Tony Jaa | |
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Born | Surin, Thailand |
Native name | จา พนม |
Other names |
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Height | 168.3 cm (5 ft 6 in)[1] |
Years active | 1994–present |
Occupation |
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Spouse |
Piyarat Chotiwat (m. 2011) |
Children | 2 |
Tatchakorn Yeerum[2] (Thai: ทัชชกร ยีรัมย์, RTGS: Thatchakon Yiram, pronounced [tʰát.t͡ɕʰā.kɔ̄ːn jīː.rām]; formerly Phanom Yeerum (Thai: พนม ยีรัมย์, [pʰā.nōm jīː.rām])), better known internationally as Tony Jaa and in Thailand as Jaa Phanom (Thai: จา พนม, RTGS: Cha Phanom, [t͡ɕāː pʰā.nōm]), is a Thai martial artist, actor, action choreographer, stuntman, and director. Best known for his martial arts films, he is credited with helping establish the Thai action genre worldwide.[3]
His early martial arts experience included Taekwondo, Muay Thai, Muay Boran, and Krabi-Krabong, with an emphasis on gymnastics and acrobatics. 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. Jaa's 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).[4][5] 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), which marked his directorial debut,[6] 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] He made his Hollywood debut as a villain in the action film Furious 7 (2015). He has since appeared in the commercially successful films SPL II: A Time for Consequences (2015), XXX: Return of Xander Cage, Paradox (both 2017), and Detective Chinatown 3 (2021). He continued to appear in martial arts films, such as Gong Shou Dao (2017), Master Z: Ip Man Legacy (2018), and Jiu Jitsu (2020).