Phanom Yeerum (read: Pha-nom Yee-rum)(Thai: พนม ยีรัมย์) (born on February 5, 1976), better known in the West as Tony Jaa, is a martial arts actor and choreographer who is skilled in Muay Thai, taekwondo, Krabi Krabong, and gymnastics. He was born in the Surin Province of northeastern Thailand.
Jaa initially worked as a stuntman, appearing in the movie Mortal Kombat: Annihilation. His first major movie, in which he played the lead character, was Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior (2003). Jaa did all the stunts in this movie without mechanical assistance or computer-generated effects. He claims to have been inspired by the Chinese action movie stars Bruce Lee, Jet Li, and Jackie Chan, although his fighting style in Ong-Bak remains loyal to his Thai roots.
His next movie is Tom-Yum-Goong (ต้มยำกุ้ง; see also Tom yum kung (ต้มยำกุ้ง)). This movie enjoyed even greater success in Thailand and Hong Kong than Ong-Bak when released.
External links
- Tony Jaa Unofficial fan site
- Suicide Girls Interview
- Time Asia Interview
- Tom-yum-goong
- Tony Jaa at Reims, France. (WMV)
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