[DJkillos]

I went on Yahoo and searched for most known Thai in the world and ...only ONE name came up-a tennis player whose name I forgot now. ..I am surprised that there were no more world famous Thai personalities....And to be honest, until I met Nooch (and started learning more about Thailand) I have not heard of one Thai actor/actress, or sport`ist, singer or other personality with world fame, here in U.S.. But after the political change there maybe now Taksin would be most recognizable Thai..next to the King....So do Thais like to keep LOW profiles?...are there some world known Thais like in show bussines who have changed their names-as many entertainers of other nationalities do?...Who is the most recognizable Thai in the world today?

[adverwork]

Ever heard of a golfer by the name of Eldrick "Tiger" Woods?

David

[RayFairhurst]

Is Tiger Wood's mom a full Thai and his father an American? What's his story?

[adverwork]

His father, Earl, is American [African American (50 percent), Chinese (25 percent) and Native American (25 percent)]. His mother, Kultida (nee Punsawad), is originally from Thailand [Thai (50 percent), Chinese (25 percent), and Dutch (25 percent)].

David

[Emunsesoxmete]

do I remember well that he doesn't like his Thai roots and doesn't speak Thai at all? that he even refused a complimentary Thai passport?

was that tennis player Paradorn Srichaphan by any chance?

[adverwork]

In 1997, Woods publicly refused to identify himself as black, saying that he sometimes felt more Thai than black. He said he called himself "Cablinasian" -- a self-invented term that incorporated his Caucasian, black, Native American and Asian heritages. He also credits his Buddhist upbringing for keeping him calm and focused on the golf course.

Last May, when Woods was on his way to play in Shenzhen, China, he was asked by CNN Worldnews: "You have some Chinese blood in you, you have some Thai blood. Just how Asian is Tiger Woods?" Woods replied, "Predominantly Asian, actually. The majority of my blood is Asian." Source: North West Asian Weekly 28 December 2002

David

[adverwork]

I almost forgot, the violinist Vanessa Mae is also Thai, she actually holds an Honarary Thai Passport.

David

[DJkillos]

Yes, Betti you are correct about tennis players name.....

[Zhgpavye]

Isn't Tata Young included?

[NutChusty]

Well Tiger Woods is only part Thai and has lived in the USA from a child, So I would not consider him in the category of a famous Thai. Now if I asked any one in the street's of Sydney, do they know what the Thai king looks like, most people say they did not even know Thailand had a king, and about Taksin, well he's not that famous, and that Tennis Player what's his name, yes he is unknown as well. To tell you the truth, there are no internationally famous Thai's, That are what you would say in the A league, where every one knows.

[themsrsdude]

Would really depend on how you define "Thai".

There are some pretty famous boxers and muay thai fighters and Tony Jaa ofc but there arent any thais thats famous mainstream.

If you stop twenty people on the street and ask them for a famous thai you most likely turn up blank.

Tiger Woods isnt famous for being thai, and Tata Young is famous for being half thai.

[adverwork]

Isn't Tata Young included?

Who?

David

[Zhgpavye]

Who?

David

She is a singer but I am not so sure if she penetrated mainstream Hollywood or she is just recognized here in Asia

[Aswdwdfg]

Here at my university all the men love Tony Jaa...he is the lastest 'it' kid when it comes to martial arts.

I'd like to get back to your original questions, though, hunsolo. You ask if Thais keep a low profile or why is it most people don't know famous Thai people.....

It may not be best to use your own ignorance as the barometer here... I mean you also have never seen:

Angry Drivers
A Thai cemetary
A Thai Person in Dunkin Donuts
Beans in Thai recipes
Desserts in Thai restaurants
Any Examples of Thai Humor
You can count on your hands the number of times you've seen a Thai smile
You're convinced Thai women don't care much about their hair

[Emunsesoxmete]

good job Pailin.

[JohnTruels]

How about the man who works in NASA, can't regconize his name for now.

[Uplillacype]

How about the man who works in NASA, can't regconize his name for now.

Do you mean Dr. Aajong Chumsai Na Ayutthaya - ´Ã. ÍҨͧ ªØÁÊÒ ³ ÍÂظÂÒ?

[gardeniyas]

I went on Yahoo and searched for most known Thai in the world and ...only ONE name came up-a tennis player whose name I forgot now. ..I am surprised that there were no more world famous Thai personalities....And to be honest, until I met Nooch (and started learning more about Thailand) I have not heard of one Thai actor/actress, or sport`ist, singer or other personality with world fame, here in U.S.. But after the political change there maybe now Taksin would be most recognizable Thai..next to the King....So do Thais like to keep LOW profiles?...are there some world known Thais like in show bussines who have changed their names-as many entertainers of other nationalities do?...Who is the most recognizable Thai in the world today?

Tony Jah,up and coming martial arts actor
James Wattana snooker player
Reckon they`ll be best bet for most famous Thai,now that Yule Brener is a dead un

[adverwork]

Reckon they`ll be best bet for most famous Thai,now that Yule Brener is a dead un

Except that Yul Brynner was Russian being born in Vladivostock.

David

[DJkillos]

Pailin, I don`t understand where you are comming from with your comment about me using my "ignorance as a barometer" (I am not judging any one by my ignorance, I am just posting inquiring post, so as to learn about things that I don`t know about, about Thailand) then quoting many of my past posts, ...what are you trying to prove?...Have you seen one cemetery in Bangkok?..maybe you have seen some angry drivers in Bkk. I have not...where is the ignorance in that?...If I am ignorant as to Thais and their ways is not this web for the reason of learning about it?...at least that`s what it says on the web, if you ever read it....Maybe you think that my posts are "ignorant" but they get more responses from readers than yours do....And I noticed that this is your second negative comment to my posts...if you feel irritated by my posts sorry for that...but since I have right to post as you do, may I suggest that you don`t read my posts....or at least don`t respond to me in irritable, negative way, as I don`t do to your posts?....I would appreciate that..as for Tony Jaa....he maybe popular to Thai kids but who ever heard him outside of Thailand?...