Amid career success, Ben faces tragic loss at home

He found immediate success in a gay guy’s role in the GMM Grammy TV series “The Secret of Mint and Mew”, which has just returned with new episodes. Ben also stars in the comedy movie “Paa Happy She Tha Yer”, in which he plays Golfie, a funny (and, yes, gay) friend of Pee Suk, played by Khemanit “Pancake” Jamikorn. In Ben’s case, typecasting doesn’t seem to be a worry
However, real life has proved to be tragically more dramatic than his screen roles. Ben is coping with the harsh fact that his mother has been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer and her doctor doesn’t expect her to survive beyond two months. Since she first fell ill more than a year ago, Ben has been accepting any job that’s come along in order to pay the medical bills. Her treatment has cost millions.
His mum had been allowed out of hospital a few months ago, when there was still no sign of cancer, but her happy return home proved short-lived because her condition soon worsened, to the extent that she was unable to recognise loved ones, so she’s back in hospital again.
Now, of course, the doctor has said she might as well spend her final weeks at home with her family, even though she’s unable to communicate. Ben says everything’s as good as can be expected since she’s feeling no pain. “I’m lucky to have the time to deal with the situation,” he says. “I’m finishing up all my jobs and then I’ll be at her side full-time.”


Phew! Dome gets nod from “Dad”

Meanwhile another singer-actor, “Dome” Pakorn Lum, is also stretching his wings, marketing the diet supplement Do-me.
He and his girlfriend Metal Sukkhao were touting the product at the Emquatier mall on its opening day, giving everyone a big surprise when her father – rock singer Chatchai “Rang Rockestra” Sukhawadee – joined them for the first time in public. That put a definitive end to the rumour that Rang disapproved of their relationship – or maybe the old man has sampled Do-me and just appreciates the benefits.
Rang said he was not only backing Dome’s new venture but also had Dome rocking onstage with him at a gig the night before. He has nothing against the kids’ relationship at all, he confirmed. They’re grown-ups and can make their own judgements. But, like a lot of protective dads, he had secretly checked out Dome’s personal conduct among his friends. “It turns out that he always behaves just like he does when he’s in front of me, so I don’t have problem.”
The ageing rocker said he’s given his daughter the freedom to get on with her romance, but admitted he’s worried about the kind of public attention it draws. Metal had to bear the wrath of Dome’s fans when they first started dating and the harshly-worded complaints have yet to cease. Rang said it’s up to them to decide whether the relationship is worth enduring such abuse. They’re both famous, so they’re inevitably going to be in the spotlight 24/7.