List of Cambodians

This is a list of famous and notable people from Cambodia. This would include persons who are known to a large number of people and is not based on the extent of their popularity. Neither is the list viewed from the context of the present. Their fame could be brief, what matters is that they were well-known during the peak of their popularity.

Armed forces

• Sosthene Fernandez
• Thongvan Fanmuong
• Chhouk Rin
• Ta Mok
• Lon Nol
• Lon Non Lon Nol's brother
• Lon Nil Lon Nol's brother
• Gen. Sak Sutsakhan
• Gen. Dien Del
• Gen. Meas Sophea

Arts

• Chanthou Oeur, painter and sculptor
• Chath pierSath, poet and painter
• Chhim Sothy, painter
• Duong Saree, painter
• Vann Molyvann, architect
• Vann Nath, painter and Tuol Sleng survivor

Business and industry

• Teng Bunma, tycoon

Literature

• Chuon Nath Khmer Dictionary
• Dith Pran, compiled stories and poems of Cambodian genocide survivors and published The Children of the Killing Fields: Memoirs of Survivors. His life's story has been portrayed in the movie, The Killing Fields. His genocide education project has helped people in the United States to further understand the flight of the Cambodian people.
• Keng Vannsak Literature expert
• Kim Hak (Tek Tonle Sap)
• King Ang Duong novelist: Kakey, Kangrey
• Krom Ngoy the greatest Khmer poet
• L'OKNHA Suttantaprija ind a poet and religious scholar
• Loung Ung, author of When they first killed my father.
• Ngoun Saom(Tum Teav)
• Nhok Them novelist: Kolap Pailin
• Nou Hachnovelist: Pka Sroporn, Mealea Duong Chett
• Nuon Khoeun Political scientist- author of "Domnoeu Chpous Tov Tiss Khang Lech"- joined Khmer Rouge and was executed by Khmer Rouge.
• Parn Poung Bopha novelist: Chan Reas Chlong Daen
• Rim Kin (Sophat)
• Venerable Som (Tum Teav)
• Santhor Mok (Tum Teav)
• Seng Theary, writer and lawyer. She is currently the director of the Center for Social Development.
• Soth Polin
• Tharum Bun, prominent Cambodian blogger and writer.
• Mrs. Tran Ngia author of many books in the 1970s.
• Vandy Kaonn
• You Bo

Mass Media

Directors

Pre-Khmer Rouge

• Ieu Pannakar1955 - present

Present

• Rithy Panh, His films include The Night After the War, S-21, Bophana, and more. 1989–present
• Tea Lim Kun, The Snake King's Wife

Actors

• Kong Som Eun, most popular actor from 1965-1975
• Van Vanak from the 1970s
• Haing S. Ngor, the first Cambodian to ever won an academy award for his supporting acting role in The Killing Fields, playing Dith Pran, the New York Time's reporter working with Syndney Schamberg.
• Tep Rundaro

Actresses

• Ampor Tevi
• Danh Monika
• Keo Pich Pisey
• Pisith Pilika
• Saom Vansodany
• Sok Sreymom
• Veth Rattana
• Vichara Dany most popular actress from 1967-1975
• Virak Dara
• Dy Saveth pioneer of Khmer cinema

Music

classics 19th century and early 20th century

• Chu

classics 40's and 50's

• Jek Mach
• Sang Sarun
• Mao Sareth
• Sinn Sisamouth(1935–1975)
• King Norodom Sihanouk

classics 60's and 70's-1975

• Pan Ron
• Ros Sereysothea(1948–1977)
• Sin Sisamouth(1932–1975)

80's 90's

• Him Sivorn
• Meng Keo Pichenda
• Noy Vanneth

2000–present

• Chhet Sovan Panha
• Kim Leakhena
• Khum Punnadeth
• Preap Sovath
• Meng Keo Pichenda

Politics and Activism

• Chan Nak
• Chan Sy
• Cheam Channy
• Cheng Heng
• Heng Samrin
• Hong Lim, First Cambodian Member of Victorian Parliament's (Australia) Legislative Assembly.
• Chea Soth
• Hun Sen
• Chea Sim
• Ieng Sary
• Ieng Thirith
• Ieu Koeus
• In Tam
• Kem Sokha, former president of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights between 2002 and 2006 and founder of the Human Rights Party (Cambodia) in 2007.
• Kem Monovithya, daughter of activist Kem Sokha who successfully campaigned for her father's release from prison in 2005.
• Kaing Khek Ieu Duch- Notorious Khmer Rouge's Director of Tuol Sleng Torture Centre.
• Khieu Samphan
• Khieu Ponnary
• Lon Nol
• Long Boret
• Nuon Chea
• Pa Teang, arrested in 2005 along with activist Kem Sokha. Director of the Cambodian Center for Independent Media.
• Pol Pot, top leader of the Khmer Rouge responsible for the Cambodian genocide where two million people or more killed and starved.
• Sam Rainsy
• Sam Sary
• Sar Kheng
• Son Ngoc Minh
• Son Ngoc Thanh
• Son Sann
• Son Sen
• Ung Huot
• Youhorn Chea, Former Mayor of City of Greater Dandenong.
• Am Rong

Religion

• Tep Vong
• Bour Kry
• Maha Ghosananda led the Dhammayietra Peace March during the UNTAC years through Khmer Rouge territories. He is known as the Gandhi of Cambodia. He recently died.
• Chuon Nath Cambodian Buddhist Partriarch (1948–1969)and Khmer literature expert until his death in 1969.

Royalty

• Jayavarman VII
• Norodom Buppha Devi
• Norodom Ranariddh
• Norodom Sihanouk
• Norodom Sihamoni
• Norodom Suramarit

Science and technology

• Norbert Klein, Founder of the Open Forum of Cambodia; introduced key technologies to Cambodia, including e-mail, throughout the 1990s.

Social work

• Arn Chorn-Pond, human rights activist
• Beat Richner, pediatrician
• Geraldine Cox
• Kem Sokha
• Loung Ung, author
• Peter L. Pond, refugee rights activist and foster father of 16 Cambodian orphans
• Somaly Mam

Sports

• Eh Phoutong, boxing

Others

• Chea Vichea, slain labor leader

See also

• List of people by nationality