He was one of the close friends of Re McDonald the late young actor and popular travel YouTuber. For Jeab Chernyim the famous comedian recently attended Re’s funeral for the second day. Reporters asked him to share his impressions of Re and about the childhood friendship between Re and Chakrit Yaemnam .
Have you come to express condolences to Re’s family and see him for two days now?
"Yes, that’s right. When I first heard the news, I was shocked. I came to work with him. Also, I’m close to Chakrit, and Re was his friend — like family. We usually meet whenever we travel, but we haven't worked together for a long time since Re rarely acted in dramas. We did appear together on some shows, though. We are very close, like brothers — Puth, Ta, and Re."
How many years have you known each other?
"A very long time. I’d say... (Is it about ten years?) Oh, more than that. Including working on shows together, it’s been over 20 years."
What kind of person was he?
"Re was very dedicated to his work, very serious about it. He would fully commit to whatever he did. Sometimes I wondered, given his talent, why he didn’t act in dramas. I asked Chakrit, who said Re wasn’t like him — Chakrit has a short memory for lines, but Re was excellent in films with great acting."
Do you regret that he didn’t act in dramas?
"I would just say, let’s call him P’Re. He was an idol — an icon of what it means to be a gentleman. From the first time I saw him, I was impressed. He wasn’t just handsome; he had charm. Also, he was friendly with everyone."
Many consider him a 90s icon?
"Absolutely. A 90s icon with a very distinct character. He was very true to himself. He didn’t need to act or pretend — just by being himself, he was already cool."
What is your most memorable impression of him?
"The best thing was the fun. We rarely had any stressful moments, only laughter. Even though we didn’t always work together, whenever we met, he would joke around with us. Usually, I was the one who got teased. Every time we met, he would say, ‘Please take care of Krit for me.’"
So Re was very concerned about Chakrit and often asked you to look after him?
"Yes, he was very close to Chakrit. I also asked him about it. My family liked both of them a lot. Because I had the chance to work with Chakrit, I became close to Re as well. Re, along with Re (Pele Christopher), would often go together when making merit or traveling."
Did Re ever share what he worried about the most regarding Chakrit, to the point he entrusted you with his care?
"Honestly, I think Re worried more about Chakrit’s health. Chakrit uses his body a lot more than Re does. Re is quite disciplined — he doesn’t drink, party, or eat out much; he focuses solely on work. But Chakrit rests less, so Re was more concerned about his health."
Did Chakrit know that Re was so worried and entrusted you with this responsibility?
"He’s a bit unusual. He doesn’t really talk about these things openly but discusses them with others more. (Are they close?) They never openly said ‘I love you’ to each other (laughs). They never confessed directly, but from their conversations and eye contact, you could tell they were very close — no words needed."
Now Chakrit cries every time; how do you feel about him during this difficult time since they loved each other so much?
"Yes, I come every day when I can. The first thing is to support the people who are still here — that is Chakrit, Khun Kleua, and me. If no one else is there, I want to be close to him so that when he looks around, he sees me, his friend."
How often did you see Re when you met before, since you’ve known each other?
"Quite often. If Chakrit had work, I’d go along. For example, trips to Chanthaburi, making merit, and such. Re and Re (Pele) would join too, whenever they were free."
Did you ever see Re showing signs of illness or being unwell?
"No, never. I never saw him sick. Mostly, he reminded me to take care of my health — to exercise. But he himself never showed any signs of illness or fatigue. He always had energy and power when working."
So Re was concerned about Chakrit’s health and also about your health?
"Yes, he cared about everyone around him. He truly cared. If he knew someone, he worried about their health but never about himself. Maybe he did, but I never saw him sick or heard of him going to the hospital. Not even a cold."
This happened so suddenly. Many find it hard to believe and come to terms with this reality. What do you think?
"At first, when I heard the news, I thought it might be social media content — not real. I hoped it was fake news and prayed for that. But it turned out to be true."
"In the end, thank you to everyone who loved Re as much as I did. I love Chakrit and his family. They really were true friends who cared deeply for each other. Chakrit has few friends, and one of them was Re McDonald."
Is there a final message you want to say to your younger brother?
"Hmm... You did your best. You were amazing. You were an artist and an idol for many. I wish you find peace and happiness in the next life, in heaven. You won’t have to carry heavy backpacks on your travels anymore. Wherever you go next, may you be light and free. I wish you everlasting happiness. It was a pleasure to have met you. Thank you."
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