Funny little stories/facts:

Spoken foreign languages:

When asked in this year's MSN chat, if he could speak italian, Vin said: "(Italian accent) Si molto bene! Le Italiano que parle nonrepresente le Italiano que sono." And that means: "Yes very well. The italian that I speak does not reflect the italian that I am."
(MSN live chat 2003)

Can Vin dance Salsa?

Same MSN chat, question about AMA's dancing sequence: "I took a few classes to touch up, but I had been dancing Salsa for years before. That's a character trait that runs in the family. My mother is a Mambo dancer, that's what my parents do for fun. So I love dancing Salsa so it was fun to be able to incorporate it in the film. The most important thing it represented for my character was that it was something that he and his wife did, a private moment between husband and wife that is beautiful. And I think Salsa dancing unlike other dancing celebrates that bond between man and woman."
(MSN live chat 2003)

How many T-shirts Vin owns?

"Actor Vin Diesel has been very vocal about his love for the 2(X)ist v-neck t-shirt. He is quoted saying "Hands down the best t-shirt on the market." He claims to have more than 2,000!"
(taken from hisroom.com)

What does Vin look for in a woman?

VIN: What do I look for in a woman? What does every guy look for in a woman? If I knew that, I'd be married by now. I never thought I'd be 35, just be on TV, and someone would ask me what I look for in a woman. Isn't that fascinating? Honestly, I've always wanted a girl to be cool. I like strength in a woman. I like independence. I like individuality. As long as she's a good person.
(ET interview)

Movies he was rumored / he wanted to be in?

Flawless (1999) ~ a homophobic guy (Robert DeNiro) ends up with paralyzed vocal cords because of an unfortunate stroke. His therapy includes receiving singing lessons from a neighbor (played by Phillip S. Hoffman) who is not only openly flamboyant but also a pre-op transgenderist. Both of them are equally prejudiced; De Niro against homosexuals and the neighbor against close-minded straight people. (IMDb).
Vin's role: the transvestita singer
the reason why Vin wasn't in this movie: Director Joel Schumacher turned Diesel down because of the actor's massive physique.

Reindeer Games (2000) ~ After being imprisoned for six years on a grand theft auto charge, Rudy Duncan (Ben Affleck) and his cellmate Nick (James Frain) are finally going to be paroled. When Nick is killed during a prison riot, Rudy decides to assume Nick's identity upon release from prison and meet up with Nick's penpale-only girlfriend (Charlize Theron). Soon he meets her brother (Gary Sinise), who forces him to rob the casino Nick used to work in.
Vin's role: bad guy in Gabriel's team
the reason why Vin wasn't this movie: Vin wanted to beef up his role, but Frankenheimer denied his request, so he quitted the project. (other sources say that he was dismissed by the director because of his demands.)

Training Day (2001) ~ On his first day on the job as a narcotics officer (Ethan Hawke), a rookie cop works with a rogue detective(Denzel Washington) who isn't what he appears as.
Vin's role: Jake Hoyt, the rookie cop
the reason he wasn't in this movie: unknown. Sam L. Jackson was in talks with Vin to play the senior cop.

Equilibrium (2002) ~ In a futuristic world, a strict regime has eliminated war by suppressing emotions: books, art and music are strictly forbidden and feeling is a crime punishable by death. Clerick John Preston (Bale) is a top ranking government agent responsible for destroying those who resist the rules. Whe he misses a dose of Prozium, a mind-altering drug that hinders emotion, Preston, who has been trained to enforce the strict laws of the new regime, suddenly becomes the only person capable of overthrowing it.
Vin's role: Cleric Preston
the reason he wasn't in this movie: Vin was offered the lead role in Kurt Wimmer's clever sci-fi actioner, but never returned Dimension's call. Studio casted Christain Bale (the new Batman) instead.

Hellboy (2003) ~ In the final days of World War II, the Nazis attempt to use black magic to aid their dying cause. The Allies raid the camp where the ceremony is taking place, but not before a demon--Hellboy--has already been conjured. Joining the Allied forces, Hellboy eventually grows to adulthood, serving the cause of good rather than evil.
Vin's role: Hellboy
the reason Vin wasn't in this movie: the success of Blade 2 allowed director Guillermo Del Toro to choose his favourite actor for this role, Ron Pearlman.

Daredevil (2003) ~ A man blinded by radioactive waste which also enhanced his remaining senses fights crime as an acrobatic martial arts superhero.
Vin's role: Daredevil
the reason Vin wasn't in this movie: he chose to film The Chronicles of Riddick over Daredevil. Ben Affleck (!) replaced Vin.

Can he still use his "real" name in hotel rooms?

Not anymore. "Im looking forward to picking better names. Socrates. Freud. Albert Camus-and I’ll pronounce it kay-muss,”just to throw people off. "

The list of Xander's tattoos in xXx:

• On the back of his neck, three X's.
• On the small of his back, two guns crossed to form an X.
• On his left arm, a tribal band on his bicep, a bull charging out of flames and clouds.
• On his right arm, the words "dis" and "order" by his wrist, two eagle wings going up his arm, three stars on his elbow, a bull on his bicep, the word "chaos," wrapped in blue filler, on his forearm.
• On his right shoulder, a star with an eye in the middle.
• On his stomach, the word "Melkor," the name of Diesel's real-life Dungeons & Dragons character.
• On his bellybutton, a chaos symbol topped by flames.
• Around his right nipple, a star (USA Today)

Cash or credit card? AKA his most sophisticated fan is a Saudi Arabian princess

"Movie star Vin Diesel escaped an embarrassing penniless vacation when he was rescued by a rich fan. The up-and-coming actor foolishly forgot to take cash with him on a recent trip to Cuba, leaving instead with a wallet full of bank cards - useless in the communist country. Diesel says, "I didn't think I needed cash because I thought I could go anywhere in the world and use my credit cards. So stupid. It's amazing that you can go to another country and you are powerless. Anyway, we charge up this bill and no-one knows me and then this couple, one gentleman from Tel Aviv that was like selling arms or something and this lady that was sort of this Saudi Arabian princess, had seen me in Pitch Black the night before. His girlfriend gave us the money for everything and for our tickets home. She couldn't believe we were down there and we had a blast and the next day she came to our rescue.""
(WENN news / IMDb)

His favourite pasta is...

Food served on movie sets is one step below airline grub, so the cast members of "XXX" are thankful that Asia Argento has a leading role in the thriller. The spicy Italian actress has been cooking lunch for director Rob Cohen and stars Vin Diesel and Samuel L. Jackson. "Rob's favorite is pasta puttanesca with eggplant," Argento tells The Post's V.A. Musetto from the set in Prague. "Vin is obsessed with penna alla bolognese with meat sauce. For Jackson, I cooked something more sophisticated, duck salad and tomatoes filled with seafood. I have to help the big boys keep up their strength for the long shoots."
(www.pagesix.com)

Yoda gave thanks to Vin for winnig his best fight award @ 2003 MTV Movie Awards

Yoda appeared on a giant screen to accept the honor and spoke in his signature circuitous manner. "Hmmm ... grateful am I to this award receive. To win, I did not expect," he said. "Promise myself cry I would not." He went on to thank supporters ranging from "Star Wars" creator George Lucas to Wookie Chewbacca, Vin Diesel, space monster Greedo and actor Steve Guttenberg. (AP)