Tony Jaa

Thai stunt actor

Tatchakorn Yeerum[2](Thai: ทัชชกร ยีรัมย์, RTGS: Thatchakon Yiram, th; formerly Phanom Yeerum (Thai: พนม ยีรัมย์, th)), better known internationally as Tony Jaa and in Thailand as Jaa Phanom (Thai: จา พนม, RTGS: Cha Phanom, th), is a Thai martial artist, actor, action choreographer, stuntman, director, and traceur. Best known for his martial arts films, he is credited with helping establish the Thai action genre worldwide.[3] He was inducted into the Martial Arts History Museum Hall of Fame in 2002.[4]

Tony Jaa
Tony Jaa in 2005
BornSurin, Thailand
Native nameจา พนม
Other names
  • Jaa Phanom
  • Phanom Yeerum
  • Thatchakon Yiram
Height168.3 cm (5 ft 6 in)[1]
Years active1994–present
Occupation
  • Actor
  • martial artist
  • choreographer
  • stuntman
  • director
  • traceur
Spouse
Piyarat Chotiwat
(m. 2011)
Children2

Prior to becoming a leading actor, Jaa worked as a stuntman for Muay Thai Stunt for 14 years, appearing in many of his mentor Panna Rittikrai's films. His martial arts films are credited with helping to showcase the Thai combat systems of Muay Thai, Muay Boran, and "Muay Kotchasaan" (a fighting style Jaa and Rittikrai developed in 2005).[5][6] His Thai films include Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior (2003), which earned him a Star Entertainment Award, Tom-Yum-Goong (2005), which earned him a Suphannahong National Film Award, Ong Bak 2: The Beginning (2008), Ong Bak 3 (2010), and Tom Yum Goong 2 (2013).

After leaving the Thai movie company Sahamongkol Film International in 2013, Jaa signed with Universal Studios, and focused more on an international fan base.[7] Since then, he has appeared in films such as Furious 7, SPL II: A Time for Consequences (both 2015), Master Z: Ip Man Legacy (2018), and Expend4bles (2023).

References

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  1. https://muaythai.com/tony-jaa-ong-bak/
  2. ""จา พนม" เปลี่ยนชื่อเสริมดวง เผย "องค์บาก3" จะไม่ยุ่งเรื่องเงิน". Manager Online (in Thai). 24 February 2009. Archived from the original on 7 February 2017. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
  3. https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN02255898/ [bare URL]
  4. "Hall of Fame".
  5. "Why Tony Jaa's Fight Style is So Different in Tom Yum Goong". Screen Rant. 20 March 2022.
  6. "Where to Learn Muay Boran in Thailand".
  7. "5 Best Tony Jaa Movies, Ranked - Visual Cult Magazine". 11 February 2023.