'My first inspiration': Vin Diesel shares touching pic as he celebrates stepfather's 88th birthday

READ MORE

‘Shattered his precious ego’: Vin Diesel feels the heat after The Rock burns up box office with 'Black Adam'

'Love you, miss you': Vin Diesel remembers late 'Fast & Furious' co-star Paul Walker on 9th death anniversary

According to Vox Bliss, Diesel has never met his biological father. He was named Mark Sinclair by his mother Delora Sherleen Vincent and grew up alongside his fraternal twin brother, Paul, in Alameda County, California. Delora’s African American husband, Irving, later adopted the two boys. The 'Fast and Furious' actor changed his name to 'Vin' after his stepfather's last name.

However, Diesel didn't feel any resentment against his biological father. The actor had the good fortune to find someone to take the place of his father and fill in the gaps. Diesel confessed that he'd never had the desire to meet his real father because of one simple reason, "To me, my real father is the man who raised me."

In Nancy Krulik's book, 'Vin Diesel: Fueled for Success', Krulik noted how he'd always been close to his mother but had no relationship with his biological father. He had always referred to Irving as "dad." The Groot actor's stepfather was a theater director and a teacher, which made his family eligible for a tax-advantaged housing complex.

The actor revealed that he didn't know his race, and that he was "a combination of many things." All his mother ever told him was that he had ties to various cultures, but he credited Irving with shaping his cultural identity and upbringing. Vin added that Irving guided him artistically. While most fans are aware that he doesn't go by his true name, it seems the actor adopted his current moniker for a good reason.