Thai leading man Sombat Metanee has starred in more than 600 films, mostly in the 1960s and '70s.

Sombat Metanee (Thai สมบัติ เมทะนี, born June 26, 1937 in Ubon Ratchathani) is a Thai actor and film director. At one time he held the Guinness World Record for most film appearances (more than 600). He continues to act today in films and in television series, making frequent appearances on talk shows and in TV commercials. June 26 is the 177th day of the year (178th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 188 days remaining. ... 1937 (MCMXXXVII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... Ubon Ratchathani is both a city and a province in Thailand. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... The film director, on the right, gives last minute direction to the cast and crew, whilst filming a costume drama on location in London. ... The Guinness Book of Records (or in recent editions Guinness World Records, and in previous US editions Guinness Book of World Records) is a book published annually, containing an internationally recognized collection of superlatives: both in terms of human achievement and the extrema of the natural world. ... The cinema of Thailand has a history that stretches back to early days of filmmaking, when King Chulalongkongs 1897 visit to Berne, Switzerland was recorded by Francois-Henri Lavancy-Clarke. ...

Biography

Early films

Sombat was introduced to the show business in 1960 by Namdee Witta, leader of a television performance troupe. He starred in the television series, "Hua Jai Pratana" ("Heart's Desires").

His handsome looks caught the eye of Noi Kamolwatin, a film director from the Kamolsilpa Pappayon studio. Noi cast Sombat in Roong Petch (Diamond Rainbow), which opened at the Empire Theatre in Bangkok and became a huge success. Sombat went on to star in four more Kamolsilpa Pappyon films: Skao Duen in 1962 and Singh Sang Pa, Saming Sao and Nagm-Ngon, all released in 1963.

He was then picked up by director Tawee Na Bangchang (better known as Kru Marut) to star in Tawan Lang Lued (Blood of the Sun). He also appeared in Kao Mangkorn (Nine Dragons), directed by Warun Chatrakul Na Ayutthaya.

He was cast by his old talent scout, Namdee Witta, in the action film Singh La Singh (The Lion vs The Lion), in which he co-starred with Mitr Chaibancha, who was Thailand's top leading man at the time. Mitr Chaibancha (Thai มิตร ชัยบัญชา, born January 28, 1934 in Phetchaburi, Thailand) was a Thai film actor who made 266 films from 1956 to 1970. ...

Top leading man

Often performing his own stunts, he was an action star very much in the same mold as Mitr Chaibancha. And after Mitr's accidental death in 1970, Sombat became the top Thai leading man, often sharing the screen with Mitr's frequent co-star, Petchara Chaowarat, such as the 1971 musical comedy, Ai Tui (Mr. Tui), directed by Dokdin Kanyamarn. The iconic Thai leading lady of the 1960s and 70s, Petchara Chaowarat. ...

In 1966, Sombat won a Thailand National Film Award for best actor in Suek Bang Rajan (The Battle of Bang Rajan) (a film that was remade in 2001). He received the statuette from King Bhumibol himself. One of the more iconic images of the Bang Rajan battles is when one of the Thai leaders, Nai Thong Men, became drunk and furiously rode a water buffalo into battle against the Burmese. ... King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great (Thai: ภูมิพลอดุลยเดช; IPA: ; ) (born December 5, 1927), also known as King Rama IX and the Ninth Rama, has been King of Thailand since 9 June 1946. ...

In 1973, he established Metanee Film, which lasted five years and made 23 films. Among them was the action-comedy Nuk Leng Tewada (The Holy Hoodlum) in 1975.

Other films from the 1970s include the violent prison drama, Narok Tarutao (The Hell of Tarutao), directed by Ruj Ronaphop, and the historical epic, Khun Suk (War Lord), directed by Sakka Jarujinda. He played a cowboy in The Reluctant Gunman (Mue Peun Khia), a gangster in Louie, wooed actress Aranya Namwong in Chain of Love, was the Man With a Thousand Masks and controlled robot assassins in Nak Leng Computer (Gangster Computer).

