Dith Pran

Dith Pran (September 27, 1942 – March 30, 2008) was a Cambodian-American photojournalist. He was a refugee and survivor of the Cambodian genocide and one of the subjects of the Academy Award–winning film The Killing Fields, in which he was portrayed by Haing S. Ngor, a fellow survivor.

Early life Dith was born in Siem Reap, Cambodia. His father worked as a public works official. He learned French at school and taught himself English.

The United States Army hired him as a translator but after his ties with the United States were severed, Dith worked with a British film crew for the film Lord Jim.

Cambodian genocide In 1975, Dith and New York Times reporter Sydney Schanberg stayed behind in Cambodia to cover the fall of the capital Phnom Penh to the Communist Khmer Rouge. In addition to its main mission, it keeps photographic records to help Cambodians who are searching for missing family members. Dith Pran headed the organization until his death in 2008, when his widow Kim DePaul assumed that position.

Personal life In 1986, he became a U.S. citizen with his then-wife Ser Moeun Dith, whom he later divorced. He then married Kim DePaul but they also divorced.

Works