# Vin Diesel: Kickass Tough Guy or Bulked-Ep Nerd? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 23, 2005, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vin-diesel-kickass-tough-guy-or-bulked-ep-nerd/291487 "2005-02-23T05:02:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnac_the_Magnificent)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2005, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vin-diesel-kickass-tough-guy-or-bulked-ep-nerd/291487/1 "2005-02-23T05:02:42Z")
Not that I’m the nation’s #1 fan of the genre, but Vin Diesel is one of the new breed of action stars I have a hard time connecting with. Sure, he looks and growls menacingly in his movies, but get him on Leno’s show and suddenly Mr. Kickass looks a touch nerdy. Heck, I’m watching them right now. Leno is seated next to the guy and is clearly bigger. On the screen, however, Vin Diesel looks bulletproof and 10-feet tall. Another observation: Somebody in the movie studios really jack up the bass in Vinny boy’s voice. To me, macho goes beyond physique. The Rock has it. Vinny doesn’t. Conclusion: put Vin and me in a room and I kick his ass. 😉 Discuss. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2005, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vin-diesel-kickass-tough-guy-or-bulked-ep-nerd/291487/2 "2005-02-23T05:19:34Z")
He’s an [admitted geek](http://www.rpgmp3.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=12). I don’t see how that invalidates his perceived tough guy persona though. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2005, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vin-diesel-kickass-tough-guy-or-bulked-ep-nerd/291487/3 "2005-02-23T08:14:19Z")
> [@Carnac the Magnificent!](#): > > Conclusion: put Vin and me in a room and I kick his ass. 😉 > > Discuss. Aah, but can your Half-elf Paladin kick his Dwarf Berserker’s ass, that’s the real question. But seriously, **carnac** , are you saying you’re that buff? The guy may not be as tall as you imagined, but he is built. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2005, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vin-diesel-kickass-tough-guy-or-bulked-ep-nerd/291487/4 "2005-02-23T13:37:36Z")
Well, Vin is definitely a big, strong guy who COULD kick your ass or mine, and who undoubtedly HAS kicked a lot of ass as a bouncer. But remember, a good, successful bouncer doesn’t WANT to have to kick ass on a regular basis, and the owner of a successful nightclub doesn’t WANT to have his bouncers getting into scrapes every night. Ideally, a bouncer should be able to intimidate potential troublemakers by his very size and presence. And if a patron at a nightclub gets a little too drunk and a little too rowdy, the owner the bouncer is both strong enough to walk the jerk outside (forcefully) with a smile on his face, and a pleasant, charming manner. So, even though Vin Diesel may be something of a geek, he might’ve been a very good bouncer- strong enough to pick up a miscreant and throw him out on his ear… but amiable and charming enough not too scare ordinary, nice patrons who just want to have a few drinks and dance. ---
**Author:** ![Synthesis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@Synthesis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Synthesis)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2005, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vin-diesel-kickass-tough-guy-or-bulked-ep-nerd/291487/5 "2005-02-23T13:41:04Z")
Well, he was a bouncer at several clubs in New York City before becoming a more successful actor. That isn’t very nerdy and I would imagine he isn’t afraid of a fight- which is a large part of being tough. ---
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2005, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vin-diesel-kickass-tough-guy-or-bulked-ep-nerd/291487/6 "2005-02-23T13:52:37Z")
> [@Aesiron](#): > > He’s an [admitted geek](http://www.rpgmp3.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=12). I don’t see how that invalidates his perceived tough guy persona though. That is the coolest interview! I think my appreciation for the guy went up 2 levels or something. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2005, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vin-diesel-kickass-tough-guy-or-bulked-ep-nerd/291487/7 "2005-02-23T13:53:02Z")
