Cherry Na Phi, a 42-year-old comedian who drew laughter with his funny ghost-like face and acts, was found dead at his rented apartment room in Kannayao district of Bangkok on Thursday evening.
Comedian Panthep Ngarmjit, better known as Cherry Na Phi
Police rushed to a four-storey apartment at Soi Raminthra 46 in Kannayao district after being alerted and found the body of Panthep Ngarmjit, dubbed Cherry Na Phi, lying on the floor of his room on the second floor .
The comedian wore only white sports shorts. A plastic bottle containing lao khao, a local rice whiskey, mixed with a red-coloured soft drink, was found near his body, Thairath reported on Friday.
A maid at the apartment said she last saw Panthep about 5pm on Wednesday. One of his friends came to his room on Friday to pick him up for a comedy show. His friend knocked the door, but there was no response, prompting him to use a hammer to force open the door. He was shocked to find his friend dead on the floor.
Pol Lt Col Charin Prakhongsuk, of Khok Khram police station, said that according to relatives the comedian was a heavy imbiber and drank alcohol every day.
His body was sent to the Police General Hospital for an autopsy to establish the cause of death.
Mr Panthep earlier performed comedy shows with the Eddy Phi Narak band before moving to join the Dakdae Choenyim band.
