, Vin, his brother Paul, and some friends broke into a New York theatre and were caught. As an unusually cruel form of punishment, the group avoided a trip to the local prison by starring in a production.
Following his first theatre appearance, Diesel caught the acting bug but found it difficult to land roles as he got older. Eventually, he became a bouncer, and you wouldn’t want to be caught with a fake ID considering his impressive stature. He didn’t abandon his dream of being on the silver screen though as when he wasn’t bouncing he was attending auditions.
Diesel’s struggles continued, but it was okay, he found a healthy way to deal with the disappointment of bombing auditions. Talking to Men’s Journal in 2017, the actor explained that as a bouncer he was “kicking [butt] on a nightly basis, which helped with the frustration of not landing parts”.
The future XXX star couldn’t tear himself away from the allure of New York’s nightlife. Whether it was rubbing shoulders with members of the hip-hop community like Busta Rhymes or attending the clubs on his nights off to dance by himself, Diesel would be there. That was until 2001, when Hollywood came knocking, and the fledgling star answered to star in The Fast and the Furious.
Oddly enough, Diesel has a surprising character to thank for his ascension to movie star Steven Spielberg. Vin had written, directed and starred in Multi Facial in 1995, which Spielberg thoroughly enjoyed. He enjoyed it so much that he went out of his way to meet with Vin and even wrote a small part in ‘Saving Private Ryan’ specifically for him.
Although now worth millions and a secure household name if your family likes action movies, Diesel’s acting has always been quite contentious. Following the tenth, yes tenth, Fast and Furious film in 2024, the actor received a Razzie nomination for Worst Actor’ but tragically lost out to film legend Jon Voight, congratulations Jon!
He was also nominated for the ‘Worst Actor’ Razzie award in 2005 but somehow lost to former President George W. Bush. That’s a true fact. Either way, Diesel just cannot get his hands on the coveted award. Nevertheless, it is unsurprising then to learn that Diesel has never been nominated for an Academy Award.
Although lacking a nomination, this isn’t all down to his acting chops. Indeed he should have been nominated for a performance that came well before his appearance in The Fast and The Furious. Diesel’s Oscar nomination should have come for his work on the 1984 production Breakin’ in the USA: Break Dancing and Electric Boogie Taught by the Pros.
A clip resurfaced of a fresh-faced Vin Diesel, dressed in a full tracksuit and, most surprisingly, with hair, breakdancing in an instructional video. Of course, given the nature of the internet, the clip was immediately made into a GIF to be used by most mothers for if they ever receive a text about a party.
Speaking on LIVE with Kelly and Michael Diesel explained that he’s always loved to breakdance saying “I used to break-dance at Washington Square Park”, even going so far as to say “it was my first gig”. After watching the clip I think we can all agree that we hope the Academy realises their mistake as soon as possible, and rewards the performer with an honorary Oscar for ‘Best Actor’ in recognition of his performance.