Tep Rindaro ( ; born 1963) is a Cambodian actor and singer. He started acting in 1987. With his career spanning more over 30 years, he is one of the longest starring actors in Cambodia since the fall of the Khmer Rouge in 1979.
Early life Rindaro was born in the village of Samrong, Battambang Province, in northwestern Cambodia and developed a passion for films at an early age. As a child, he went to the movies a lot and always dreamed of one day appearing on the big screen. Life was peaceful and tranquil in Samrong, relatively speaking, until the Cambodian Civil War intensified, affecting even tranquil Samrong. In 1975 the country finally fell to the communists and the nation was plunged into turmoil and chaos. The country's movie industry dissolved overnight and life drastically and irreversibly changed for everyone. At age twelve the young boy was sent to a work camp to do hard labor for the next three and a half years. Somehow, Rindaro managed to survive this terrible period though tragically, his father and several other family members did not survive the Khmer Rouge era. Afterward, though he still dreamed of becoming an actor, he wanted to honor his father's wishes for him to be a doctor, a prestigious position in Cambodian society. Rindaro chose to study something more practical and decided instead to become an airplane mechanic. In 1981 he received a government scholarship to study in Russia as an airplane mechanic, though he never lost his dream of stardom. He worked as a mechanic mainly out of respect for, and in order to honor his now deceased father's wishes. In 1984, he returned to Cambodia from Russia with flying qualifications. Since there were no employment opportunities available at the Pochentong Airport of Cambodia, now Phnom Penh International Airport, Rindaro decided to leave for Vietnam and work at Ho Chi Minh City's airport for three years.
Career
Early success Upon returning home from Ho Chi Minh City in 1987, he was stopped by another driver who was an owner of film production company. He knew Rindaro from Battambang province. Because his look was similar to a certain Cambodian actor who was famous at that time, he was offered a role in a film Secret Tears in the Quiet Purple Night. With no acting training, his ability to act naturally came merely from other films he watched and his own imagination. Although he had been promised to, Rindaro in fact never got paid for his acting in his first film. The film did not end up successful, but Rindaro gathered attention of other producers. He was later offered roles in other films such as Bopha Phnom Penh by Fai Sam Ang or Arkambang Kechsanya. In later films, he for the first time met actress Ampor Tevi, who then became his most common acting partner for more than decade. During the early 1990s, he starred in more than ten movies per year. In 1994, he was cast in Peasants in Distress, a drama film written and directed by the ruling king Norodom Sihanouk. As one of the most famous Cambodian celebrities of that time, Tep Rindaro with some other local celebrities attended a tour to the United States of America, which has a large community of Cambodians who fled during the Khmer Rouge era.
Later career During the late 1990s, Cambodian cinema suffered from lack of funding and interest from producers, Tep Rindaro started to act in karaoke music videos. Some of them were with Dy Saveth, one of the most popular actresses of pre-Khmer Rouge cinema. Until 2001, all films made in Cambodia were cheap productions released directly as videotapes; however, this changed when Fai Sam Ang directed a Cambodia-Thai horror film The Snake King's Child, based on a famous Khmer legend about Snake King. This first-ever full-length feature film for cinema to be produced in Cambodia since 1975 featured Thai leading man Winai Kraibutr, and Tep Rindaro was offered a role of Snake King, with his longtime acting partner Ampor Tevi as his lover. This was also the last collaboration of this famous pair on screen, as Ampor Tevi sometime after release ended her acting career and moved to the USA. After a big success of The Snake King's Child, Tep Rindaro continued acting in more films and karaoke videos, and was offered a role in some Norodom Sihanouk productions, like a comedy film Lon Nol Lon Non Lonnoliens, and dramas Arsina, Le Cid Khmer and La Chatelaine de Banareath. Since 2010, he starred in some Khmer Mekong Films TV series, such as AirWaves, Beauty of Life, and My Family My Heart.
Personal life Tep Rindaro got married in 1987, a marriage arranged by parents of both sides. They had one daughter, but the relationship lasted for only one year, before the couple got divorced in 1988. Shortly after that, his ex-wife and daughter left Cambodia and are now living abroad. He never got married again, but he has been taking care of two children of his deceased sister.
