( CNN ) Paul Walker is hardly the first actor to die during a production . But Walker 's death in November 2013 at the age of 40 after a car crash was especially eerie given his rise to fame in the `` Fast and Furious '' film franchise . The release of `` Furious 7 '' on Friday offers the opportunity for fans to remember -- and possibly grieve again -- the man that so many have praised as one of the nicest guys in Hollywood . `` He was a person of humility , integrity , and compassion , '' military veteran Kyle Upham said in an email to CNN . Walker secretly paid for the engagement ring Upham shopped for with his bride . `` We did n't know him personally but this was apparent in the short time we spent with him . I know that we will never forget him and he will always be someone very special to us , '' said Upham . The actor was on break from filming `` Furious 7 '' at the time of the fiery accident , which also claimed the life of the car 's driver , Roger Rodas . Producers said early on that they would not kill off Walker 's character , Brian O'Connor , a former cop turned road racer . Instead , the script was rewritten and special effects were used to finish scenes , with Walker 's brothers , Cody and Caleb , serving as body doubles . There are scenes that will resonate with the audience -- including the ending , in which the filmmakers figured out a touching way to pay tribute to Walker while `` retiring '' his character . At the premiere Wednesday night in Hollywood , Walker 's co-star and close friend Vin Diesel gave a tearful speech before the screening , saying `` This movie is more than a movie . '' `` You 'll feel it when you see it , '' Diesel said . `` There 's something emotional that happens to you , where you walk out of this movie and you appreciate everyone you love because you just never know when the last day is you 're gon na see them . '' There have been multiple tributes to Walker leading up to the release . Diesel revealed in an interview with the `` Today '' show that he had named his newborn daughter after Walker . Social media has also been paying homage to the late actor . A week after Walker 's death , about 5,000 people attended an outdoor memorial to him in Los Angeles . Most had never met him . Marcus Coleman told CNN he spent almost $ 1,000 to truck in a banner from Bakersfield for people to sign at the memorial . `` It 's like losing a friend or a really close family member ... even though he is an actor and we never really met face to face , '' Coleman said . `` Sitting there , bringing his movies into your house or watching on TV , it 's like getting to know somebody . It really , really hurts . '' Walker 's younger brother Cody told People magazine that he was initially nervous about how `` Furious 7 '' would turn out , but he is happy with the film . `` It 's bittersweet , but I think Paul would be proud , '' he said . CNN 's Paul Vercammen contributed to this report .
`` Furious 7 '' pays tribute to star Vin Diesel , who died during filming . Paul Walker : `` This movie is more than a movie '' `` Furious 7 '' opens Friday .