Paul William Walker IV was born on September 12, 1973, in Glendale California. He began acting when he was very young, appearing in many TV commercials. In 1987 he played Prof. Bennet in Monster in the Closet (1986). He then starred in the television series, Throb (1986). He also made guest appearances on several television shows including Charles in Charge (1984),Highway to Heaven (1984),Who's the Boss? (1984) and Diff'rent Strokes (1978). Paul also had a role in the soap opera The Young and the Restless (1973).

In 1987, Walker was cast in Programmed to Kill

(1987) as the character Jason, and since then he had appeared in a steady stream of movies. He also majored in Marine Biology at a California community college.