Tony Jaa (born 5 February 1976) is a Thai martial artist, actor, action choreographer, stuntman, director, and traceur. His martial arts films are credited with helping to showcase the combat systems of Muay Thai, Muay Boran, and “Muay Kotchasaan” (a fighting style Jaa and his mentor Panna Rittikrai developed). His most famous works include films such as Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior (2003), Tom-Yum-Goong (2005), Ong Bak 2: The Beginning (2008), Ong Bak 3 (2010), Tom Yum Goong 2 (2013), Furious 7 (2015), and SPL II: A Time for Consequences (2015). Jaa initially worked as a stuntman for Muay Thai Stunt for 14 years, appearing in many of Rittikrai’s films.
He doubled for Sammo Hung when the martial-arts movie actor made a commercial for an energy drink that required him to grasp an elephant’s tusks and somersault onto the elephant’s back. He was also a stunt double in the Thai television series Insee Daeng (Red Eagle).
Jaa’s films captured the attention of his hero, Jackie Chan, who asked director Brett Ratner to cast Jaa in Rush Hour 3. “I gave the director videos of Tony Jaa because I think Tony Jaa is the most well-rounded of all action stars,” Chan told the Associated Press. “The director liked him a lot,” Chan said. However, Jaa said he’d be unable to participate because of scheduling conflicts with the shooting of Ong Bak 2.
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