Ryu Athit, formerly known as Arthit Taongsawatrat, was once a teen idol, but 15 years after leaving the entertainment industry, his fortunes have not improved.
In the 1990s, the former actor, who entered the entertainment industry at 14, was the face of Thai idol plays. He was well-liked by advertisers and the general public, endorsing various goods.
Unfortunately, Ryu had mental health issues and was given a bipolar disorder diagnosis. He was described at the time as “insane and mentally unsound” in reports.
Theptida Long Ngan, a 2005 rom-com drama, was Ryu’s last on-screen appearance before she took a sabbatical from acting to seek treatment.
He reportedly spent ten years in and out of hospitals, and at one point, he resorted to Buddhism to treat his illness.
During that time, Ryu also had two marriages, which broke up.
From his first marriage, he has two sons, Pham, 23, and Phao, 22, and a daughter, Link, 15, from his second marriage.
It appears that neither of them nor the former actor get along well, and it has been reported that Ryu has lost contact with his children.
Recently, it was also revealed that Ryu had become homeless and was making a living by selling used items at a roadside flea market.
The newspaper shared images of Ryu at his improvised stand and said that Ryu had spent all of the money he had earned in his childhood and had to file for bankruptcy.
He revealed that he currently sleeps alongside the road and that if he wants to wash, he must take water from an outdoor faucet.
He stated that he hoped to keep working hard for a better future but remained upbeat.
