# Tony Jaa

Tatchakorn Yeerum (born 1976) (Thai: ทัชชกร ยีรัมย์, RTGS: Thatchakon Yiram, pronounced; formerly Phanom Yeerum (Thai: พนม ยีรัมย์,)), better known internationally as Tony Jaa and in Thailand as Jaa Phanom (Thai: จา พนม, RTGS: Cha Phanom,), is a Thai martial artist, actor, action choreographer, stuntman, and director. Known for his explosive martial arts stunt work, Jaa broke out in 2003 with Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior, which earned him international recognition and spawned two sequels.
Jaa began training in Muay Thai at age 10, and fought professionally as a Muay Thai fighter when he was discovered by filmmaker Panna Rittikrai. Prior to becoming a leading actor, Jaa worked as a stuntman for Muay Thai Stunt for 14 years, appearing in many of Rittikrai's films. After the success of Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior (2003), which earned him a Star Entertainment Award, Jaa starred in the well-received films Ong Bak 3 (2010), Furious 7 (2015), which marked his first English-speaking role, SPL II: A Time for Consequences (2015), which marked his Hong Kong debut, Master Z: Ip Man Legacy (2018), Triple Threat (2019), and Detective Chinatown 3 (2021). He also starred in Tom-Yum-Goong (2005), which earned him a Suphannahong National Film Award, Ong Bak 2: The Beginning (2008), which marked his directorial debut, and Tom Yum Goong 2 (2013). In 2017, he starred in the commercially successful films XXX: Return of Xander Cage and Paradox.
Jaa is credited with helping establish the Thai action genre worldwide, and his martial arts films are credited with helping showcase the Thai combat systems of Muay Thai, Muay Boran, and "Muay Kotchasaan" (a fighting style Jaa and Rittikrai developed in 2005). Jaa is also trained in the styles of Krabi-Krabong and Taekwondo. He is widely considered one of the greatest martial arts stars in the history of cinema.

## Early life

Tony Jaa was born and raised in a rural area in Surin Province to Rin Saipetch and Thongdee Yeerum. In his youth, he watched films by Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan at temple fairs, which inspired him to learn martial arts. He practiced the techniques in his father's rice paddy. "What they [Lee and Chan] did was so beautiful, so heroic that I wanted to do it too," Jaa told Time in a 2004 interview. "I practiced until I could do the move exactly as I had seen the masters do it." Jaa was also inspired by Jet Li.
Tony Jaa began training in Muay Thai at his local temple at age 10. According to Jaa, he fought professionally as a Muay Thai fighter when filmmaker Panna Rittikrai saw him and asked him if he would like to do stunts in one of his films. Panna had instructed Jaa to attend Maha Sarakham College of Physical Education in Maha Sarakham Province from which he graduated with a bachelor's degree. His early martial arts experience included Taekwondo, Muay Thai, Muay Boran, and Krabi-Krabong, with an emphasis on gymnastics and acrobatics. His films have showcased various other martial arts styles, such as Kung-fu, Silat, and Jiu-Jitsu.

## Career
### Stunt work

Tony Jaa initially worked as a stuntman for Muay Thai Stunt for 14 years, appearing in many of Rittikrai's films. He doubled for Sammo Hung when the martial-arts movie actor made a commercial for an energy drink that required him to grasp an elephant's tusks and somersault onto the elephant's back. He was also a stunt double in the Thai television series Insee Daeng (Red Eagle).

### 2003–2008: International success

Together, Panna and Jaa developed an interest in Muay Boran, the predecessor of muay thai and worked and trained for four years at the art with the intention of developing a film about it. Eventually they were able to put together a short film showing what Jaa could do with the help of instructor Grandmaster Mark Harris. One of the people they showed it to was producer-director Prachya Pinkaew.
This led to Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior in 2003, Jaa's break-out role as a leading man. Jaa did all the stunts without mechanical assistance or computer-generated effects and it showcased his style of extreme acrobatics and speedy, dance-like moves. Injuries suffered in the filming included a ligament injury and a sprained ankle. One scene in the film involved fighting with another actor while his own trousers were on fire. "I actually got burned," he said in a 2005 interview. "I really had to concentrate because once my pants were on fire the flames spread upwards very fast and burnt my eyebrows, my eyelashes and my nose. Then we had to do a couple more takes to get it right."
His second major movie was Tom-Yum-Goong (The Protector in the US), named after tom yum soup, which included a style of Muay Thai that imitates elephants.
In August 2006, he was in New York to promote the US release of The Protector, including an appearance at the Museum of the Moving Image.
By mid 2000s, dubbed versions of Jaa's films gained international recognition through theatrical releases, television broadcasts, and on-demand platforms. His films were noted to be innovative productions featuring fast paced martial arts choreography and stunts. It established him as a global action icon.
Sahamongkol Film International advertised that Tony Jaa's third film would be called Sword or Daab Atamas, about the art of Thai two-sword fighting (daab song mue), with a script by Prapas Chonsalanont. But due to a falling out between Prachya and Jaa, which neither has publicly commented on, Sword was cancelled.
In March 2006, it was reported that there would be a sequel to Ong Bak titled Ong Bak 2. Directed by and starring Jaa, it was released in December 2008.
Jaa's films captured the attention of his hero, Jackie Chan, who asked director Brett Ratner to cast Jaa in Rush Hour 3. "I gave the director videos of Jaa because I think he is the most well-rounded of all action stars," Chan told the Associated Press. "The director liked him a lot," Chan said. However, Jaa mentioned that he is unable to participate in the film because of scheduling conflicts with Ong Bak 2.
While Jaa and Amogelang were working on Ong Bak 2, director Prachya Pinkaew and action choreographer Panna Rittikrai were working on Chocolate, starring a female martial artist, Nicharee Vismistananda and released 6 February 2008. Jaa had been cast in a small role in a third installment of the King Naresuan film series directed by Chatrichalerm Yukol, although the film was ultimately cancelled. Ong Bak 3 was released in 2010 and provides a conclusion to this franchise trilogy.

