Here are 2 famous musicians from Thailand died at 74:
Cherd Songsri (September 20, 1931 Nakhon Si Thammarat Province-May 21, 2006 Bangkok) was a Thai film director, screenwriter and film producer.
Cherd Songsri is known for being a prominent figure in the Thai film industry. He directed and wrote scripts for over 50 films, many of which were critically acclaimed and received numerous awards. Cherd Songsri is often associated with the "social drama" genre of Thai cinema, which tackled issues like poverty, corruption, and social injustice.
One of his most famous films, "Santi-Vina" (1954), won the Grand Prix at the 1955 Cannes Film Festival and was the first Thai film to receive international recognition. Cherd Songsri was also a founding member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Film Directors' Federation.
Cherd Songsri's contributions to Thai cinema have been widely recognized, and he was posthumously awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Thai Film Directors' Association Awards in 2007.
Cherd Songsri was born as Cherd Boonyanon. His family was a well-known family in Nakhon Si Thammarat, with his father being a politician and his mother being a renowned cook. He was originally interested in becoming a doctor, but his father's business went bankrupt and Cherd Songsri had to drop out of school to help support his family.
He began his career in the film industry as an assistant to Italian filmmaker and screenwriter Antonio Lanno. He then went on to work as an assistant director for Thai film studios before eventually directing his own films.
In addition to his contributions to Thai cinema, Cherd Songsri was also a teacher and mentor to many aspiring filmmakers. He taught at the Bangkok Technical College and was a founding member of the Thai Film Directing and Scriptwriting Association.
Cherd Songsri's legacy continues to live on in Thai cinema, as his films are still considered to be some of the greatest works in the industry. His work has influenced many filmmakers in Thailand and has helped shape the country's film industry into what it is today.
He died as a result of cancer.
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Samak Sundaravej (June 13, 1935 Bangkok-November 24, 2009 Bangkok) was a Thai politician and chef. He had two children, Kandapa Mungthin and Kanchanakorn Chaisan.
Samak Sundaravej served as the 25th Prime Minister of Thailand from January to September 2008, representing the People's Power Party. Before his political career, Sundaravej was a well-known chef and hosted his own television cooking show. He was also the founder of the Thai patriotic-manufactured car named the "Samak Car". During his time as Prime Minister, Sundaravej faced criticism for his conservative views and his handling of the 2008 Thai political crisis. He was later removed from office by the Constitutional Court of Thailand for his appearance on a cooking show while holding public office, which was deemed to be a conflict of interest. Despite his controversial tenure as Prime Minister, Sundaravej is still regarded as an iconic figure in Thai politics and cuisine.
Sundaravej was born into a family of Chinese-Thai descent, and his father was a renowned lawyer in Thailand. He graduated with a law degree from Thammasat University and worked as a lawyer before pursuing his passion for cooking. Sundaravej began his culinary career in the 1960s and opened a restaurant in Bangkok called "Samakki" which became a popular destination for locals and tourists alike.
In addition to his successful restaurant, Sundaravej became a familiar face on television. He hosted a cooking show called "Tasting and Complaining" in which he would cook and share his opinions on current events. He also authored cookbooks and was known for his outspoken and often controversial remarks on a variety of topics.
Despite his initial reluctance to enter politics, Sundaravej was convinced to run for public office and was elected to parliament in 1975. He went on to hold various positions in government, including Deputy Minister of Commerce and Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives.
After a military coup ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in 2006, Sundaravej became one of the leaders of the People's Power Party (PPP) which won a majority in parliament in 2007. He was then elected as the Prime Minister of Thailand in January 2008, but his term was short-lived as he was criticized for his handling of the political crisis and ousted from office by the Constitutional Court in September of the same year.
Despite this setback, Sundaravej remained an influential figure in Thai politics until his death. He was known for his outspoken and often colorful personality and his love for Thai cuisine, which he shared with the world through his various culinary endeavors.
He died in liver cancer.
Read more about Samak Sundaravej on Wikipedia »