Actor Paul Walker's lasting legacy

Vin Diesel broke down telling story of how he named his daughter after late pal Paul Walker.

Vin Diesel broke down explaining how he paid the ultimate tribute to late friend Paul Walker.

The actor became emotional as he talked about his 'brother' who died in a single-vehicle collision in Los Angeles, 2013.

At the time both actors were part way through filming Furious 7 - the latest in a popular Fast and Furious franchise.

Appearing on The Jonathan Ross show, Diesel, 48, recounted a touching story behind naming his youngest daughter Pauline - explaining Walker's words were never far from his mind during the birth.

Before his first child arrived Walker gave Diesel some lasting advice: "I can remember just like yesterday," he said.

"A lot of tough guys will tell you to wait in the hallway, don't go in the delivery room [Walker said] 'but Vin, go into that delivery room, be present and cut that umbilical cord and it will be the best day of your life'."

"I did that and it was the best day of my life and so six months ago when I was blessed to be in that same situation, I couldn't help but to remember Paul and his advice.

"As I'm cutting the umbilical cord, I'm thinking to myself it's all because Paul Walker told me to go into the delivery room and so once it came time to sign the name, I started writing 'Paul' and then just added I-N-E."

Diesel said Walker 'instinctively' knew his long-time partner Paloma Jiménez, with whom he has three children, was pregnant as they filmed the first of the Fast & Furious films.

He also described the chilling moment his mother told him there had been a fatal car accident involving Walker in November 2013.

"Now when I think about it I feel blessed that I'm able to carry on and talk about how wonderful a person he was and how special a person he was."

Walker was remembered during an emotional ending in Furious 7.

His character was re-created by Wellington based Weta Digital for the remaining scenes, thanks to effects which had never been used before.

They were able to bring the blonde haired, blue-eyed actor back to life in 350 shots.

Speaking to Variety Weta Digital visual effects supervisor Martin Hill said it was a mammoth task.

There were no scans of Walker with which to create a digital double, so the team used old footage and scanned Walker's brothers Cody and Caleb, as well as actor John Brotherton, who has similar build and coloring.

They worked extensively to perfect Walker's hair and skin - how his facial muscles moved, how his coloring would flush after exertion or his hair changed depending on lighting or the wind.

They even made sure that he blinked in character.

Mr Hill said the most difficult aspects were close-ups where he was sitting or delivering dialog.

"Because you don't have the action and the kinetic cutting to help distract from the effects."

Walker's death wasn't the end for fans of the Fast & Furious franchise who have three more films to look forward to yet.

Diesel revealed the eighth up-coming flick is set to be filmed in New York City.

- nzherald.co.nz additional reporting Vanity and The Daily Mail