Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson Unveils Shark Week Tribute For Paul Walker


WWE star and actor Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson paid tribute to his friend and co-star Paul Walker’s life and dedication to “shark and marine” preservation last night (Saturday, August 9th) through a video posted to his Instagram account.

Johnson revealed a short video clip, Entertainment Weekly reports, in which he can be seen filming an intro for Shark Week that addressed Walker’s devotion to marine conservation efforts. Walker was killed in a car crash on November 30, 2013.

“[I] Was moved to shoot this very special intro to one of Paul Walker’s final missions for shark and marine conservation,” Johnson wrote in his post, explaining the video before adding “#DiscoveryChannel #SharkWeek #ProtectingThatWhichILove #MissYouBrotherPaul.”

Walker, who co-starred with Johnson in the Fast And Furious series, had long been involved with shark conservation efforts, predating his acting career. In college, Walker studied marine biology, according to NBC Bay Area, later working with The Billfish Foundation after becoming a celebrity.

“Paul Walker was not only an incredible actor, dear friend, loving and devoted father…” Johnson says in the short video, speaking about his friend and co-star, “but he was also a champion for shark and marine life conservation whose efforts inspired so many.”

Last month, Johnson finished shooting Fast And Furious 7, a film that was marred by Paul Walker’s death last November, which deeply affected the cast and crew. As The Inquisitr previously reported, star Vin Diesel has very publicly mourned Walker’s death. Walker’s brothers, Caleb and Cody, were recruited to stand in for his character, Brian O’Conner, in order for filming on Fast And Furious 7 to be completed.

Johnson’s intro was reportedly for Discovery’s Shark Week, which kicks off this Sunday night. Highly anticipated by legions of fans every year, Shark Week has aired on Discovery since 1987. Recent promotions, which have included actor Rob Lowe, proclaim this year’s event to be the “King of Summer,” a reference to Shark Week‘s notoriously high ratings. The annual event has so captivated the public that it has given rise to competing celebrations on other networks, such as Nat Geo Wild.

Although there is no word on which program Johnson’s intro will precede, there is little doubt that his tribute to Paul Walker will add an unprecedented dimension to this year’s Shark Week.

[Image via People]

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