Chalong Pakdeevijit, a legendary Thai film director and esteemed national artist, has passed away at the age of 93. Pakdeevijit died on Friday, September 13, 2024, at Ramathibodi Hospital. Known for his influential work in Thai cinema, Pakdeevijit directed the celebrated Thong (Gold) film series starting in 1973 and was a pioneer in TV action dramas with memorable works such as Raya, Angkor, and Lued Chao Phraya.
Pakdeevijit was honored with the National Artist Award for Performing Arts (Director) in 2013. The Guinness Book of Records recognized him as the oldest active TV director as of September 1, 2022, at the age of 90 years and 297 days.
Niels Colov, who worked with Pakdeevijit on Thai television action series, expressed his sadness on Facebook, saying, “I am very sad to hear that a friend of mine, Thai Film Director Chalong Pakdeevijit, has passed away at the age of 93.”
His contributions to the industry have left a profound legacy, and his influence on Thai cinema and television will be remembered by many.