Awards In 2005, he was awarded with a Certificate of Appreciation from Princess Bopha Devi on behalf of the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts and also received Royal Officer rank called Sina. Later, he was promoted by the King Norodom Sihamoni to a higher rank of Sina Mony Sophon. In 2012, he acquired Empire of Star Award.
Other activities He is the owner of a coffee bar in the town of Siem Reap in western Cambodia.
Partial filmography
Year Movie Role Other notes 1987 Secret Tear in the Quiet Purple Night 1990 Ark Kambang Kech Sanyar 1991 Bong'aem Jivit 1992 Jam Bong Komloss Sen Kat Besdong Deumbey Bong Pisitt Kdam Srae Pich Min Tonn Chnai Som Hauy Loke Pdei 1993 Chan Krefah Chnam Oun 16 Musical skit "1 Kumpleang Anuksavary" alongside Pisith Pilika Jrolom Knhom Heuy Kakei Kmouch Beisach Nei Propun Jea Tee Snaeha Roboss Knhom Pov Malis Lea Preah Vesandor Preah Vesandor Rehu Chap Chan Sak Meul Sen Sman Ta Kronn Sronoss Klen Srae Maóm Musical Skit "Robam Kane" alongside Pisith Pilika Tam Ton Chon Kaeng 1994 Bopha Puos Vaek Cheung Mek Dach Sroyal Chong Sroll Kon Krok Vetamean Ondeuk Meas Ondat Doh Chaúng Promat Promong Peasants In Distress(Directed by King Norodom Sihanouk) 1995 Pka Angkeabos Preah Moha Monkoline Prolung Areak Ontheak Nesai 2001 The Snake King's Child 2002 Neak Mdai Neang Sok Kra'op Meayea Satrey Mea Yeung 18 minutes long excluding songs A Kwak A Kwen Pka Dos Leu Tmaw Sovann Ten On 15 minutes long excluding songs 2003 Poumakris Chomlaek (The Weird Villa) 2004 Att 3(3 Ace) Mea Yeung Tep Rindaro's second version in full length Snae Muoy Meun Snae(Love 10,000 Times) Mohetjata 2005 Osschja Nah Loke Pdey Teuk Chet Ovpuok (The Love of a Father) 2006 The Blind and The Crippled Sromoul Snae Sitha Teacher's Heart Neay Tong Neay Sanh Comedy Skit Ruos Nov Rit Tae Ossjah Comedy Skit 2007 Boross Jak Smok 2008 Komnum Pi Adetacheat Scales of Justice 1 (Khmer: ជញ្ជីងគ្មានស្រមោល ១) Chamnan Edutainment Series produced by the Women's Media Centre of Cambodia (WMC) 2009 Srov Krao Srae series Pka Ma'om series Scales of Justice 2 (Khmer: ជញ្ជីងគ្មានស្រមោល ២) Chamnan Edutainment Series produced by The Women's Media Centre of Cambodia (WMC) 2010 Scales of Justice 3&4 (Khmer: ជញ្ជីងគ្មានស្រមោល ៣&៤) Chamnan Edutainment Series produced by the Women's Media Centre of Cambodia (WMC)]2019The Clock: Spirits AwakeningDoctor LD Entertainment KH 2022 Single Dad (film) FatherLD Entertainment KHMy Hero TeacherFatherChoub Soy 3FatherLD Entertainment KH 2023Wishing LollipopDoctorLD Entertainment KHGive My Last HelloFatherLD Entertainment KHSingle Dad 2FatherLD Entertainment KHRent Boy (2023 film)FatherLD Entertainment KH2024Neath's Love Story: Post Angkor YouthFatherLD Entertainment KH2025Grandpa 21Son and FatherLD Entertainment KHHer Deadly EyesDaddy Tiny Film Production The Mirror DaddyMediaload Pictures Sugarcane Baby Doctor J3 Studio2026 The Old Man (2026 film) Ta Ro LD Entertainment KH The Shelterless Father Unifilm
Tv Show Appearance Angkorwat Show-with Sim Solika (2008) Lakoun Kropeu Charavan-with Chon Chan Leakenna (2008) Yup Kondal Tngai-Night During Daytime(A Story Depicting the Khmer Rouge Years) with Chon Chan Leakenna(2008)
References
External links
Tep Rindaro's Official Facebook Page