Happy Birthday! Vin Diesel Turns 48 Today

We're all family when it comes to Vin Diesel, who turns 48 today.

Diesel shows no signs of slowing down despite closing in on 50. The actor, who got his start in 1990's Awakenings but soon became better known for his role in Saving Private Ryan and voicing The Iron Giant, has become a worldwide icon.

His 25 years on the big screen involve some of the world's largest film franchises, especially the Fast & Furious franchise which has raced to seven installments (the most recent among the top 10 highest grossing films ever) and has an eighth in pre-production. He'll also be revisiting the xXx franchise, where he played Xander Cage in 2002, when xXx The Return of Xander Cage begins production.

Let's not forget, Diesel is also the voice of Groot, the talking, walking tree and personal bodyguard to Rocket Raccoon in Guardians of the Galaxy!

You can see Diesel in action again in The Last Witch Hunter on October 23.

Happy birthday, Vin Diesel!