Tony Jaa: Movies & Box Office

Tony Jaa, born Tatchakorn Yeerum on 1976-02-05 in Surin, Thailand, is a globally celebrated Thai martial artist, actor, action choreographer, stuntman, and director whose career spans over three decades of explosive, bone‑crushing cinema. Ong‑Bak (2003) catapulted him to international fame when he performed every stunt without wires or CGI, delivering a visceral display of Muay Boran and Muay Thai that left audiences worldwide awestruck, and later he expanded the franchise with Ong‑Bak 2 (2008) and Ong‑Bak 3 (2010), both of which he also directed, showcasing his evolution from performer to filmmaker. His early training began at age ten in a rural temple, where he mastered Muay Thai, Taekwondo, Krabi‑Krabong, gymnastics, and acrobatics, eventually fighting professionally before being discovered by filmmaker Panna Rittikrai, who recruited him for the stunt troupe Muay Thai Stunt, where he honed his daring skills for fourteen years. Jaa's daring talent continued with Tom‑Yum‑Goong (2005) and its sequel, where he introduced the iconic “elephant‑style” Muay Thai, and his Hollywood breakthrough arrived with a cameo in Furious 7 (2015) and a starring role in XXX: Return of Xander Cage (2017), proving his ability to bridge Eastern and Western action cinema. Beyond the screen, he has been inducted into the Martial Arts History Museum Hall of Fame (2017) and credited with popularizing Thai combat systems worldwide, influencing a new generation of stunt performers. In his personal life, Jaa married longtime partner Piyarat Chotiwat in 2012 and they have two daughters, balancing a demanding career with family responsibilities while continuing to push the limits of physical performance in upcoming projects.