Japanom Yeerum (Thai: ????? ???????), formerly Tatchakorn Yeerum (Thai: ?????? ???????; RTGS: Thatchakon Yiram) or Phanom Yeerum (Thai: ??? ???????; RTGS: Phanom Yiram; [p?anom ji?ram]; born February 5, 1976 in Surin province, Isaan, Thailand). Better known in the West as Tony Jaa, in Thailand as Jaa Phanom (Thai: ?? ???; RTGS: Cha Phanom), is a Thai martial artist, physical educator, actor, choreographer, stuntman, director, and has spent time as a Buddhist monk. His films include Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior, Tom-Yum-Goong (also called Warrior King or The Protector), Ong-Bak 2: The Beginning, Ong Bak 3 and The Protector 2.
Thailand National Film Association Award for Lifetime achievement, Thailand National Film Association Award for Lifetime achievement
Nominations
Thailand National Film Association Award for Best Actor, Thailand National Film Association Award for Best Actor
Movies
Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior, The Protector, Ong Bak 2: The Beginning, SPL II: A Time for Consequences, Ong Bak 3, The Protector 2, Furious 7, Skin Trade, xXx: Return of Xander Cage, Spirited Killer, The Bodyguard, The Bodyguard 2, Mission Hunter 2, Hard Gun, A Man Will Rise, Paradox, Ong-Bak: Muay Th...
Star Sign
Aquarius
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Quote
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What they [Chan, Lee and Li] did was so beautiful, so heroic that I wanted to do it too. I practiced until I could do the move exactly as I had seen the masters do it.
2
I want a strong foundation in Thailand. Hollywood? Maybe in the future.
3
Jackie Chan, Jet Li and Bruce Lee are my masters; they're the inspiration for my work. Bruce Lee was a heavy fighter who threw hard punches. Jackie moves very fast and uses a lot of comedy, and Jet Li is very fluid. I've tried to combine all of their styles and added some things of my own.
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Fact
1
He has a Black belt in Taekwondo and a Black belt in Wushu.
2
Joined monastic order of a Buddhist temple in Surin, Thailand. [May 2010]
3
In training for the sequal to Ong-Bak. [September 2003]
4
He speaks Thai, Khmer and he is learning English.
5
Is actually of Cambodian descent, more known as "Khmer Surin".
6
Does 8 hours of gymnastics, Muay Thai, and other sports training a day.
Born in a northeastern province of Thailand called Surin.
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Watching Jackie Chan movies and a Thai movie called Gerd ma lui (1986) influenced him to do stuntwork and eventually become a action star, but he says his biggest influence is Bruce Lee.
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Highly Skilled in Muay Thai, Tae Kwon Do, swordplay and gymnastics.
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Stunt-man turned actor who does not use any wire work or CG effects in his stunts.
$3 Million
