Battambang is a well-known Province in Cambodia where many great Khmer artists originated from in the past and present time. In the early 1900s, L’ Oknha Suttantaprija Ind who was a great poet came from Battambang. In the more recent time, there are countless artists who came from the province and excelled in Khmer entertainment world. Just to name a few: Houe Lavy, Chhorm Chorvin, Tep Rindaro, Khiev Samphet, Heng Bunleap, Doung Zorida, Chhin Seriya, Sen Ranuth, etc. came from Battambang. Now, we can add another great artist to the list – Pen Chamrong. Though he has not been on the field for many years compared to other artists on the list, Pen Chamrong is a familiar name when you talk about Khmer entertainment. Handsome, polite, talented and articulated are some of the words you can use to describe him. Only within a few years, he went from being just a helper behind the stage to a great actor. Yet, he has more potentials as both a great actor and singer. For that reason and many requests from his fans, Angkorthom.US has interviewed him and added his profile for our community.


Pen Chamrong was born in Poy Samrong Village, Thmor Kole, Battambang in 1982. His father’s name is Pen Sarouen and his mother’s name is E Samith. Both parents were farmers and they still live in Thmor Kole, Battambang today. Their current living conditions are way better off than other farmers in the village. Pen Chamrong is the youngest child among other two brothers and a sister. When he was young, he went to study at Poy Samroung Elementary school, Ta Moun Middle School and then Thmor Kole College where he started his involvement in performing arts. He then studied at the National School of Management in Phnom Penh and graduated with a Bachelor degree in Marketing.

Though his family was not very poor, Pen Chamrong was not anything different from other kids in the village when he was young. He would help his parents working in the fields, fishing and selling vegetables to help out his parents after school as much as he could. His mother said very highly about Pen Chanrong that he was very polite and obedient and that she did not have to have any difficult time disciplining him. His father said Pen Chamrong was into entertainment since he was very young. He would sing and tell stories to make money from people in the village. Even his older brothers talked very highly of him. They said he was always the leader in every communication setting, especially when it comes to flirting a girl. They would let him pave the way as he is the most handsome among them. Pen Chamrong got a nick name Barang – a nick name given to kids who are tall and handsome looking like an American or a European.

His performing art involvement initially started when he was at Thmor Kole College where one of his Selabak teachers – Mr. Cheam Cheang selected him to play in Tom Teav Lakon to raise funds for his school. Mr. Cheam Cheang selected Pen Chamrong to play the King character as he saw his talents, handsome appearance and character. He then continued to coach him in both how to act and how to succeed in life. Pen Chamrong got a lot of compliment from Mr. Cheam Cheang that he was a quick learner. When he graduated from Thmor Kele College, he left his hometown for Phnom Penh to study Marketing at the National School of Management in 2002. While he was in school, he had to work part time to feed himself and to pay for school. Because he had some performing art backgrounds, he always tried to find a job in Khmer entertainment field. He tried to take part in many signing contests but he never passed the contest once. However, he never gave up and he always thought to himself that if someone could do it, he would one day be able to do it too. When K.H. Promotion had their singing contest, Pen Chamrong joined but he did not pass the contest either. Instead of giving it up like everyone else, he went to ask Mr. Kim Heng, the owner of the Production to allow him to sing again. That was when Mr. Kim Heng began to know him. With some hesitations, Mr. Kim Heng allowed him to sing but he still failed anyway.

While Pen Chamrong was leaving the studio, he ran into Mr. Kim Heng on the stairs and Mr. Kim Heng told him that if he was interested in working for him, he could come and work for him helping his crews behind the stage or wherever they went to record videos or make movies. He was very excited to take the offer though it was not an acting job he was looking for. So during weekends, he would go out with K.H. Promotion crews and helped out. In the mean time, he tried to observe how stars acted. This went on for several months. One day Mr. Kim Heng told him to bring a couple good clothes with him the next day and try to take a supporting role in a Karaoke song. That was when he first acted in a song in his life. Mr. Kim Heng liked his acting. So he was allowed to act for more songs. He continued to take part in Karaoke song video taping until one day when Mr. Kim Heng told him to try out to play a main character with Yuk Thiratha for a song called I Miss You Like Crazy.

That was his first song he acted as the main character. He said he was so nervous when he held Yuk Thiratha’s hand the first time in the video. From that point on, he gained his confidence and was able to act very well. Then, he was selected to play in a big scale movie called Choa Pus Keng Kong which was a big hit movie. He played a character of Neay Korn with Meng Kong Khea who played as Neang Saiya. Then, he played in other movies like ViNhean, Sneiha Pith, Ploueng Sne Yuvivay, Chumras Bochhi Chas and recently Machakta. Each movie added to his portfolio made him a better actor each time. More Karaoke production companies hired him to work for them afterward. In addition to acting, he is also a great host. He was a host for KH Promotion for several years and then for CTN for a period of time. While he is not known as a great singer, Pen Chamrong can sing well enough to entertain his audience. In part of his interview, he said he has been working hard on his singing skills as well.

In 2006, he was invited to perform in France with other singers. It was his first time touring outside the country, and it gave him more perspectives for him to live on as an actor and prepared him for visiting other counties. Pen Chamrong is a great actor and entertainer. He is known to be very fun to be around and skillful at talking. Of course, he is one of a few most Khmer handsome actors in Cambodia today. Many female fans go crazy about him and want to see him in person. Pen Chamrong has a great personality and he is very friendly. In part of his interview, Pen Chamrong would like to send his best regards to all his fans in the world and hope that he would be able to come to USA to meet his fans in the future. Though it is still some time in the future, he has been contacted by a star sponsor in the USA for him to come and perform. We are sure that when he is here, he will have a lot to show and entertain his fans. Angkorthom.US is very happy to interview him and add his profile to our website. We would like to wish him the best of luck for his career endeavor.