Thanawat Rattanakitpaisan^{[lower-alpha 1]} (Thai: ธนวัฒน์ รัตนกิจไพศาล; born October 13, 1998), nicknamed Khaotung (Thai: ข้าวตัง) is a Thai actor signed under GMMTV.^[1] He is best known for his main roles in the television series Tonhon Chonlatee (2020), 55:15 Never Too Late (2021), The Eclipse (2022) and Only Friends (2023).

Khaotung was born and raised in Lamphun Province, Thailand.^[2] He has a younger sister. His father died when he was seven years old. He completed his secondary education at Monfort College.^[3] In 2017, he enrolled at Chiang Mai University in the Faculty of Medical Technology before transferring to Kasetsart University to study Environmental Engineering in 2018.^[4]

In 2018, at the age of 19, Khaotung was signed as an artist under the production and talent agency GMMTV. That same year, he made his acting television debut as a supporting character in the series 'Cause You're My Boy.^[5][6] He followed this by supporting roles in The Charming Step Mom,^[7] Blacklist^[8] and 2gether.^[9]

In 2020, Khaotung landed his first leading role as the titular character in the series Tonhon Chonlatee alongside Suphakorn Sriphothong.^[10][11]

In 2021, Khaotung played Longtae in A Tale of Thousand Stars.^[12] Later in the year, Khaotung released his first single "Never Too Late" as the opening theme song for the series 55:15 Never Too Late,^[13] in which he also starred in a main role.^[14]

In 2022, Khaotung starred as Ayan in the series The Eclipse alongside real-life best friend Kanaphan Puitrakul.^[15][16] The Eclipse won Best BL Series at the Thai Digital Awards 2022^[17] and the Bronze Award for Best LGBTQ+ Programme Made in Asia at the Content Asia Awards 2023.^[18] He also earned an Asia Television Awards nomination for Best Theme Song for "Over The Moon (คลาด)" which Khaotung provided lead vocals.^[19][20]

In 2023, he was cast as Gaipa in the Midnight Series: Moonlight Chicken,^[21] winning the award for Best Supporting Actor at the Y Universe Awards^[22][23] and was nominated for Best Actor in A Supporting Role at the Asia Television Awards.^[19][20] He also reprised his role as Ayan from The Eclipse in the anthology series Our Skyy 2.^[24] Khaotung later played Ray in the ensemble cast series Only Friends,^[25] earning him a Best Actor in a Leading Role nomination at the Y Universe Awards.^[23]

In 2024, Khaotung became one of the new hosts of the long-running variety show School Rangers.^[26][27] Later in the year, he will work again with Only Friends director Tichakorn Phukhaotong and on-screen partner Kanaphan Puitrakul, playing Bison in the upcoming series The Heart Killers.^[28][29]