Actor and TV presenter Ray MacDonald died at home on August 19 at the age of 49. The Thai-Scottish star's wife, Sirinya Jintanawararak, found him unresponsive on a sofa at their home at around 6.20am. She tried to wake him and alerted emergency services, but he was declared dead at the scene.
CCTV Shows Collapse
CCTV footage examined by Prawet Police Station later showed him collapsing onto the sofa at around 12.12am. No cause of death has been confirmed yet.
The father-of-one was one of the most recognisable figures in Thai entertainment to emerge during the 1990s, working across film, television, modelling and travel programming.
Award-Winning Career
An award-winning actor, he was presented with the Best Actor award at the Thaniland National Film Association Awards for his role in the 1997 film Fun Bar Karaoke. The following year he scooped the same award for his role in O-Negative, a Thai romantic drama that won over audiences across the country.
In 2009 he landed the Best Supporting Actor prize at the 7th Kom Chad Luek Awards, for his role in Dear Galileo.
Travel Presenter and Founder
Away from the big screen he built a successful career as a travel presenter on shows such as Teen Talk and Roam Alone, which are credited with redefining travel programming in Thailand. He later founded Rayron, a travel platform bringing together stories and creators with different approaches to exploring the world, which helped inspire a whole new generation of content creators.
Tributes Pour In
Tributes flooded in for the star as devastated fans learned the tragic news of his death. One user penned on Facebook: "RIP Ray! My wife and I really enjoyed watching your YouTube travel vids. Sending my deepest condolences to your family and friends during this difficult time."
Another added: "Thank you Roaming RayMac for inspiring us to explore the world, live freely, and stay true to ourselves. Your adventurous spirit and kindness will never be forgotten." A third chimed in: "You may be gone, but your legacy and unforgettable memories live on. Rest in power, P' Ray McDonald." Meanwhile, a fourth shared the same sentiment.
