Warning: This post contains MAJOR spoilers for Fast XF9 presented a clearer look into the Dom Toretto backstory previously shared in the Fast & Furious franchise. Vin Diesel has played the character since the saga’s 2001 debut, The Fast and the Furious. Though Diesel didn’t return for 2 Fast 2 Furious or Tokyo Drift (aside from a brief cameo), the actor returned to the spotlight for 2009’s Fast & Furious. Since then, Dom has served as the core figure in the saga. Since Dom made his on-screen debut two decades ago, it was clear Diesel’s character was meant to embody a leadership role.
He had his own crew, but when Brian O’Conner (Paul Walker) infiltrated the team as an undercover cop, Dom somehow convinced him that his actions stemmed from doing what he thought was right for his friends, who he considered family. Brian turned into a brother-like figure in Dom’s life as the crew around the pair grew as they tackled criminals, drug lords, and terrorists worldwide. Brian might no longer be in the equation due to Walker’s untimely death, but The Fast Saga introduced Dom’s real brother, Jakob, into the mix in F9. While this serves as an important factor in the franchise’s current storyline, it simultaneously modified the Dom Toretto backstory.
Dominic Toretto’s Childhood
Born in 1976, Dom is the eldest Toretto sibling, and his father made an effort to teach his oldest son what it means to be the man of the house. Though it’s still unclear what happened to the kids’ mother in the Dom Toretto backstory, The Fast Saga clarifies that Jack Toretto (J.D. Pardo) took his role as a single father seriously. In Fast Five, Dom shared what he remembered most about his father, including how he would encourage his neighbors to attend church with the reward of a weekly barbecue. He also always had time to help Mia with her homework despite juggling the family’s market and his career as a stock racer.
From a young age, Jack taught all he knew about cars to both Dom and Jakob. The trio worked together on Jack’s 1970 Dodge Charger R/T, which Dom took ownership of later in life. Though Jack put more pressure on Dom as the oldest, Jakob mistook that as favoritism. The family may have been a cohesive unit when the kids were young, but Jack’s death broke the family bond, especially when it came to Dom and Jakob.
Jack Toretto’s Death & Dom’s Prison Sentence
In The Fast and the Furious, Dom shared details regarding his father’s tragic death when talking to Brian O’Conner. When Dom was still in his teens, Jack continued his career as a professional stock car racer. However, during the last race of the season, a fellow stock car racer named Kenny Linder (Jim Parrack) targeted Jack, who was clearly one of the best on the track. After attempting to run Jack off the course, Kenny clipped the back of Jack’s car, sending him crashing into the wall at a high rate of speed. The vehicle instantly burst into flames while Dom had no option but to watch from the sidelines.
Dom, who knew his father’s death could have been avoided, went after Kenny, beating him with a wrench. The man survived, but Dom was sentenced to prison for the assault. He served a few years in Lompoc Prison, and his life greatly changed when he returned home. Without his father around, Dom was forced to take care of Mia while also managing the family’s corner store. Though he was banned from the racetrack for attacking Kenny, Dom never gave up his interest in cars. Granted, for the Dom Toretto backstory, his honorable life took a turn when he formed a crime ring by hijacking trucks
F9’s Backstory Retcon: Jakob Accidentally Killed Jack
While much of Jack’s tragic history was presented early in The Fast Saga, F9 retconned certain details of the Dom Toretto backstory to fit in Jakob. The fact that Dom and Mia had a brother wasn’t officially revealed until the initial F9 trailer. By introducing the character, questions arose regarding how he fit into the Toretto family origins since his name was never mentioned. Through flashbacks, F9 modifies Jack’s death through Jakob’s involvement. Dom wasn’t just a spectator of the race that killed Jack; he was a member of his dad’s pit crew along with Jakob and a family friend, Buddy (Michael Rooker).
It turned out Jakob tampered with Jack’s car just moments before the big crash. Dom realized this after meeting Tego Leo and Rico Santos in prison. To Jakob’s defense, Jack came to his younger son, requesting that he do something under the car’s hood to throw the race. Jack and the Toretto family were in serious debt, but he couldn’t turn to Dom with this information. Instead, he trusted Jakob to help him, but it accidentally resulted in the man’s death.
Technically, Jakob was the one who was prepared to fight Kenny following distasteful remarks regarding Jack’s demise. However, as the bigger brother and new leader of the Toretto family, Dom stopped Jakob from doing something he would regret. Still, he couldn’t stop himself from attacking Kenny due to his own grief from losing his father. Dom’s actions may have saved Jakob, but they ended up setting Dom down a dark path.
How Dominic Became The Man In The Fast & The Furious
With the knowledge of Jakob’s involvement in Jack’s death, Dom knew his brother had to pay for the pain he caused. While Dom was in prison, Jakob emerged as a skilled street racer within the Los Angeles area. One night, Dom turned up hell-bent on racing his brother head-to-head, but under the condition that if Jakob loses, he must keep driving and never turn back. Dom confronted Jakob, believing he killed their dad on purpose. Of course, Dom beat Jakob, forcing the latter to exile himself from the Toretto family.
While the Dom Toretto backstory saw him become the leader viewers know him to be since the Fast & Furious franchise launched in 2001, his role fell into place due to pivotal scenes presented in F9. Though Jakob was sent away, he didn’t go far, considering he stayed with Buddy until leaving Los Angeles and disappearing. Mia secretly kept in touch with Jakob until his disappearance, which the siblings would later learn was necessary to Jakob’s career as a spy. While the core of Dom’s backstory remained the same, F9 added a few complicated layers while sharing the tragedies of his past.
Dom Toretto Lives To Carry On His Father’s Legacy In Fast X
A previously unseen member of the Toretto family showed up in Fast X when Dom’s grandmother paid a visit. The scene was only meant to set up the movie, but it also solidified where in the Dom Toretto backstory he received his ideas on “family.” The scene had a family dinner, with all the members of the team, and Dom’s new family eating. The only person not in attendance was Brian, who was still staying away to protect his child. While Dom was in the garage after dinner, his grandmother Abuelita Toretto walked in and began talking to Dom.
She echoed what Dom has always said about family, showing where in his past he likely learned these great lessons. As she told him, he lives to honor the legacy of his father and to carry on to future generations the idea that nothing is more important than “familia.” Abuela said that Dom honors his father’s name every day with how he lives and fights for his family. It was also important to see how Dom’s idea of family stretches out to everyone around him. In Fast X he met up with Isabel, who turned out to be the younger sister of Elena, the mother of Dom’s son, Little B – showing in Fast & Furious, Dom will protect everyone he considers family, at all costs.
