15 Facts About Mitr Chaibancha

Mitr Chaibancha was a Thai film actor who acted in 266 films from 1956 to 1970.

Mitr Chaibancha died on 8 October 1970 at Dongtan Beach, Jomtien, South Pattaya, after falling from a helicopter during the filming of a stunt for the final scene of Insee Thong.

Mitr Chaibancha was born into poverty, named Bunting by a monk.

Mitr Chaibancha's mother came to Bangkok for work as a greengrocer and a better financial position.

At age 8, Mitr Chaibancha moved to Bangkok's Nang Loeng neighborhood to live with his newly-married mother, where he took the surname Phumhem.

Mitr Chaibancha learned Muay Thai, became the lightweight boxing champion for his school in 1949 and 1951 and went on to win three more lightweight titles.

Mitr Chaibancha was then accepted into the Royal Thai Air Force aviation school, where he trained as a pilot.

Mitr Chaibancha caught the attention of movie fans after starring in Chao Nakleng, using the character name Rom Ritthikrai from author Sake Dusit's Insee Daeng series of novels.

In 1961, Mitr Chaibancha starred in Banthuk Rak Pimchawee, his first film with Petchara Chaowarat.

Mitr Chaibancha was an extremely busy actor and was always on the move, going from set to set and sleeping as little as a two or three hours per night.

Unaware of this, the helicopter pilot flew higher, which led to Mitr Chaibancha losing his grip and falling 300 feet to his death.

The fatal fall has since been removed from DVD versions of the film, with Mitr Chaibancha simply flying off into the distance and some onscreen text paying tribute to him.

The first would have been of Mitr Chaibancha grabbing the ladder and flying off at low altitude.

Mitr Chaibancha's body was laid to rest at Wat Khae Nang Loeng in Bangkok for 100 days and then cremated at Wat Debsirindrawas Ratchaworawihan, where tens of thousands attended.

Inside the spirit house is a statue of Mitr Chaibancha holding a pistol in his right hand, reminiscent of his numerous roles as an action movie star.