Thai actor-host Ray MacDonald found dead at 49

Thai actor and host Ray MacDonald was found dead at his home in the Phatthanakan area of Bangkok on Wednesday, aged 49.The Poh Teck Tung Foundation said it received a call at about 7am reporting the passing. Family and friends gathered at the house after news spread. A review of CCTV footage from the home showed that MacDonald appeared to collapse and lose consciousness at 12.12am. Further details are pending confirmation from medical staff and the family. Born on May 21, 1977, in Roi Et province, MacDonald was of Thai-Scottish descent and completed his secondary schooling in the United Kingdom. He rose to fame in the 1990s as an actor, host and model, fronting the popular teen programme "Teen Talk" with his rebellious, wisecracking persona as well as laid-back and free-spirited charm. His acclaimed film work includes "Fun Bar Karaoke" (1997), "Dang Bireley's Young Gangsters" (1997), "O-Negative" (1998) and "Dear Galileo" (2009). He won the Suphannahong National Film Award for Best Actor 1997-1998 for "Fun Bar Karaoke" and best supporting actor at the 7th Komchadluek Awards for "Dear Galileo" in 2009. His most recent film role was in "Behind The Screens" (2026). In addition to acting, MacDonald built a strong following as a television host and travel presenter. He later launched his own YouTube channel, Rayron, taking viewers on journeys to explore the stories, people and cultures of different regions. The channel attracted a large following. Pronounced in Thai, Rayron means roaming or wandering.