Tony Jaa
พนม ยีรัมย์
Thai actor, stuntman and fight choreographer trained since childhood in Muay Thai and Muay Boran, whose international breakthrough came with the film Ong-Bak (2003).
Quick Facts
ThailandBiography
Tony Jaa is a Thai actor, stuntman and fight choreographer, best known for the film Ong-Bak (2003). He was born on 5 February 1976 in Surin province as Phanom Yeerum; his later official name is Thatchakon Yiram.
He trained in Muay Thai at a temple from the age of eight and began formal training at ten. His teacher in Muay Thai and Muay Boran was Panna Rittikrai, who also headed the Maha Sarakham College of Physical Education, which Jaa attended. He also practised taekwondo, krabi-krabong, gymnastics and athletics. Between 1994 and 2008 he worked as a stuntman for the company Muay Thai Stunt, and in 1997 he was Robin Shou's stunt double in the film Mortal Kombat: Annihilation.
For the role of Ting in Ong-Bak he received the Star Entertainment Award. In the film Tom-Yum-Goong (2005) he played Kham, a role he returned to in 2013 in Tom Yum Goong 2. Together with Panna Rittikrai he developed a fighting style called Muay Kotchasaan in 2005. With Ong-Bak 2 (2008) he directed and choreographed fight scenes for the first time, and in 2010 he directed Ong-Bak 3. A planned film about Thai two-sword fighting, Sword (Daab Atamas), was cancelled due to a dispute with director Prachya Pinkaew.
In 2015 he made his Hollywood debut in Furious 7 and his Hong Kong debut in SPL II: A Time for Consequences; in 2017 he played Talon in XXX: Return of Xander Cage. That same year he was inducted into the Martial Arts History Museum's hall of fame.
Teachers, students and family
Associated Martial Arts
A collective term for Thai boxing before the sports reform of the twenties and thirties of the 20th century. Today mainly an exhibition art with Chaiya, Korat and Lopburi styles.
Muay ThaiNotable figure→Thai boxing, the art of eight limbs — fists, elbows, knees and shins, complemented by clinch work. It moved into the ring in the early twentieth century.
Achievements and honours
- Martial Arts History Museum Hall of FameHall of Fame · 2017
Filmography
A screen role does not mean the person actually practises the art — that is listed above.