Mario Maurer

Career

When Maurer was 16 years old, he was approached at Siam Square to try out modeling. From then on, he started doing photo shoots, commercials and music videos. In 2007, he made his feature film debut in a leading role in The Love of Siam, written and directed by Chukiat Sakweerakul. The role "Tong" brought him many accolades and instant fame far beyond Thailand's borders. Commenting on his new-found fame, "I didn't want to do it, Acting wasn't on my to-do list." He decided to do the movie because he trusted the director "Chukiat" and the movie would give him many opportunities. He'd be making money to help his family. He became famous in this film because of his gay role.

His other work as a model.

He won the Best Actor award in Starpics Thai Films Awards and also nominated in Bangkok Critics Assembly and Star Entertainment Awards.

Director Bhandit Rittakol had approached Maurer for Boonchu 9, but he was tied up with other projects. He was cast in the 2008 film by Chatchai Naksuriya, Friendship. The film is set around 1983. Maurer starred opposite Apinya Sakuljaroensuk, as 12th grade student. That same year he appeared in a segment of the four-story anthology 4 Romance, (segment "Joob" or Kiss) directed by Rashane Limtrakul. Maurer's projects after 2008 included a comedy-horror film written and directed by Yuthlert Sippapak, Rahtree Reborn, scheduled for release in April 2009, in which he starred opposite Chermarn Boonyasak.

Maurer gained popularity after he starred in the 2010 film First Love.

Maurer (right) with his brother and his mother

His brother Marco, teamed up in a hip-hop duo "PsyCho & Lil’Mario" with Mario. They have released their debut PsyCho & Lil’Mario: Dem Crazy Boyz on October 31, 2007. He worked as a hypeman in this album. But Maurer later described "It was just for fun. I know myself – I'm not a singer. That's not my dream."

Maurer participated in endorsements for the first time for Exit Rollon and other popular brands such as The Pizza Company, Sugus, Foremost and now he acted as the presenter for Honda Jazz, Pepsi, Dutchmill and Sony Ericsson. In July 2011, he was signed to become an endorser for the Philippine clothing brand, Penshoppe following the unexpected popularity from the showing of his film Crazy Little Thing Called Love on ABS-CBN network. He also signed a movie picture contract with Star Cinema, a Philippine film production company. He will be paired with Erich Gonzales in the film that is due to release in 2012 entitled Suddenly It's Magic. On October 28, 2011, Maurer had a Press and Fan Conference in Philippine International Convention Center with thousands of fans in attendance, as a part of his official launch as a Penshoppe endorser. On October 29, he hit the runway at the Philippine Fashion Week held at SMX Convention Center. On August 3, 2013, Maurer returned to the Philippines to promote his movie Pee Mak and had a fan conference at two venues, SM North EDSA and SM Mall of Asia the following day together with Baifern Pimchanok, as part of Baifern's official Penshoppe endorser. As expected, thousands of fans in attendance for continuing support for both stars of the 2010 hit movie First Love.

Maurers' interests include skateboarding, hip-hop, and cars. He is naturist. Although he is of Thai, Chinese, and German descent, he cannot speak German and only understands some Mandarin. He is a native speaker of Thai and also speaks English. His father Roland died of a diabetes-related heart attack on June 27, 2011. He has a very close relationship with his brother, a hip-hop artist and actor.

Maurer and Witwisit Hiranyawongkul

Mario Maurer with Witwisit Hiranyawongkul at the Star Entertainment Awards in 2008.

Due to the success of The Love of Siam, the chemistry between Mew, played by Witwisit Hiranyawongkul and Tong, played by Maurer, has been an issue and a trending topic. Hiranyawongkul has told reporters that he and Maurer are just good friends, and credited the film's editing for their seeming chemistry on-screen: "Usually, when having dialogue in the movie, we were facing different cameras." On the set, their eyes usually met the film crews', who helped make sure they acted with the right expressions.

The two later performed together at a concert after not seeing each other in years, at which Maurer asked him "Mew, do you miss Tong?", and Hiranyawongkul responded "Let me think about that. If Tong didn't invite me, I wouldn't be here".

They were also seen together during the ending credits of the film Love on that Day, in which Mario was the lead actor but in which Hiranyawongkul had not been a member of the cast.

Film

Television series