Tony Jaa facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tony Jaa
Tony Jaa in 2005
Born	Surin, Thailand
Native name	จา พนม
Other names	Jaa Phanom Phanom Yeerum Thatchakon Yiram
Height	168.3 cm (5 ft 6 in)
Years active	1994–present
Occupation	Actor martial artist choreographer stuntman director
Spouse	Piyarat Chotiwat ​ (m. 2011)​
Children	2

Tony Jaa is a famous Thai martial artist, actor, and director. His real name is Tatchakorn Yeerum, but he is known around the world as Tony Jaa. In Thailand, people often call him Jaa Phanom. He is famous for his amazing martial arts stunts and action scenes in movies.

Tony Jaa became well-known in 2003 with his movie Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior. This film made him famous internationally and led to two sequels. He started training in Muay Thai when he was only 10 years old. Later, he became a professional Muay Thai fighter.

Before becoming a leading actor, Tony Jaa worked as a stuntman for 14 years. He appeared in many films by director Panna Rittikrai. After the success of Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior, Tony Jaa starred in many other popular movies. These include Ong Bak 3 (2010), Furious 7 (2015), and SPL II: A Time for Consequences (2015). He also directed Ong Bak 2: The Beginning (2008). Tony Jaa is seen as one of the greatest martial arts stars in movie history.

Tony Jaa's Early Life

Tony Jaa was born and grew up in a village in Surin Province, Thailand. His parents are Rin Saipetch and Thongdee Yeerum. He is from the Kuy group, an ethnic group that lives in Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos. The Kuy people are known for being very good at training elephants. Tony Jaa speaks Kuy, Thai, and Northern Khmer languages.

When he was young, Tony Jaa loved watching movies with famous martial arts stars. He watched films by Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, and Jet Li at temple fairs. These movies inspired him to learn martial arts himself. He would practice the moves he saw in his father's rice paddy.

"What they did was so beautiful, so heroic that I wanted to do it too," Tony Jaa told Time magazine in 2004. "I practiced until I could do the move exactly as I had seen the masters do it."

Tony Jaa began training in Muay Thai at his local temple when he was 10. By the time he was 15, he was training with stuntman and film director Panna Rittikrai. Panna told Jaa to go to Maha Sarakham College of Physical Education, where he earned a bachelor's degree.

Tony Jaa's Career in Movies

Starting as a Stuntman

Tony Jaa first worked as a stuntman for 14 years. He was part of a team called Muay Thai Stunt. He appeared in many films directed by Panna Rittikrai. For example, he was a stunt double for Sammo Hung in a commercial. He also worked as a stunt double in the Thai TV show Insee Daeng (Red Eagle).

Becoming an International Star (2003–2008)

Tony Jaa in 2006

Panna Rittikrai and Tony Jaa became very interested in Muay Boran. This is an older form of Muay Thai. They trained for four years to create a film about it. They made a short film to show what Tony Jaa could do. They showed it to producer-director Prachya Pinkaew.

This led to the movie Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior in 2003. This was Tony Jaa's first main role. He did all his stunts without wires, special effects, or computers. His style showed amazing acrobatics and fast, dance-like moves. During filming, he got some injuries, including a sprained ankle. In one scene, he fought while his pants were on fire! He said he really had to focus because the flames spread quickly.

His second big movie was Tom-Yum-Goong (called The Protector in the US). This movie featured a style of Muay Thai that looked like elephant movements.

By the mid-2000s, Tony Jaa's movies became famous around the world. They were known for their fast-paced martial arts and stunts. This made him a global action star.

There were plans for Tony Jaa's third film to be called Sword. It was going to be about Thai two-sword fighting. However, the film was canceled.

In 2006, it was announced that there would be a sequel to Ong Bak called Ong Bak 2. Tony Jaa directed and starred in this movie, which came out in December 2008.

Even Jackie Chan, one of Tony Jaa's heroes, noticed him. Jackie Chan wanted Tony Jaa to be in the movie Rush Hour 3. However, Tony Jaa could not join because he was busy filming Ong Bak 2.

Ong Bak 3 was released in 2010. It completed the Ong Bak movie series.

Expanding His Career (2010–Present)

Tony Jaa (center) at a press conference for Skin Trade in 2015

Tony Jaa and Panna Rittikrai worked together to direct Ong Bak 3.

After a break, Tony Jaa signed a deal with Sahamongkol Film International. He filmed Tom Yum Goong 2 (2013) with actress Jija Yanin. This was the first time Tony Jaa shared the screen with another international martial arts star.

In 2014, Tony Jaa starred in the movie Skin Trade with Dolph Lundgren. He then joined the big action movie Furious 7 (2015), starring Vin Diesel. This was his first English-speaking role. Tony Jaa also worked with actors Louis Koo and Wu Jing in the Hong Kong-Chinese action film SPL II: A Time for Consequences (2015).

In 2017, Tony Jaa co-starred with Vin Diesel again in XXX: Return of Xander Cage. He also appeared in Paradox, which was part of the SPL movie series.

In 2017, Tony Jaa was added to the Martial Arts History Museum Hall of Fame.

Tony Jaa's Personal Life

Tony Jaa married his longtime girlfriend, Piyarat Chotiwattananont, on May 3, 2012. They have two daughters together.

Tony Jaa's Movies and TV Shows

Film

Television

Music Videos

Video Games

Awards and Nominations

See also

• Panna Rittikrai
• Muay Thai Stunt