{{Short description|Thai film director}} {{Promotional|date=December 2023}} {{Infobox person | native_name = ฉลอง ภักดีวิจิตร | native_name_lang = th | image = Chalong Pukdeewichit (cropped).jpg | image_size = | caption = Pakdeevijit in 2008 | birth_name = Boonchalong Pakdeevijit | birth_date = {{Birth date|mf=yes|1931|3|18}} | birth_place = {{nowrap|Si Phraya, Bang Rak,<ref name=อาหลอง/> <br>Bangkok, Siam}} | death_date = {{nowrap|{{Death date and age|2024|9|13|1931|3|18}}}} | death_place = Ramathibodi Hospital Bangkok, Thailand | nationality = | other_names = {{hlist|Ar Long ("Uncle Long")<ref name="แต่ง"/>|Philip Chalong|P. Chalong}} | spouse = {{plainlist| * {{marriage|Sumon Pakdeevijit|1966|2014|end=died}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.manager.co.th/Entertainment/ViewNews.aspx?NewsID=9570000041693|work=ASTV Manager|title="ฉลอง ภักดีวิจิตร" เศร้าสูญเสียภรรยาด้วยโรคมะเร็งตับ|date=2014-04-14|access-date=2017-05-15|language=th|archive-date=2014-04-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419033931/http://www.manager.co.th/Entertainment/ViewNews.aspx?NewsID=9570000041693|url-status=dead}}</ref> * {{marriage|Pimsupak Insee|2014}}<ref name="แต่ง"/> }} | children = {{ubl|Gun Pakdeevijit (son)|Cherd Pakdeevijit (son)|Boonjira Pakdeevijit (daughter)}} | occupation = {{hlist|Director|producer|cinematographer}} | education = Amnuay Silpa School<ref name=อาหลอง/> | alma_mater = | relations = | mother = Lingee Pakdeevijit<ref name = TNA/> | father = Puth Pakdeevijit<ref name = TNA/> | networth = | known_for = ''The Thong Anthology'' {{nowrap|(10 films to date)}} | notable_works = ''Thong (Gold)'' ({{langx|th|ทอง}})(''S.T.A.B.'', 1973);<br>''Thong 2'' (Gold Raiders, 1982); <br> ''Raya'' ({{langx|th|ระย้า}}), 1998;<br>''Chumphae'' ({{langx|th|ชุมแพ}}), 2007;<br>''Sao Har'' ({{langx|th|เสาร์ ๕}}), 2011;<br>''Thong 10'' ({{langx|th|ทอง 10}}), 2016;<br>''Tulip Thong'' ({{langx|th|ทิวลิปทอง}}), 2017 | years_active = 1950–2024<ref name = TNA>{{cite book |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title= 2013 Thailand National Artist Commemorative Book|location= Bangkok|publisher= Amarin Printing & Publishing Co.Ltd.|page= 216|date= 2013|isbn=978-616-543-248-1}}</ref> }}
'''Chalong Pakdeevijit''' ({{langx|th|ฉลอง ภักดีวิจิตร}}; {{RTGS|''Chalong Phakdiwichit''}}; born '''Boonchalong Pakdeevijit''' ({{langx|th|บุญฉลอง ภักดีวิจิตร}})<ref name=อาหลอง/> (March 18, 1931 – September 13, 2024) was a Thai film and television director, producer, cinematographer, and voice actor. In February 2023, he was certified by Guinness World Records as the Oldest TV Director for his work on the mini-series ''The Maekhong Connection'' for Channel 7 HD.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Oldest TV director (male) |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/723395-oldest-tv-director-male |access-date=2023-02-08 |website=Guinness World Records |date=September 2022 |language=en-gb}}</ref> Dubbed 'King of Action,' Chalong is best known for having created, directed, and produced action films and TV shows.<ref>{{Cite web |title=90 ยังแจ๋ว!! "ฉลอง ภักดีวิจิตร" เจ้าพ่อหนังแอ็คชั่น ขอทำละครต่ออีก 5 ปี |url=https://entertainment.trueid.net/detail/8goXXvpDaw1n |access-date=2023-02-08 |website=TrueID |language=th}}</ref> He was known as 'Ar Long', and internationally as '''Philip Chalong''' or '''P. Chalong.'''<ref>{{IMDb name|id=0150056|name=Chalong Pakdeevijit}}</ref>
== Early life == Pakdeevijit was born into a filmmaking 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 his first film in 1968.{{Citation needed|date=November 2025}}
== Career == In 1973, he released the film ''Thong'' ({{Translation|Gold}}) to Thailand and foreign countries. The film introduces foreign actors to lead in Thai cinema, such as Greg Morris and Thẩm Thúy Hằng. Foreign actors, such as Jan-Michael Vincent, Christopher Mitchum and Olivia Hussey, sometimes take the lead roles.
