# Thanawat Ratanakitpaisan (ธนวัฒน์ รัตนกิจไพศาล)
**Thanawat Ratanakitpaisan** (ธนวัฒน์ รัตนกิจไพศาล; born 1998), known by the nickname **Khaotung** (ข้าวตัง), is a Thai actor and singer under the talent agency GMMTV. He became known through the series *Tonhon Chonlatee* (2020) and consolidated his career with leading roles in *The Eclipse* (2022), *Only Friends* (2023), and *[The Heart Killers](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-heart-killers)* (2024), frequently paired on screen with fellow GMMTV actor First Kanaphan Puitrakul.[1](https://gmmtv.fandom.com/wiki/Khaotung_Thanawat_Ratanakitpaisan) • [2](https://www.dramabl.com/actor/khaotung-thanawat-ratanakitpaisan/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name / nickname | Thanawat Ratanakitpaisan (ธนวัฒน์ รัตนกิจไพศาล), nicknamed Khaotung (ข้าวตัง)[1](https://gmmtv.fandom.com/wiki/Khaotung_Thanawat_Ratanakitpaisan) |
| Born | 1998, Lamphun Province, Thailand[3](https://entertainment.trueid.net/detail/yjlPdeLKvAxj) |
| Occupation | Actor and singer; active since 2018[1](https://gmmtv.fandom.com/wiki/Khaotung_Thanawat_Ratanakitpaisan) |
| Agency | GMMTV[4](https://www.gmm-tv.com/artists/view/68/) |
| Education | Montfort College (secondary); Chiang Mai University, Faculty of Medical Technology; later Environmental Engineering at Kasetsart University[2](https://www.dramabl.com/actor/khaotung-thanawat-ratanakitpaisan/) • [3](https://entertainment.trueid.net/detail/yjlPdeLKvAxj) |
| Breakout roles | Chonlatee in *Tonhon Chonlatee* (2020); Ayan in *The Eclipse* (2022); Ray in *Only Friends* (2023)[5](https://mementobl.com/acteurs/khaotung-thanawat-ratanakitpaisan/) • [6](https://www.seriebox.com/people/khaotung-thanawat-ratanakitpaisan.html) |
| Physical stats | 175 cm tall; 63 kg per his official GMMTV profile[4](https://www.gmm-tv.com/artists/view/68/) |
## Early life and education
Thanawat Ratanakitpaisan was born in 1998 in Lamphun Province in northern Thailand.[3](https://entertainment.trueid.net/detail/yjlPdeLKvAxj) He attended secondary school at Montfort College in [Chiang Mai](https://www.edgepedia.org/chiang-mai), then entered the Faculty of Medical Technology at Chiang Mai University, where he was named his faculty's "moon" (a campus beauty and goodwill title) in 2017.[2](https://www.dramabl.com/actor/khaotung-thanawat-ratanakitpaisan/) • [5](https://mementobl.com/acteurs/khaotung-thanawat-ratanakitpaisan/) He later moved to the Department of Environmental Engineering at [Kasetsart University](https://www.edgepedia.org/kasetsart-university).[3](https://entertainment.trueid.net/detail/yjlPdeLKvAxj) • [2](https://www.dramabl.com/actor/khaotung-thanawat-ratanakitpaisan/)
In a 2025 interview with Billboard Italia, he said he had considered studying medicine before a casting opportunity that came about by chance redirected him toward acting, and that he had realized he wanted to act while still in middle school.[7](https://billboard.it/interviste/khaotung-intervista/)
## Acting career
**Debut and early roles.** Spotted on social media at age 19, he made his screen debut in 2018 in the series *'Cause You're My Boy*, playing Au.[5](https://mementobl.com/acteurs/khaotung-thanawat-ratanakitpaisan/) In 2019 he appeared as Kothom in *The Charming Stepmom* and as Joe in *Blacklist*.[6](https://www.seriebox.com/people/khaotung-thanawat-ratanakitpaisan.html) In 2020 he took the recurring role of Fong in *2gether: The Series* and its sequel *Still 2gether*, and won his first leading role as Chonlatee in *Tonhon Chonlatee*, paired with Podd Suphakon Sriphothong; Thai entertainment coverage credits this series with making him widely known among series fans nationwide.[6](https://www.seriebox.com/people/khaotung-thanawat-ratanakitpaisan.html) • [3](https://entertainment.trueid.net/detail/yjlPdeLKvAxj)
**The Eclipse and the First–Khaotung pairing.** In 2021 he played Longtae in *A Tale of Thousand Stars* and Songpol ("Paul") in *55:15 Never Too Late*.[6](https://www.seriebox.com/people/khaotung-thanawat-ratanakitpaisan.html) His 2022 role as Ayan (Aye), a transfer student investigating his uncle's death, in *The Eclipse* opposite First Kanaphan marked his breakthrough; the series won best BL series at the Thailand Digital Awards.