Singing career, family

Possessing a natural singing voice, he has recorded some 200 songs and released many movie soundtrack records and albums, including 1981's Sombat Kong Yow. He's also penned an autobiography, which was released in 1994. 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International year of the Family. ...

His wife's name is Karnjana. She managed his film company. His oldest son Siricoup starred in Chatrichalerm Yukol's 1993 film Salween and is now a race-car driver. Chatrichalerm Yukol on the set of The Legend of Suriyothai Prince Chatrichalerm Yukol (Thai หม่อมเจ้า ชาตรีเฉลิมยุคล, born November 29, 1942) is a Thai film director and screen writer. ... This is a list of film-related events in 1993. ...

Sombat Metanee starred as a villain in the 2000 film, Tears of the Black Tiger, which was an homage to the films of his heyday in the 1960s and '70s.

Recent work

Though he might not be as prolific or death-defying as he was in his heyday, Sombat continues to act in feature films and television series. He's a frequent fixture on talk shows. He appears in a Thai TV commercial for a brand of DVD player, spoofing his action roles of the 1970s.

Among his recent roles is as Fai, the boistrously laughing leader of a gang of horse-riding outlaws in Wisit Sasanatieng's Thai western, Fah Talai Jone (Tears of the Black Tiger) in 2000. Wisit Sasanatieng (Thai วิศิษฏ์ ศาสนเที่ยง, born April 25, 1964 in Bangkok, Thailand) is a Thai film director and screenwriter. ... The Western is an American genre in literature and film. ... This is a list of film-related events in 2000. ...

In addition to Tears of the Black Tiger, he was among a cast of Thai all-stars in Chatrichalerm Yukol's The Legend of Suriyothai. He had a small role in the 2004 comedy, Bangkok Loco. Chatrichalerm Yukol on the set of The Legend of Suriyothai Prince Chatrichalerm Yukol (Thai หม่อมเจ้า ชาตรีเฉลิมยุคล, born November 29, 1942) is a Thai film director and screen writer. ... The Legend of Suriyothai is a Thai film directed by Prince Chatri Chalerm Yukol of the Thai Royal Family. ... This is a list of film-related events in 2004. ...

Sombat was honored at the 2006 Bangkok International Film Festival with a Lifetime Achievement Award and a retrospective of five of his films: Blood of the Sun, The Holy Hoodlum, Narok Tarutao, War Lord and Tears of the Black Tiger. Ofiicial poster for the 2005 Bangkok International Film Festival The Bangkok International Film Festival (BKKIFF) is one of the largest international film festivals in Asia, held yearly in Bangkok, Thailand, since 2003. ...

Partial filmography

As actor

Choompae from 1976 was among the hundreds of action films that Sombat Metanee, left, played the hero in.

• "Hua Jai Pratana" ("Heart's Desires") (television series) (1960)
• Roong Petch (Diamond Rainbow) (1961)
• Skao Duen (1962)
• Singh Sang Pa (1963)
• Saming Sao (1963)
• Ngam-Ngon (1963)
• Tawan Lang Lued (Blood of the Sun) (1963)
• Kao Mangkorn (Nine Dragons) (1963)
• Singh La Singh (The Lion vs The Lion) (1963)
• Suek Bang Rajan (The Battle of Bang Rajan) (1966)
• Ai Tui (Mr. Tui) (1971)
• Tipchang (1974)
• Narok Tarutao (Tarutao, Devil's Island) (1970s)
• Khun Suk (The Warrior) (1970s)
• Choompae (1976)
• S.T.A.B. (1976)
• Magnum Killers (1976)
• Louie (1977)
• Golden Triangle (1980)
• "Médecins des hommes" (TV series) (1988)
• Fah talai jone (Tears of the Black Tiger) (2000)
• Suriyothai (The Legend of Suriyothai) (2002)
• Tawan Young Wan Yoo (Bangkok Loco) (2004)
• Buppha Rahtree Phase 2: Rahtree Returns (2005)
• Chok-Dee (2005)

