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Remembering Paul Walker one year after tragic death in fiery crash

ABOVE: Hundreds of fans came out on Sunday to pay respects to Paul Walker at the scene of his tragic death.

TORONTO — Sunday marks the one-year anniversary of the horrific death of Paul Walker, the actor best known for starring in a series of Fast & Furious films.

Walker and his friend Roger Rodas, 38, were killed on Nov. 30, 2013 at around 3:30 p.m. when the 2005 Porsche GT they were in went out of control and crashed in the Rye Canyon Business Park in Santa Clarita, northwest of downtown Los Angeles.

The actor was a passenger in the car, which burst into flames after slamming into a tree, a light pole, and a second tree at an estimated 160 km/hour.

In January, the deaths were ruled accidental and the result of traumatic and thermal injuries.

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Walker, according to the coroner’s report, had numerous fractures and suffered burns to his entire body.

FLASHBACK: Paul Walker dies in fiery crash

Walker had attended a fundraiser for his charity Reach Out Worldwide (ROWW) in support of victims of the Philippines typhoon when he and Rodas decided to take a ride in the Porsche.

A week after the accident, thousands of people turned up at the scene for a memorial.

“We mourn his loss,” said Rick Yune, one of Walker’s former co-stars, “but we can at least remember how great a guy he was and celebrate his life.”

BELOW: Crash that killed Paul Walker caught on security video

STARS REMEMBER

Shortly after his death, Walker’s famous friends took to social media to share their thoughts.

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Canadian actor Joshua Jackson, who starred with Walker in The Skulls, tweeted: “Damn. Hard to imagine someone so full of life taken so soon. My thoughts go out to your family. RIP Pauly Walker.”

Walker’s Into the Blue co-star Jessica Alba wrote: “He was a lovely person – so sweet and grounded.”

James Van Der Beek, who was in Varsity Blues with Walker, tweeted: “I just remember him as being so effortlessly golden. He had that way about him, that ‘thing'”

BELOW: Vin Diesel thanks fans at Paul Walker crash site

“My heart is hurting so bad,” wrote Tyrese Gibson. “No one can make me believe this is real Father God I pray that you send clarity over this cause I just don’t understand My heart hurts it’s broken no one can convince me that this is real…. Prayer warriors please pray real hard for his only child, his daughter and family…”

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Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges shared: “Your humble spirit was felt from the start, wherever you blessed your presence you always left a mark, we were like brothers & our birthdays are only 1 day apart, now You will forever hold a place in all of our hearts.”

Vin Diesel tweeted: “Brother, I will miss you very much. Heaven has gained a new angel. Rest in peace xxx.”

Paul Walker, pictured in May 2013. Getty Images

FAMILY

“I’m just glad that every time I saw him, I told him I loved him. And he would say the same thing to me.”

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These are the words of Walker’s father Paul Walker Sr. only days after the actor’s tragic death.

“His heart was so big,” he added. “I was proud of him every day of his life.”

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One of Walker’s brothers, Cody, told E! News this week: “I am so lucky to have had him as a big brother.”

Asked what he wants people to learn from Walker’s life, Cody replied: “Just live your life to the fullest. Laugh a lot, love and find your true happiness. Remember that no matter how cool you think you may be, you’re not cool enough to look down on anyone… ever.”

Last February, it was revealed that Walker left his entire $25 million estate to his teenage daughter Meadow (whose mother is Walker’s ex-girlfriend Rebecca McBrain).

His will, prepared in 2001, named his father Paul Walker III the executor of the estate and his mother Cheryl as Meadow’s guardian.

On Sunday, Meadow posted a simple tribute to her late father on Instagram.

Paul Walker, right, with Canadian actor Joshua Jackson in the made-in-Toronto film ‘The Skulls.’.

WALKER IN CANADA

Walker was no stranger to Canada.

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He worked in Toronto on 2000’s The Skulls, in B.C. on 2006’s Eight Below and in Montreal on 2004’s Noel and this year’s Brick Mansions.

Walker also attended the Toronto International Film Festival for the world premiere of Noel in September 2004.

“He loved Montreal,” said Brick Mansions co-star Robert Maillet shortly after Walker’s death. The actor had brought his teenage daughter Meadow to Montreal for a week of filming in late June 2013, according to Maillet.

WATCH: Trailer for Brick Mansions

“He was a nice guy, very generous. He had an energy about him.”

Todd Lieberman, executive producer of Eight Below, tweeted at the time of Walker’s death: “Recall him buying a super van to drive around canada and live out of after filming.”

Paul Walker in a scene from \’Brick Mansions.\’. YouTube

WALKER’S LEGACY

Walker will be seen on the big screen in April 2015 when Fast & Furious 7 opens. He was on a break from filming the movie when he died.

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The star’s brothers Caleb and Cody — who bear a striking resemblance to Walker — were hired to complete his action scenes and “fill in small gaps left in production.”

Walker appeared in all but one of the Fast & Furious movies.

Universal Pictures said in a statement last April that the movie, directed by James Wan, will give Walker’s character Brian O’Conner a send-off.

“It will allow the character of Brian O’Conner to live on and let us celebrate Paul in his most defining role,” read the statement.

BELOW: Walker’s brothers to finish his Fast & Furious scenes

Walker will also live on in the nearly two dozen movies he made during his career, including Varsity Blues (1999), Joy Ride (2001), Into the Blue (2005) and Flags of Our Fathers (2006).

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Sharp-eyed fans might also spot a much younger Walker in episodes of Charles in Charge, Highway to Heaven, Touched by an Angel and Who’s The Boss.

Walker’s legacy includes ROWW, a charity he helped form while doing relief work following the devastating earthquakes in Haiti in 2010.

“ROWW continues to be, to function, to help others even after our primary contributor, my brother, Paul Walker has passed,” Cody told E! News this week. “I know he would be so stoked to know that. ROWW changed his life, and he was so proud of it.”

Paul Walker, in a scene from ‘Fast & Furious 6.’. Handout

TRAGIC CLUB

Walker’s death in a car accident made him a member of a tragic show business club.

Actor James Dean was killed in 1955 when his Porsche 550 Spyder was hit by another car.

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Jackass star Ryan Dunn died in 2011 when his Porsche went off the road and slammed into a tree.

Hollywood icon Grace Kelly died in 1982 after she lost control of her car in Monaco.

Actress Jayne Mansfield — the mother of actress Mariska Hargitay — died instantly in 1967 when the car she was in slammed into the back of a truck.

TLC member Lisa Lopes died in 2002 when the SUV she was in crashed in Honduras.

REMEMBERING PAUL

A year after his death, fans continue to share their thoughts on social media. Here is a small sample of tweets posted in the days leading up to the sad anniversary.

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