Lor Tok

Sawong Supsamruay (, ; born April 1, 1914 – April 29, 2002), better known as Lor Tok (, ), was a Thai comedian and actor. He was named a Thailand National Artist for performing arts in 1995. With an acting career that stretched from the 1930s into the 1980s, Lor Tok had roles in more than 1,000 films, among them Ngern, Ngern, Ngern (Money, Money, Money, 1983 version), for which he received an award for best actor at the Thailand National Film Association Awards.

Biography

Early life Born Sawong Supsamruay (สวง ทรัพย์สำรวย) in Ban Suan Klong, Bangkok Yai, Lor Tok was the third of five children of an orchardist. As a boy, he climbed coconut trees and learned to play traditional Thai musical instruments.

He attended Wat Nuan Noradit School until Mattayom 3 (the equivalent of ninth grade) and then went to work on the family orchard. After floods wiped out the orchard, Lor Tok worked on a river pier, helping to moor ferry boats. Other occupations included boatman on the Pasi Charoen canal, a trishaw driver in Nakhon Ratchasima and professional boxer. He is said to have often walked from Nakhon Ratchasima to Bangkok on foot, a journey that took three days. He also served in the Royal Thai Army.

Comedy and film career Lor Tok joined a comedy troupe and began performing with another popular comedian of the day, Jok Dokchan. He was acclaimed for his stage performance in the comic play, Klai Glua Kin Dang (Near Good Salt, Eat Bad Salt). Due to this role, a senior actor gave him his stage name.

His film debut was in 1933 in Wan Chakayan. Other films were Panan, Yod Phi, Hong Fah, Phra Apaimanee and Roy Khan.

Among his more famous roles were the 1985 remake of the musical comedy Ngern, Ngern, Ngern (เงิน เงิน เงิน), for which he won best actor at the Thailand National Film Association Awards. He portrayed an unscrupulous moneylender whose son falls in love with a debtor and ends up taking sides against his father. He had also had a smaller role in the original 1965 film. Lor Tok won a Tuktathong ("Golden Doll") award for his role as a Chinese merchant in Go Hub.

He established his own production company in 1969 called Tok Boom Parpayon. Among the films he directed was Luk Kuey, which starred Mitr Chaibancha and Petchara Chaowarat. He was popular on television in the 1980s, appearing in the shows "Nateethong" and "Traduduang". and he died at the hospital the next day.

Shortly after his death, a cartoon series based on his Dracula Tok character was developed.

Tribute On 1 April 2019, search engine Google commemorated Sawong "Lor Tok" Supsamruay with a Doodle on his 105th birth anniversary.