Chalong Pakdeevijit

Chalong Pakdeevijit (Thai: ฉลอง ภักดีวิจิตร; RTGS: Chalong Phakdiwichit) (born Boonchalong Pakdeevijit (Thai: บุญฉลอง ภักดีวิจิตร)[1] on March 18, 1931 in Bangkok) is a Thai film & TV director, producer, cinematographer and voice actor. In February of 2023, he was certified by Guinness World Records as the Oldest TV Director for his work on the mini-series 'The Maekhong Connection' for Thailand most watched TV network Ch.7HD.[5] Dubbed as 'King of Action,' Chalong is best known for creating, directing and producing action films and TV shows.[6] He is the first Thai director to break into the international market and achieved great success both financially and critically with his action-packed film 'S.T.A.B.'('Gold').[7] He's known to his adoring Thai fans of all ages as 'Ar Long', and internationally as Philip Chalong or P. Chalong.[8]

Chalong Pakdeevijit
ฉลอง ภักดีวิจิตร
Pakdeevijit at Star Entertainment Awards 2007
Born
Boonchalong Pakdeevijit

(1931-03-18) 18 March 1931
Si Phraya, Bang Rak,[1]
Bangkok, Thailand
Other names
  • Ar Long ("Uncle Long")[2]
  • Philip Chalong
  • P. Chalong
EducationAmnuay Silpa School[1]
Occupations
  • Director
  • producer
  • cinematographer
Years active1950–present [3]
Known forThe Thong Anthology (10 films to date)
Notable workThong (Gold) (Thai: ทอง)(S.T.A.B., 1973);
Thong 2 (Gold Raiders, 1982);
Raya (Thai: ระย้า), 1998;
Chumphae (Thai: ชุมแพ), 2007;
Sao Har (Thai: เสาร์ ๕), 2011;
Thong 10 (Thai: ทอง 10), 2016;
Tulip Thong (Thai: ทิวลิปทอง), 2017
Spouse(s)
Sumon Pakdeevijit
​
​
(m. 1966; died 2014)​
[4]
Pimsupak Insee
​
(m. 2014)​
[2]
Children
  • Gun Pakdeevijit (son)
  • Cherd Pakdeevijit (son)
  • Boonjira Pakdeevijit (daughter)
Parents
  • Puth Pakdeevijit [3] (father)
  • Lingee Pakdeevijit [3] (mother)

For more than 70 years, Chalong has created, produced and directed more than 60 movies and TV shows.[9] His films include Fhon Tai (1970), Fhon Nuea (1970), Thong (S.T.A.B.; 1973), Thong 2 (Gold Raiders; 1982), Thong 3 (The Lost Idol; 1988) and Thong 4 (In Gold We Trust; 1990). When Thai films ticket sales started to decline, Chalong made an iconic transition over to television and started to produce action miniseries exclusively for Thailand's most watched TV network, ch. 7. With the highly successful and top-rated television debut 'Raya(Thai: ระย้า' (1998)), Chalong has begun a string of many successful top-rated action-packed miniseries for CH. 7 until today.[3] According to ACNeilsen (Thailand) published on WTFintheworld.com, he is the only director in Thailand with 2 entries in the top 10 of Thailand Highest Rating Television Miniseries of All Time. These 2 ch. 7 miniseries includes 'Chumphae(Thai: ชุมแพ)' (2007) and 'Sao Har (Thai: เสาร์ ๕)' (2011).[10] Today, at the age of 87, Chalong shows no sign of stopping and continues to direct and produce top-rated miniseries. He earned the nickname "Action Film Tycoon",[1][11] by his style of films, called in Thailand Raboet Phukhao Phao Krathom (ระเบิดภูเขา เผากระท่อม; lit: "Bombing Mountain, Burning Cabin").[11]

Early life

He was born into a filmmaker family. His father was a director and producer, and his brothers are all in the movie industry. He started as a cinematographer in 1950, and directed the first film in 1968.

Career

In the 70's he was very successful in Thong(transl.  Gold), it can be make a money and release to foreign countries. The highlight of this film is the introduction of foreign actors to lead in Thai films such as Greg Morris, Thẩm Thúy Hằng. It became his style in the ensuing films, it often takes foreign actors to take the lead role, such as Jan-Michael Vincent, Christopher Mitchum, and Olivia Hussey.

His last film was Sud Keed : Mungkorn Chao Phraya 2 (Chaophya Dragon 2) in 1996, before turning to produced and directed TV series for Channel 7 in 1998, starting Raya lead role by Pete Thongchua and Chatmongkol Bumpen. He is the pioneer of the action series on Channel 7.

In 2013, he was appointed National Artist of Performing arts (film & television - director & executive producer) from Ministry of Culture.[1]

Personal life

On December 28, 2014, he was married for the second time to a 38-year-old bride after his former wife died from cancer earlier.[2]

References
  1. "ตำนานมายา : ศิลปินแห่งชาติ 'ฉลอง ภักดีวิจิตร' ตำนานบู๊อินเตอร์". all-magazine (in Thai). 2014-03-18. Retrieved 2017-05-15.
  2. "ตะลึงแป๊บ! 'อาหลอง' วิวาห์รอบสองกับสาวใหม่อายุห่าง 45 ปี (ชมคลิป)". Thairath (in Thai). 2014-12-28. Retrieved 2017-05-15.
  3. 2013 Thailand National Artist Commemorative Book. Bangkok: Amarin Printing & Publishing Co.Ltd. 2013. p. 216. ISBN 978-616-543-248-1.
  4. ""ฉลอง ภักดีวิจิตร" เศร้าสูญเสียภรรยาด้วยโรคมะเร็งตับ". ASTV Manager (in Thai). 2014-04-14. Retrieved 2017-05-15.
  5. "Oldest TV director (male)". Guinness World Records. September 2022. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
  6. "90 ยังแจ๋ว!! "ฉลอง ภักดีวิจิตร" เจ้าพ่อหนังแอ็คชั่น ขอทำละครต่ออีก 5 ปี". TrueID (in Thai). Retrieved 2023-02-08.
  7. "ประกาศภาพยนตร์ไทย 11 เรื่อง "มรดกภาพยนตร์ของชาติ" ปี 64". bangkokbiznews (in Thai). 2021-10-07. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
  8. Chalong Pakdeevijit at IMDb
  9. "Oldest TV director (male)". Guinness World Records. September 2022. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
  10. Thailand top 16 Highest Rating Miniseries
  11. "บางอ้อพาไปค้นตำนาน 'ระเบิดภูเขา เผากระท่อม' กับ 'อาหลอง'". Thairath (in Thai). 2011-11-25. Retrieved 2017-05-16.
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