June 25

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/artsentertainment/134310241_vindiesel25.html

By Miki Turner

Knight Ridder Newspapers

LOS ANGELES - The sight of Vin Diesel in a muscle shirt, fatigues and sandals strolling around the Universal back lot with his adorable puppy was quite the Kodak moment. But it wasn't enough to convince the casual observer that "The Fast and the Furious" star was anything more than another buffed Arnold wannabe with a fondness for animals that look as if they'll grow up and chow down on any perpetrator on command.

It doesn't help matters that Diesel's adopted name (he won't reveal his real first name, but his real surname is Vincent) makes it difficult to take him seriously, or that there are at least half a dozen Web sites declaring how hot this New York City native is.

Even his love interest in "The Fast and the Furious," Michelle Rodriguez, was initially misled by her co-star's biceps-bigger-than-Montana appearance. "You look at him and he's all big and cocky," she says. But she found that he is "one of the most intelligent and nicest guys that I've ever met."

The real Vin Diesel is a 33-year-old college dropout and ex-bouncer who grew up in an artists' housing project in Greenwich Village. He's a stage-trained actor and self-taught filmmaker who has been making waves in Hollywood since producing the autobiographical film "Multifacial" in 1994. The film, which cost $3,000 and was made in three days, won rave reviews at Cannes and paved the way for Diesel to make his directing debut in 1997's "Strays."

Since then, Diesel, who says he was "discovered" by Steven Spielberg, has been lauded for his acting skills after memorable performances in "Saving Private Ryan," "Boiler Room" and "Pitch Black" - his first leading role.

Diesel plays Dominic Toretto in "The Fast and the Furious," which opened Friday.

"I love the character," Diesel says. "I know he's described as anti-hero, but I don't necessarily know if this is an anti-hero. He lives outside of the law, but he has his own moral code, which consists of many admirable attributes. He's honest, he's loyal, he's a caretaker. He's the same guy in the beginning as he is in the end."

That statement pretty much describes Diesel, who says he's still the same dude who sacrificed money for art during his years as a struggling actor in New York and Los Angeles.

"I want to affect people," he says. "I want people to hear me in my work."