His last film was ''Sud Keed: Mungkorn Chao Phraya 2'' (transl. Chaophya Dragon 2) in 1996. In 1998, he turned to producing and directing a TV series for Channel 7, starting with ''Raya'', with lead roles by Pete Thongchua and Chatmongkol Bumpen.
In 2013, he was appointed National Artist of Performing Arts (film & television – director & executive producer) by the Ministry of Culture.<ref name=อาหลอง>{{cite web|url=http://www.all-magazine.com/ColumnDetail/allColumDetail/tabid/106/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/3533/categoryId/82/---.aspx|title=ตำนานมายา : ศิลปินแห่งชาติ 'ฉลอง ภักดีวิจิตร' ตำนานบู๊อินเตอร์|work=all-magazine|language=th|date=2014-03-18|access-date=2017-05-15}}{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
Chalong has created, produced, and directed more than 60 movies and T.V, shows.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 2022 |title=Oldest TV director (male) |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/723395-oldest-tv-director-male |access-date=2023-02-08 |website=Guinness World Records |language=en-gb}}</ref> 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).
Chalong transitioned to television and started to produce action miniseries exclusively for Channel 7, with the top-rated television debut ''Raya'' ({{langx|th|ระย้า}}'; 1998).<ref name="TNA" /> According to AC Neilsen, published on WTFintheworld.com, he is the only director in Thailand with two entries in the top 10 of the Thailand Highest Rating Television Miniseries of All Time.
These two Channel 7 miniseries include ''Chumphae'' ({{langx|th|ชุมแพ}}; 2007) and ''Sao Har'' ({{langx|th|เสาร์ ๕}}; 2011).<ref>[https://www.wtfintheworld.com/2018/03/18/16-most-rating-tv-thai/ Thailand top 16 Highest Rating Miniseries]</ref> He earned the nickname "Action Film Tycoon",<ref name="อาหลอง" /><ref name="ระ">{{cite web |date=2011-11-25 |title=บางอ้อพาไปค้นตำนาน 'ระเบิดภูเขา เผากระท่อม' กับ 'อาหลอง' |url=http://www.thairath.co.th/content/219179 |access-date=2017-05-16 |work=Thairath |language=th}}</ref> by his style of films, called in Thailand ''Raboet Phukhao Phao Kratom'' (ระเบิดภูเขา เผากระท่อม; {{Lit|Bombing Mountain, Burning Cabin}}).<ref name="ระ" />
== Personal life and death == Chalong Pakdeevijit married Sumon Pakdeevijit in 1966, and the two remained married until her death from cancer in 2014.{{Citation needed|date=November 2025}}
On December 28, 2014, he married for the second time to a 38-year-old bride.<ref name="แต่ง">{{cite web|title=ตะลึงแป๊บ! 'อาหลอง' วิวาห์รอบสองกับสาวใหม่อายุห่าง 45 ปี (ชมคลิป) |url=http://www.thairath.co.th/content/471766|language=th|date=2014-12-28|access-date=2017-05-15|work=Thairath}}</ref>
Pakdeevijit died from a pulmonary edema at the Ramathibodi Hospital in Bangkok, on September 13, 2024. He was 93.<ref>[https://www.bangkokpost.com/life/arts-and-entertainment/2865076/chalong-thailands-king-of-action-films-dies-at-93 Chalong, ‘Thailand’s King of Action Films’, dies at 93]</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == *{{IMDb name|0150056}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pakdeevijit, Chalong}} Category:1931 births Category:2024 deaths Chalong Pakdeevijit Chalong Pakdeevijit Chalong Pakdeevijit Chalong Pakdeevijit Chalong Pakdeevijit Chalong Pakdeevijit Category:Deaths from pulmonary edema Category:Thai television directors