Amid the presentations for Best Shirtless Performance and Conan O'Brien's comic mugging, moments of earnestness are likely to be few at this week's MTV Movie Awards — which is as it has always been. But the levity will be suspended for at least a couple of minutes, as organizers have announced that the show will feature a tribute to the late “Fast & Furious” star Paul Walker, nearly five months after the 40-year-old actor died in a car crash.
Walker is also posthumously nominated (with Vin Diesel, of course) this year for Best Onscreen Duo in “Furious 6” — though the LA Times confirms that the presentation of that award will stand separate from the tribute, which will take the form of a clip reel, preceded by an onstage dedication from his “Furious” co-star (and onscreen wife) Jordana Brewster.
Walker, of course, is far from the only big-name star to have passed away prematurely in the past year, though MTV president Stephen Friedman states that his loss was especially resonant to the channel's viewers: “Paul Walker was a role model for the MTV audience since the very beginning of his too-short career. Our audience grew up with him, from ‘Varsity Blues” to the ‘Furious” franchise. He was a movie star but one that they could relate to. Paul's humanity and kindness clearly showed through every role. We're honored to be able to spend a moment in this year's Movie Awards to celebrate him.”
Walker was a regular attendee at the awards ceremony, and shared the award for Best Onscreen Team with Vin Diesel in 2002, the same year he was nominated for Best Breakthrough Male Performance.