Kanaphan Puitrakul

Kanaphan was born and raised in Bangkok, Thailand. He has an older and a younger brother. His parents nicknamed him "First", so that he could achieve many things in his life.^[2] He completed his secondary education at Suankularb Wittayalai School. In 2021, he graduated with second-class honours from Srinakharinwirot University, with a bachelor's degree in Cyber Business Management.^[3][4]

In 2016, Kanaphan started his acting career at the age of eighteen. He auditioned for The Assassin (ฆาตกร), a movie produced for Children's Day, and was selected for the main role out of a pool of 100 teenagers.^[5][6][7] In 2017, he participated in the "Cool Man Good Man" competition and entered the top 4.^[8] Later that year, he was hired by KA Cosmetics, together with Poompat Iam-samang (Up), for a yaoi television advertisement which went viral years later.^[9][10][11]

In 2018, he joined the production and talent agency GMMTV and made his television debut with a supporting role in Wake Up Ladies: The Series. In the same year, he became one of the hosts of GMM25's popular travel-based show Toe Laew. In 2020, he reprised his role as host in the show's second season.^[12][13] First has been a regular guest and main host (since 2022) on Thai variety and game show School Rangers.^[14]

In 2019, Kanaphan had a main role in the series Wolf and Blacklist.^[15][16] The following year, he starred in The Shipper^[17] and reprised his role as Ryu in the sequel series Wake Up Ladies: Very Complicated. In 2021 he played the role of Yok in Not Me.^[18] Arguably his breakout role.

In 2022, Kanaphan became an official pair with his real-life best friend Thanawat Rattanakitpaisan (Khaotung). They starred together in The Eclipse (Thai TV series).^[19] The series won multiple awards and was named one of Teen Vogue's best BL Series of the year 2022.^[20][21] In the same year, First had supporting roles in F4 Thailand: Boys Over Flowers and Astrophile.^[22][23][24] He also had a small role in the Netflix movie The Lost Lotteries.^[25]

In 2023, Kanaphan starred as Alan in the Moonlight Chicken.^[26] The show won Best LGBTQ+ Programme Made in Asia at the Content Asia Awards 2023.^[27] He also reprised his role as Akk in Our Skyy 2. For the series, First and co-star Khaotung Thanawat Rattanakitpaisan, released the single ฟังดีดี (Your World, My World) under GMMTV Records.^[28] Later in 2023, he played Sand in the ensemble series Only Friends.^[29]

In 2024, Kanaphan starred as Kant opposite Khaotung in the series The Heart Killers, which also starred Archen Aydin (Joong) and Natachai Boonprasert (Dunk) in lead roles.^[30] It was the number one watched series on streaming service iQIYI while airing.^[31] The cast is currently having fan meetings around the world.

In 2026, he appeared in Ossan's Love Thailand and My Magic Prophecy. He also starred as Tiger in the series Cat for Cash, opposite Khaotung.^[32][33]

Kanaphan has participated in the GMMTV two-day concert Love Out Loud Fan Fest in both 2023 and 2024.^[34][35] He will also appear in the 2025 edition.

Kanaphan has his own clothing brand called Momento.^[36] By September 2025, he had over 3.6 million followers on Instagram and 1.9 million followers on X.^[37]