Haing S. Ngor

Haing S. Ngor, 1986

Haing S. Ngor (Khmer: ហ៊ាង ស៊ុន ង៉ោ; March 22, 1940 – February 25, 1996) was a Cambodian-American physician, actor, and author who is best known for his Academy Award-winning role as Dith Pran in the 1984 film The Killing Fields. Ngor's performance in the film made him the first Asian to win an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. His life and career were marked by extraordinary achievements and tragic events, reflecting the turbulent history of Cambodia during the latter half of the 20th century.

Early Life and Education

Haing S. Ngor was born in Samrong Yong, a village in the Cambodian province of Takéo. He pursued a medical career, graduating from medical school in Phnom Penh and working as a surgeon and obstetrician in a local hospital. His medical career was abruptly interrupted by the rise of the Khmer Rouge regime in 1975.

Khmer Rouge Regime

During the Khmer Rouge regime, Ngor was imprisoned and subjected to torture. Like many other educated and professional individuals, he was targeted by the regime, which sought to eliminate the intellectual and social elite of Cambodia as part of its radical social engineering project. Ngor's experiences under the Khmer Rouge, including the loss of his wife during childbirth due to the regime's refusal to provide medical care, deeply impacted him and would later inform his advocacy and artistic work.

Career in Acting

After fleeing Cambodia and spending time in a refugee camp in Thailand, Ngor immigrated to the United States in 1980. Despite having no prior acting experience, he was cast in the role of Dith Pran in The Killing Fields, a film about the Cambodian genocide. His portrayal of Pran, a Cambodian journalist and refugee, was critically acclaimed and earned him several awards, including the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, a BAFTA Award, and a Golden Globe Award.

Following his success in The Killing Fields, Ngor continued to act in various films and television shows, often choosing roles that highlighted social and humanitarian issues. His filmography includes appearances in Heaven & Earth, My Life, and Vanishing Son.

Humanitarian Work and Advocacy

Beyond his acting career, Ngor was a passionate advocate for human rights and dedicated much of his life to raising awareness about the plight of Cambodians under the Khmer Rouge regime. He co-founded the Dr. Haing S. Ngor Foundation, which aimed to preserve the history of the Khmer Rouge genocide and support Cambodian refugees.

Death

Haing S. Ngor was tragically murdered outside his home in Los Angeles in 1996. His death was widely mourned, and his life and legacy continue to be celebrated for their contributions to cinema, human rights, and the documentation of Cambodian history.

Legacy

Ngor's life story was documented in his autobiography, Survival in the Killing Fields, which he co-authored with Roger Warner. His legacy is also preserved through the work of the Dr. Haing S. Ngor Foundation and in the memories of those he touched through his advocacy and art.