Toi Lam

People’s Artist Lâm Tới (1937 – 2000) was a famous Vietnamese actor, also known for his work as a director. His birth name is Lâm Thanh Tòng, born January 15, 1937 in My Hoi village, Cao Lanh district, Sa Dec province (now Dong Thap province). He had a difficult childhood, working as a keeper of rented buffaloes at the age of 7. Between 1949 and 1957, he studied and worked different positions for the armed forces.

In August 1959, Lâm entered the first film school in Hanoi. In 1964, graduating with honors, he became an actor in a Vietnamese feature film studio and was chosen to play the role of Kinh in the film Hai người lính (Two Soldiers), which won the Golden Globe Prize in Czechoslovakia. He then continued acting in other films: Trên vĩ tuyến 17, Nổi gió, Nguyễn Văn Trỗi, Cuộc chiến đấu vẫn còn tiếp diễn, Đường về quê mẹ, Vĩ tuyến 17 ngày và đêm,…

In Germany, April 1974, Lâm started as a student interning in film directing. After graduating, he resumed working as an actor and director at the Vietnamese Giai Phong Film Studio, participating in films such as: Giữa hai làn nước, Nắng đỏ, Lối rẽ trái trên con đường mòn,… His most prominent roles include Núi in “Đường về quê mẹ” (The Road to Motherland), Ba Đô in “Cánh đồng hoang” (The Abandoned Field: Free Fire Zone, 1979), Tám Quyện in “Mùa gió chướng” (Whirlwind Season, 1978),… He was awarded the title of Best Actor for his role of Tám Quyện at the Vietnam Film Festival in 1982. The film “Cánh đồng hoang” in which he stars won the Golden Prize and the Prix FIPRESCI at the 12th Moscow International Film Festival. During his lifetime, Lâm Tới was awarded the Third-class French Resistance War Medal, the Third-class Anti-American Resistance Order, the Badge of Ho Chi Minh City and the Medal of the Youth. He received the title of Distinguished Artist in 1984 and the title of People’s Artist in 1997. He died on 27 November, 2000 in Ho Chi Minh City.