I’m surprised people here would be so quick to judge people by their appearance or put them into high school stereotypes. Being a “nerd” and a “tough guy” or “stud” is not mutually exclusive. The captain of my high school football team is a pretty big jacked-up guy (he’s in the Marines now). He’s still a little on the goofy side. One of my best friends from high school was like a super-stud frat guy in college. We used to go clubbing in Boston like every weekend. And every weekend I’d have to drag his Vanilla Ice looking ass away from Everquest. Didn’t you guys ever see Rainier Wolfcastle in “Undercover Nerd”? ---
**Author:** ![Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnac_the_Magnificent)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2005, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vin-diesel-kickass-tough-guy-or-bulked-ep-nerd/291487/8 "2005-02-23T13:59:23Z")
> [@](#): > > I’m surprised people here would be so quick to judge people by their appearance or put them into high school stereotypes. But appearance is most of what his movie screen persona is about. That’s like saying: Don’t judge Brittany Spears by her abs. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2005, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vin-diesel-kickass-tough-guy-or-bulked-ep-nerd/291487/9 "2005-02-23T14:04:38Z")
As has been pointed out he is an admitted nerd. I’ve seen him on Leno a couple times and he does come off as rather goofy, probably a bit of leftover nerd nervousness in social situations. Women in the audience are always going ga-ga over him and I think he gets carried away by it and doesn’t really know how to respond so just ends up looking goofy. But he also one over a bunch just by talking about wanting babies, so maybe he’s not totally unaware. ---
**Author:** ![Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnac_the_Magnificent)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2005, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vin-diesel-kickass-tough-guy-or-bulked-ep-nerd/291487/10 "2005-02-23T14:05:48Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > Well, Vin is definitely a big, strong guy who COULD kick your ass or mine, and who undoubtedly HAS kicked a lot of ass as a bouncer. I’ve heard these reports, but then remember the early reports about Jean-Claude Van Damme being a world champion kickboxer. Hollywood’s best PR flacks cut their teeth on juicing up bios. Oddly enough, sitting next to Leno, he looked small. He’s usually wearing a very loose-fitting shirt that swallows him. (No joke there.) ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2005, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vin-diesel-kickass-tough-guy-or-bulked-ep-nerd/291487/11 "2005-02-23T14:28:33Z")
> [@Carnac the Magnificent!](#): > > Not that I’m the nation’s #1 fan of the genre, but Vin Diesel is one of the new breed of action stars I have a hard time connecting with. > > Sure, he looks and growls menacingly in his movies, but get him on Leno’s show and suddenly Mr. Kickass looks a touch nerdy. Heck, I’m watching them right now. Leno is seated next to the guy and is clearly bigger. On the screen, however, Vin Diesel looks bulletproof and 10-feet tall. Another observation: Somebody in the movie studios really jack up the bass in Vinny boy’s voice. To me, macho goes beyond physique. The Rock has it. Vinny doesn’t. > > Conclusion: put Vin and me in a room and I kick his ass. 😉 > > Discuss. I thought you were shitting me, but [Vin Diesel FAQ](http://www.answerbag.com/c_view.php/1230) > [@](#): > > What is Vin Diesel’s height and weight? > > He’s actually only 6’1" and about 225 lbs. > > He did add some muscle weight for his more recent roles though, so it’s tough to get an exact answer. \*Why…He’s just a little thang! \* :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2005, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vin-diesel-kickass-tough-guy-or-bulked-ep-nerd/291487/12 "2005-02-23T18:07:39Z")
Met him last year at a trade show. Big strong sonuvabitch. Piss off with caution. Real nice though. ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2005, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vin-diesel-kickass-tough-guy-or-bulked-ep-nerd/291487/13 "2005-02-23T18:26:20Z")
I walked past a room in the community center today, containing a large number of jocks. They were gathered around a chalk board and I overheard one say" It is the ultimate nightmare, a D&D nerd with muscles. We must kill it before it breeds." ---
**Author:** ![chefjef](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e480ec/32.png) [@chefjef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chefjef)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2005, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vin-diesel-kickass-tough-guy-or-bulked-ep-nerd/291487/14 "2005-02-23T19:25:47Z")
> [@Jonathan Chance](#): > > Met him last year at a trade show. > > Big strong sonuvabitch. Piss off with caution. > > Real nice though. I think he’s a combo – but I like him. ---
