ACTORS from Thailand

Top 10

The following people are considered by Pantheon to be the top 10 most legendary Thai Actors of all time. This list of famous Thai Actors is sorted by HPI (Historical Popularity Index), a metric that aggregates information on a biography’s online popularity. Visit the rankings page to view the entire list of Thai Actors.

1. Tony Jaa (b. 1976)

With an HPI of 54.75, Tony Jaa is the most famous Thai Actor.  His biography has been translated into 48 different languages on wikipedia.

Tatchakorn Yeerum (Thai: ทัชชกร ยีรัมย์, RTGS: Thatchakon Yiram, pronounced [tʰát.t͡ɕʰā.kɔ̄ːn jīː.rām]; formerly Phanom Yeerum (Thai: พนม ยีรัมย์, [pʰā.nōm jīː.rām])), better known internationally as Tony Jaa and in Thailand as Jaa Phanom (Thai: จา พนม, RTGS: Cha Phanom, [t͡ɕāː pʰā.nōm]), is a Thai martial artist, actor, action choreographer, stuntman, and director. Best known for his martial arts films, he is credited with helping establish the Thai action genre worldwide. His early martial arts experience included Taekwondo, Muay Thai, Muay Boran, and Krabi-Krabong, with an emphasis on gymnastics and acrobatics. Prior to becoming a leading actor, Jaa worked as a stuntman for Muay Thai Stunt for 14 years, appearing in many of his mentor Panna Rittikrai's films. Jaa's martial arts films are credited with helping to showcase the Thai combat systems of Muay Thai, Muay Boran, and "Muay Kotchasaan" (a fighting style Jaa and Rittikrai developed in 2005). His Thai films include Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior (2003), which earned him a Star Entertainment Award, Tom-Yum-Goong (2005), which earned him a Suphannahong National Film Award, Ong Bak 2: The Beginning (2008), which marked his directorial debut, Ong Bak 3 (2010), and Tom Yum Goong 2 (2013). After leaving the Thai movie company Sahamongkol Film International in 2013, Jaa signed with Universal Studios, and focused more on an international fan base. He made his Hollywood debut as a villain in the action film Furious 7 (2015). He has since appeared in the commercially successful films SPL II: A Time for Consequences (2015), XXX: Return of Xander Cage, Paradox (both 2017), and Detective Chinatown 3 (2021). He continued to appear in martial arts films, such as Gong Shou Dao (2017), Master Z: Ip Man Legacy (2018), and Jiu Jitsu (2020).

2. Mum Jokmok (b. 1965)

With an HPI of 46.51, Mum Jokmok is the 2nd most famous Thai Actor.  His biography has been translated into 19 different languages.

Petchtai Wongkamlao, (Thai: เพ็ชรทาย วงษ์คำเหลา, RTGS: Phetthai Wongkhamlao, IPA: [pʰét.tʰāːj wōŋ.kʰām.lǎw]; born 24 June 1965) is a Thai comedian, actor and film director. He is best known in Thailand by his stage name, Mum Jokmok (Thai: หม่ำ จ๊กมก, RTGS: Mam Chokmok, [màm tɕók.mók]); and is a popular Thai television personality. He is variously credited as Mom Jok Mok, Mum Jokemok or Mom Jokmok.

3. Somluck Kamsing (b. 1973)

With an HPI of 39.59, Somluck Kamsing is the 3rd most famous Thai Actor.  His biography has been translated into 18 different languages.

Somrak Kamsing (Thai: สมรักษ์ คำสิงห์; born January 16, 1973) or Somluck Kamsing (name used in the Olympics), known professionally as Pimaranlek Sitaran (Thai: พิมพ์อรัญเล็ก ศิษย์อรัญ), is a Thai retired Muay Thai fighter, amateur boxer, entertainer, and politician. He is a five-time Olympian in amateur boxing who won a gold medal in 1996. During the 1998 Asian Games in Bangkok, Thailand, Kamsing lit the torch during the Games' opening ceremony. His is also the younger brother of Somrot Kamsing, another retired Muay Thai fighter and Olympian in amateur boxing.

4. Hong Chau (b. 1979)

With an HPI of 39.16, Hong Chau is the 4th most famous Thai Actor.  Her biography has been translated into 25 different languages.

Hong Chau (born June 25, 1979) is an American actress. She has received several award nominations for her film roles as Ngoc Lan Tran in Downsizing (2017) and as Liz, a nurse, in The Whale (2022), including one for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for the latter. Chau was born to Vietnamese parents who lived in a refugee camp in Thailand after fleeing Vietnam in the late 1970s. A Vietnamese Catholic church in New Orleans, Louisiana sponsored Chau and her family to move to the United States. She grew up in New Orleans and majored in film studies at Boston University College of Communication before pursuing an acting career. She appeared in the TV series Treme (2010–2013) and the film Inherent Vice (2014). She went on to have supporting roles in the HBO limited series Watchmen (2019) and the Prime Video series Homecoming (2018–2020). Chau has also played leading roles in the 2019 films Driveways and American Woman, and further supporting roles in the 2022 film The Menu and the 2023 Netflix series The Night Agent.