### 2010–present: Career expansion

Tony Jaa and Panna Rittikrai co-directed Ong Bak 3.
After leaving the monastery, Jaa accepted a deal with Sahamongkol film company. He filmed Tom Yum Goong 2 (2013) for them, with Chocolate star Jija Yanin in a major role too, the first time Jaa has shared the big screen with another international martial arts star. Director Prachya Pinkaew and choreographer Panna Rittikrai also returned for this film.
In 2013, Jaa teamed up with Dolph Lundgren in the Thai western-comedy A Man Will Rise (which remains unfinished) and in 2014 in Lundgren's pet project Skin Trade. Jaa then co-starred in the blockbuster action film Furious 7 (2015), produced by and starring Vin Diesel and directed by James Wan. Jaa also teamed up with fellow actors Louis Koo and Wu Jing in Hong Kong-Chinese action film SPL II: A Time for Consequences (2015).
Jaa was briefly attached to the remake of Kickboxer: Vengeance. However, in November 2014, it was announced that he had exited the project. Jaa's most recent project was co-starring with Vin Diesel again in XXX: Return of Xander Cage, directed by D. J. Caruso and released in January 2017.
In October 2016, Jaa co-starred with Koo again in Paradox, the third installment of the SPL series.
He was inducted into the Martial Arts History Museum Hall of Fame in 2017.

## Personal life

Jaa married his longtime girlfriend Piyarat Chotiwattananont on 3 May 2012. The couple have two daughters.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1994 | Spirited Killer | | Supporting role |
| 1996 | Hard Gun | | Supporting role |
| 1996 | Mission Hunter 2 (Battle Warrior) | | Supporting role |
| 1997 | Mortal Kombat Annihilation | | Stunt double: Robin Shou |
| 2001 | Nuk leng klong yao | | Supporting role |
| 2003 | Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior | Ting | |
| 2004 | The Bodyguard | Himself | Cameo |
| 2005 | Tom-Yum-Goong | Kham | |
| 2007 | The Bodyguard 2 | Himself | Cameo |
| 2008 | Ong Bak 2 | Tien | Action choreographer, director and stunt coordinator |
| 2010 | Ong Bak 3 | Tien | Action choreographer, director and stunt coordinator |
| 2013 | Tom Yum Goong 2 | Kham | |
| 2014 | Skin Trade | Tony Vitayakul | Direct-to-DVD |
| 2015 | Furious 7 | Kiet | First English-speaking role |
| 2015 | SPL II: A Time for Consequences | Chatchai | Hong Kong debut |
| 2016 | Never Back Down: No Surrender | Himself | Cameo |
| 2017 | XXX: Return of Xander Cage | Talon | |
| 2017 | Paradox | Tak | |
| 2017 | Gong Shou Dao | Master Jaa | Short film |
| 2018 | Master Z: Ip Man Legacy | Sadi the Warrior | |
| 2019 | Triple Threat | Payu | |
| 2020 | Jiu Jitsu | Keung | |
| 2020 | Monster Hunter | The Hunter | |
| 2021 | Detective Chinatown 3 | Jack Jaa | Thai dubbing in somescene and some part of Thai version |
| 2023 | Expend4bles | Decha | |
| 2024 | Striking Rescue | Bai An (白安) | Chinese Production |
| 2025 | Detective Chinatown 1900 | Jack Jaa | |
| 2025 | Lakadbaggha 2 | | |
| TBA | A Man Will Rise | | Abandoned; director |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1998 | Red Eagle อินทรีแดง (2541) | | Stunt double: Red Eagle, uncredited |
| 2015 | Sze U Tonight | | With Simon Yam & Wu Jing |
| 2024 | Detective Chinatown | Jack Jaa | Recurring (Season 2), 3 Episodes |

### Singles

| Year | Title | Ref |
| 2017 | "Lui He Lui" ลุยเฮลุย (GROUNDBREAKING) | |

### Music videos

| Year | Artist | Title | Role |
| 2004 | Tragédie (duo) | "Je Reste Ghetto" | Muay Thai |

### Video games

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2005 | Tom Yum Goong: The Game | Kham | Voice |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Awards | Category | Work | Outcome |
| 2003 | Star Entertainment Awards | Actor in Leading Role of the Year | Ong-Bak | Won |
| 2004 | Suphannahong National Film Awards | Best Actor | Ong-Bak | Nominated |
| 2005 | Suphannahong National Film Awards | Honorary Award | Tom-Yum-Goong | Won |
| 2006 | Online Film Critics Society Awards | Best Breakthrough Performance | Ong-Bak | Nominated |
| 2008 | Top Awards | Motion Picture of the Year | Ong Bak 2 | Won |
| 2009 | Nine Entertain Awards | Motion Picture of the Year | Ong Bak 2 | Won |
| 2009 | Chalermthai Awards | Motion Picture of the Year | Ong Bak 2 | Nominated |
| 2009 | Suphannahong National Film Awards | Best Actor | Ong Bak 2 | Nominated |
| 2010 | Top Awards | Actor in Leading Role of the Year | Ong Bak 3 | Nominated |
| 2011 | Deauville Asian Film Festival | Best Actor | Ong Bak 3 | Nominated |