[5](https://mementobl.com/acteurs/khaotung-thanawat-ratanakitpaisan/) The First–Khaotung pairing became one of GMMTV's prominent on-screen couples, and the two have since headlined *[Moonlight Chicken](https://www.edgepedia.org/moonlight-chicken)* (2023, with Khaotung as Kaipa), *Only Friends* (2023, with Khaotung as Ray, a wealthy student struggling with alcohol addiction), and *The Heart Killers* (2024, with Khaotung as "Bison" Aechitpol Phanlert).[5](https://mementobl.com/acteurs/khaotung-thanawat-ratanakitpaisan/) • [6](https://www.seriebox.com/people/khaotung-thanawat-ratanakitpaisan.html)
**Recent and upcoming work.** In 2025 he made guest appearances as Jeng in *[Sweet Tooth, Good Dentist](https://www.edgepedia.org/sweet-tooth-good-dentist)* and as Kaitong in *[Ossan's Love Thailand](https://www.edgepedia.org/ossans-love-thailand)*.[8](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/258775/thanawat-rattanakitpaisan) In 2026 he took the lead role of Lynx in *Cat for Cash* and reprised Ray as a guest in *Only Friends: Dream On*.[6](https://www.seriebox.com/people/khaotung-thanawat-ratanakitpaisan.html) • [8](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/258775/thanawat-rattanakitpaisan) At GMMTV's 2026 lineup event, *The Invisible Dragon* was announced, reuniting First and Khaotung in a story about lion dancers, with Khaotung cast as Khun, a dancer determined to perform as the lion's head.[9](https://envimedia.co/gmmtv-unveils-2026-series-lineup/) He is also attached to the ensemble action adaptation *HiGH & LOW: BORN TO be HIGH*, slated for 2027.[9](https://envimedia.co/gmmtv-unveils-2026-series-lineup/)
## Music
Alongside acting, Khaotung records soundtrack and solo releases. His credited songs include "Never Too Late" from *55:15 Never Too Late* (2021), "คลาด (OVER THE MOON)" from *The Eclipse* (2022), "The Moon Represents My Heart" from *Moonlight Chicken* (2023), "เอาเลยมั้ย" from *Only Friends* (2023), "Destroy Love" from *The Heart Killers* (2024), "ตื๊อเท่านั้นที่ครองโลก (Never back down)" from *The Heart Killers* (2025), and "บ้านของหัวใจ (Found My Home)" from *Cat for Cash*.[10](https://blasso.jp/actors/khaotungg) He plays guitar and composes, and has released several singles.[5](https://mementobl.com/acteurs/khaotung-thanawat-ratanakitpaisan/)
## Other activities and public profile
Khaotung founded the clothing and accessories brand A*FLEUR.[5](https://mementobl.com/acteurs/khaotung-thanawat-ratanakitpaisan/) He has appeared on GMMTV variety programming, including *Safe House* (seasons 1 and 4) and *School Rangers*.[3](https://entertainment.trueid.net/detail/yjlPdeLKvAxj) • [6](https://www.seriebox.com/people/khaotung-thanawat-ratanakitpaisan.html) His international fan base extends to Europe: he headlined the JIB Dream fan meeting in Rome twice, and in a 2025 interview described live events as a setting where the audience's energy arrives immediately, unlike the mediated experience of filming.[7](https://billboard.it/interviste/khaotung-intervista/)
## References
1. [Khaotung Thanawat Ratanakitpaisan, GMMTV Wiki](https://gmmtv.fandom.com/wiki/Khaotung_Thanawat_Ratanakitpaisan)
2. [Khaotung Thanawat Ratanakitpaisan, DramaBL](https://www.dramabl.com/actor/khaotung-thanawat-ratanakitpaisan/)
3. [ประวัติ ข้าวตัง ธนวัฒน์ รัตนกิจไพศาล, TrueID Entertainment](https://entertainment.trueid.net/detail/yjlPdeLKvAxj)
4. [KHAOTUNG : Thanawat Ratanakitpaisan, GMMTV official artist profile](https://www.gmm-tv.com/artists/view/68/)
5. [Khaotung Thanawat Ratanakitpaisan, MeMento Boys Love](https://mementobl.com/acteurs/khaotung-thanawat-ratanakitpaisan/)
6. [Khaotung Thanawat Ratanakitpaisan, Seriebox](https://www.seriebox.com/people/khaotung-thanawat-ratanakitpaisan.html)
7. [La vita tra cinepresa e palcoscenico di Khaotung Thanawat: l'intervista, Billboard Italia](https://billboard.it/interviste/khaotung-intervista/)
8. [Thanawat Rattanakitpaisan, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/258775/thanawat-rattanakitpaisan)
9. [GMMTV Unveils 2026 Series Lineup, EnVi Media](https://envimedia.co/gmmtv-unveils-2026-series-lineup/)
10. [Thanawat Rattanakitpaisan, BLasso actor profile](https://blasso.jp/actors/khaotungg)
---
*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of East and Southeast Asia › Thai actors*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license