'Fast and Furious' actor Paul Walker dead at 40 in car crash

Walker died in Los Angeles county when the car he was traveling in slammed into a tree and caught fire - US media.

LOS ANGELES: Paul Walker, one of the stars of the popular "Fast and Furious" fast-car action movies, has died in an auto crash Saturday afternoon. His publicists  have confirmed the news on his social media accounts.

"It is with a truly heavy heart that we must confirm that Paul Walker passed away today in a tragic car accident while attending a charity event for his organization Reach Out Worldwide," read the posting on the actor's Facebook account.

"He was a passenger in a friend's car, in which both lost their lives."

The publicists, who described themselves as Team PW, wrote that they were "stunned and saddened beyond belief by this news."

A similar message was posted on Twitter.

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The final photograph of Paul Walker taken minutes before his death in a car crash. The image shows the actor getting into the Porsche GT that would soon claim his life. 

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Walker, 40, was best known for his role as undercover agent Brian O'Connor in the "Fast and Furious" movie franchise.

He appeared in all but one of the six movies in the series, and was one of the leading protagonists along with Vin Diesel and Michelle Rodriguez.

Universal Pictures also issued a statement, saying studio staff were "heartbroken" by Walker's death.

"Paul was truly one of the most beloved and respected members of our studio family for 14 years, and this loss is devastating to us, to everyone involved with the Fast & Furious films, and to countless fans.

"We send our deepest and most sincere condolences to Paul's family."

Walker died when the Porsche GT he was a passenger in lost control, slammed into a tree and caught fire, reported dailymail.co.uk. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's department said the crash happened in the community of Valencia.

At the time of his death, Walker, who also starred in "Pleasantville" and "Varsity Blues," was filming the seventh Fast & Furious movie with Vin Diesel. Just yesterday, he tweeted the following message to his followers.

The boys are back. Will you be ready? - #TeamPW #FastFridays

— Paul Walker (@RealPaulWalker) November 30, 2013

For those left wondering how the franchise will move on in light of this tragedy, executives have released a statement that the movie, slated for a July 2014 release, will honour the late actor, reported hollywoodlife.com

“Many people within the production haven’t even heard the tragic news because of the holidays, but its almost positive that the movie will still move forward in his honor,” a source close to the film’s cast said. "Once people get back to work on Monday, many meetings will be happening.”

Hollywood stars have paid tribute to the actor, including rapper and actor Ludacris, who tweeted his shock and sadness at his Fast and Furious co-star's untimely death.

Alongside a touching picture of the film's cast holding hands, he wrote: '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 @paulwalker legacy will live on forever. R.I.P.'

Walker is survived by a 15-year-old daughter, Meadow, who had recently moved to California from Hawaii so the two could be closer.