Diesel, who was cast in 1998's Saving Private Ryan, broke through to mainstream audiences with the 2001 film The Fast and the Furious and the 2002 film xXx. He is next set to reprise his role as Pitch Black's Riddick in the upcoming release The Chronicles of Riddick, and will thereafter take on the titular role in Hannibal, as the Carthaginian general who crossed the Alps by elephant to attack Rome.

Diesel owns his own production company, One Race Productions, with long time producing partner George Zakk.