5. Mario Maurer (b. 1988)

With an HPI of 39.00, Mario Maurer is the 5th most famous Thai Actor.  His biography has been translated into 23 different languages.

Mario Maurer (Thai: มาริโอ้ เมาเร่อ, Thai: [māːrīʔôː māw.rɤ̂ː]; German: [ˈmaːʁio ˈmaʊ̯ʁɐ]) is a Thai actor and model. He was in the 2007 film Love of Siam and the 2010 sleeper hit Crazy Little Thing Called Love. He was also in Thailand's highest grossing film of all time, Pee Mak alongside Davika Hoorne. He was part of a group called 4+1 Channel 3 Superstar with actors Nadech Kugimiya, Prin Suparat, Pakorn Chatborirak and Phupoom Pongpanu.

6. Bin Bunluerit (b. 1962)

With an HPI of 38.88, Bin Bunluerit is the 6th most famous Thai Actor.  His biography has been translated into 15 different languages.

Bin Bunluerit or Bin Banluerit (Thai: บิณฑ์ บรรลือฤทธิ์; nickname: Top; born May 27, 1962, in Sa Kaeo province (Prachinburi province at the time) is a Thai actor and director whose notable works include the Thai historical drama, Bang Rajan, Panya Raenu, a series of comedy films, and the 2004 Hollywood film, Alexander.

7. Pimchanok Luevisadpaibul (b. 1992)

With an HPI of 38.31, Pimchanok Luevisadpaibul is the 7th most famous Thai Actor.  Her biography has been translated into 19 different languages.

Pimchanok Luevisadpaibul (Thai: พิมพ์ชนก ลือวิเศษไพบูลย์; born 30 September 1992), nicknamed Baifern (Thai: ใบเฟิร์น; lit. "Fern Leaf"), is a Thai actress and model. She rose to fame for her lead role as Nam in the 2010 sleeper movie hit Crazy Little Thing Called Love with co-star Mario Maurer. She has been a freelance actress since 2016.

8. Urassaya Sperbund (b. 1993)

With an HPI of 37.45, Urassaya Sperbund is the 8th most famous Thai Actor.  Her biography has been translated into 25 different languages.

Urassaya Sperbund (Thai: อุรัสยา เสปอร์บันด์; born 18 March 1993), nicknamed Yaya (Thai: ญาญ่า), is a Thai actress and model. She is the recipient of numerous accolades including; two Suphannahong National Film Awards, a Maya Awards, a TV Gold Award, a Nataraj Award, and three Mekhala Awards. Urassaya began her acting career with the 2008 comedy sitcom Peun See Long Hon. She received greater recognition with lead roles in Duang Jai Akkanee (2010), Game Rai Game Rak (2011), Torranee Ni Nee Krai Krong (2012), Khluen Chiwit (2017), and The Crown Princess (2018). Urassaya's film roles include Brother of the Year, Nakee 2 (2018), and Fast And Feel Love (2022). For Brother of the Year and Fast And Feel Love, she won the Suphannahong National Film Award for Best Actress.

9. Rhatha Phongam (b. 1983)

With an HPI of 36.00, Rhatha Phongam is the 9th most famous Thai Actor.  Her biography has been translated into 16 different languages.

Rhatha Phongam (Thai: รฐา โพธิ์งาม; RTGS: Ra-tha Pho-ngam; born 19 May 1983), nickname Ying (Thai: หญิง), is a Thai actress and singer. She is best known internationally for her supporting role in Only God Forgives in 2013. She is the daughter of a female comedian Noi Phongam and the niece of actor-comedian Suthep Po-ngam. She has obtained a bachelor and a master's degree in Communication Arts from Bangkok University.

10. Vachirawit Chivaaree (b. 1997)

With an HPI of 35.78, Vachirawit Chivaaree is the 10th most famous Thai Actor.  His biography has been translated into 21 different languages.

Vachirawit Chivaaree (Thai: วชิรวิชญ์ ชีวอารี; born 27 December 1997), known professionally as Bright Vachirawit or Bright (Thai: ไบร์ท), is a Thai actor, singer and entrepreneur. He is known for his role in the film Love You To Debt, Congrats My Ex!, in series F4 Thailand: Boys Over Flowers, 2gether: The Series, for show Toe Laew, for album Adolescent, and for song "Lost & Found". He is founder of ASTRO Stuffs merchandise and Cloud9 Entertainment agency. He got listed in Forbes 30 Under 30 under Asia Entertainment in 2024. He has won multiple awards including Nataraja Award, MTV Awards for singing, and Mani Mekhala Award, Asian Academy Creative Awards, GQ Awards for acting. Presently, he is the global ambassador for Burberry, Calvin Klein, a brand ambassador for Adidas and Bangkok Bank visa in Thailand. In 2023, he received the debutant "Golden Cane Award", presented by Kiera Chaplin. In 2024, Bright got selected as member of 'The Business of Fashion 500 Class' (BOF) Paris and Red Sea International Film Festival, Jeddah.