Legendary actor and National Artist Sombat "Ad" Metanee has passed away at the age of 85.
Sombat: Leading roles in 617 films
Close friend, veteran singer and fellow National Artist Suda Chuenban, 77, posted the news of his death on her Facebook account. She said Sombat died in his sleep at his Bangkok home on Soi Lat Phrao 71 yesterday morning.
Local media reported that his family found him unresponsive when they went to wake him as he had not awoken at his normal time.
Born in Ubon Ratchathani, Sombat began his acting career in the television soap opera Huajai Pratthana and played a leading role in his first movie Rungphet, first screened on Nov 30, 1961.
Sombat acted in many films and soap operas. He once held the Guinness World Record for playing the most leading roles, in 617 movies. He received many awards throughout his career and was named a National Artist in 2016.
He married Kanchana Metanee and they had five children -- four sons and one daughter.
Funeral rites will be held at Wat Phrasri Mahathat Voramahaviharn in Bangkok's Bang Khen district.
The Department of Cultural Promotion hailed him as a "true gem" and the all-time leading actor.
Chai Nakhonchai, the department's director-general, said his family will receive 20,000 baht from an assistance fund to help cover the costs of Sombat's funeral, in addition to a state subsidy to produce a funeral book containing the late actor's biography and eulogies.
He is also eligible for a royally sponsored funeral.