**Author:** ![Walker\_in\_Eternity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/46a35a/32.png) [@Walker\_in\_Eternity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walker_in_Eternity)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2005, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vin-diesel-kickass-tough-guy-or-bulked-ep-nerd/291487/15 "2005-02-23T19:34:25Z")
Don’t know much about Vin Diesel life outside movies but I have to say that Pitch Black and Chronicles of Riddick are two of the best films ever made. And if the guy is a bit a a geek, what’s wrong with that? It’s good to have an action hero actor that can actually string a sentence together (thinking of a certain governor of California here). Not being a giant myself, since when is 6’1" classed as being short? ---
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2005, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vin-diesel-kickass-tough-guy-or-bulked-ep-nerd/291487/16 "2005-02-23T19:44:44Z")
You know, he’s got a movie coming out next week (the trailer looks pretty good, actually – silly, but fun). So, **Carnac** – you moonlighting as a studio flack now? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Shirt\_Ninja\_13](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e19b73/32.png) [@Shirt\_Ninja\_13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirt_Ninja_13)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2005, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vin-diesel-kickass-tough-guy-or-bulked-ep-nerd/291487/17 "2005-02-24T00:43:58Z")
> [@a35362](#): > > You know, he’s got a movie coming out next week (the trailer looks pretty good, actually – silly, but fun). You mean “The Pacifier”? _bamf_ ---
**Author:** ![Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnac_the_Magnificent)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2005, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vin-diesel-kickass-tough-guy-or-bulked-ep-nerd/291487/18 "2005-02-24T02:11:34Z")
> [@Stryfe](#): > > Don’t know much about Vin Diesel life outside movies but I have to say that Pitch Black and Chronicles of Riddick are two of the best films ever made. And if the guy is a bit a a geek, what’s wrong with that? > > It’s good to have an action hero actor that can actually string a sentence together (thinking of a certain governor of California here). > > Not being a giant myself, since when is 6’1" classed as being short? THE BEST FILMS EVER MADE??? **Stryfe** , you nitwit, you actually watched that #^@#& tripe? You sat in a dark theater and, um, uh… Okay, I saw it too. Like it. Loved it, actually. Diesel looked bad and sounded worse. That said, Ahnold’s flacks have long claimed he’s 6 feet 1. In the real world Ii.e. on planet Earth), some say he’s closed to 5 feet 10. Not that height is that relevant in a fight. \>\> BTW, old bean, I said “nerd” not geek. And I will keep saying it as long as 3,000 miles separates me from VD. Whatever. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnac_the_Magnificent)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2005, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vin-diesel-kickass-tough-guy-or-bulked-ep-nerd/291487/19 "2005-02-24T02:12:45Z")
> [@Carnac the Magnificent!](#): > > THE BEST FILMS EVER MADE??? **Stryfe** , you nitwit, you actually watched that #^@#& tripe? You sat in a dark theater and, um, uh… > > Okay, I saw it too. Like it. Loved it, actually. Diesel looked bad and sounded worse. > > That said, Ahnold’s flacks have long claimed he’s 6 feet 1. In the real world Ii.e. on planet Earth), some say he’s closed to 5 feet 10. > > Not that height is that relevant in a fight. > > \>\> BTW, old bean, I said “nerd” not geek. And I will keep saying it as long as 3,000 miles separates me from VD. Whatever. 😉 Bonus points for catching the typos and idiosyncratic screw-ups. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2005, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vin-diesel-kickass-tough-guy-or-bulked-ep-nerd/291487/20 "2005-02-24T02:15:14Z")
Vin is the winner of the past decade’s “Right Place at the Right Time” Award. Still, I’d rather watch him live his life a quarter mile at a time than to watch Adam Sandler do anything. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vin-diesel-kickass-tough-guy-or-bulked-ep-nerd/291487.md?page=2)