See also: 1959 in television, other events of 1960, 1961 in television and the list of years in television. For the American network television schedule, please see 1960-61 American network television schedule. ... See also: 1960 in film 1961 1962 in film 1960s in film years in film film Events Last Year at Marienbad (Lannée dernière à Marienbad) released Top grossing films North America The Guns of Navarone Exodus The Parent Trap The Absent-Minded Professor The Alamo Swiss Family Robinson Come... // Events Dr. No launches the James Bond film series, the longest-running motion picture franchise of all time, running more than 40 years. ... // Events January 28 - Filming begins on Dr. Strangelove. ... One of the more iconic images of the Bang Rajan battles is when one of the Thai leaders, Nai Thong Men, became drunk and furiously rode a water buffalo into battle against the Burmese. ... // Events Top grossing films North America Thunderball Dr. Zhivago Whos Afraid of Virginia Woolf? That Darn Cat! The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming Academy Awards Best Picture: A Man for All Seasons - Highland, Columbia Best Actor: Paul Scofield - A Man for All Seasons Best Actress: Elizabeth Taylor... See also: 1970 in film 1971 1972 in film 1970s in film years in film film // Events February 8 - Bob Dylans hour long documentary film, Eat the Document, premieres at New Yorks Academy of Music. ... See also: 1973 in film 1974 1975 in film 1970s in film years in film film // Events February 7 - Blazing Saddles is released in USA May 1 - George Lucas creates the first draft of what would eventually become Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. ... // Events March 22 - Filming begins on George Lucas Star Wars science fiction film. ... // Events In the Academy Awards, Peter Finch, Faye Dunaway and Beatrice Straight win Best Actor and Actress and Supporting Actress awards for Network. ... // Events April 30 - The Roger Daltrey film, McVicar, opens in London. ... See also: 1987 in television, other events of 1988, 1989 in television and the list of years in television. For the United States network television schedule, please see 1988-89 United States network television schedule. ... This is a list of film-related events in 2000. ... The Legend of Suriyothai is a Thai film directed by Prince Chatri Chalerm Yukol of the Thai Royal Family. ... This is a list of film-related events in 2002. ... This is a list of film-related events in 2004. ... This is a list of film-related events in 2005. ...

As director

• Nai Suan Rak (Love Garden) (co-directed with Ruj Ronaphop)
• Petchakat Rak (Killer of Romance) (co-directed with Kor Kaewprasert)
• Maimee Kamtob Jak Sawan (There’s No Answer from Heaven)
• Nuk Leng Tewada (The Holy Hoodlum) 1975
• Yeh Nuat Sua (Operation Black Panther) 1977

// Events January 28 - George Lucas creates the second draft of what would eventually become Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. ... // Events In the Academy Awards, Peter Finch, Faye Dunaway and Beatrice Straight win Best Actor and Actress and Supporting Actress awards for Network. ...

References

• Press release (January 19, 2006), Bangkok International Film Festival.
• Press release (February 2, 2006), Lifetime Achievement Award, Bangkok International Film Festival.
• Official program (February 17, 2006), Bangkok International Film Festival.
• Li Min, Lim (February 23, 2006). "The First Metrosexual". International Herald Tribune/ThaiDay.

Ofiicial poster for the 2005 Bangkok International Film Festival The Bangkok International Film Festival (BKKIFF) is one of the largest international film festivals in Asia, held yearly in Bangkok, Thailand, since 2003. ... Ofiicial poster for the 2005 Bangkok International Film Festival The Bangkok International Film Festival (BKKIFF) is one of the largest international film festivals in Asia, held yearly in Bangkok, Thailand, since 2003. ...

External links

• Sombat Metanee at The Internet Movie Database
• Sombat Methanee at the Thai Film Database
• Thai actors at Thai World View