Panna Rittikrai, an actor-director and the martial arts master behind action star Tony Jaa, 53, died of liver disease Sunday.
Panna, who gained fame for his work on 2003’s “Ong Bak,” had been diagnosed in November, and he had recently been admitted to Ladprao General Hospital recently after being diagnosed with a brain tumor as his condition worsened, Bangkok Post reported.
Before Ong Bak, Panna’s credits stretch back to include acting and directing in action films such as Born to Fight (1986 and 2004) and Ong Bak (2003 and 2008). Panna also choreographed the fight sequences for both Tom Yum Goong films.
