Personal details
Born:
- Birthday: 1976-02-05
- Born Place: Surin, Thailand
Also Known As:
จา พนม, Panom Yeerum, Tatchakorn Yeerum, ทัชชกร ยีรัมย์, تونی جا
Tony Jaa
Tatchakorn Yeerum, more widely known by his international stage name Tony Jaa, and in Thailand as Jaa Phanom, is a renowned Thai martial artist, actor, action choreographer, stuntman, and director. Born on February 5, 1976, in Surin province, Thailand, Jaa's passion for martial arts began at a young age. He was profoundly inspired by action heroes like Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, and Jet Li, and would imitate their moves while growing up in a rural area where his family raised domesticated elephants.Jaa's dedication to martial arts led him to train extensively in various disciplines including Muay Thai, Muay Boran (an ancient form of Muay Thai), Wushu, Judo, and Taekwondo, with a strong emphasis on gymnastics and acrobatics. At the age of 15, he sought mentorship from Panna Rittikrai, a prominent martial arts stunt choreographer and director. Jaa initially worked as a stuntman for Rittikrai's "Muay Thai Stunt" team for 14 years, gaining invaluable experience and performing impressive feats, including doubling for Sammo Hung.His breakout role came in 2003 with the film "Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior," which showcased his incredible athleticism and raw, wire-free stunts and fighting. The film revolutionized Thai action cinema and brought him international recognition, establishing him as a new force in martial arts films. He continued to impress audiences with "The Protector" (also known as "Tom-Yum-Goong") in 2005, where he showcased his unique "Muay Kotchasaan" (elephant boxing) style, incorporating grappling and joint manipulations.Tony Jaa has since starred in numerous international productions, demonstrating his versatility and incredible fighting skills. His Hollywood debut was in "Furious 7" (2015), where he played the villain Kiet. He also appeared as Talon in "xXx: Return of Xander Cage" (2017) and had a significant role in "Monster Hunter" (2020). Other notable films include "SPL II: A Time for Consequences" (2015), "Triple Threat" (2019), and "Expend4bles" (2023). Beyond acting, Jaa has also co-directed and choreographed action sequences for some of his films, notably "Ong Bak 2" and "Ong Bak 3." His commitment to performing his own stunts without the use of wires or CGI effects has become a hallmark of his electrifying screen presence.
