Apichart Puapimon was found dead in a sitting position in front of his computer, with his head resting on the wall inside his bedroom. His anti-asthma medicines were on the desk.

His mother, actress Sida Puapimon, believed her son succumbed to a chronic asthma attack and recent complications from coronary artery disease.

Forensic tests are being done to determine the exact cause of Apichart's death.

"I heard him panting loudly trying to catch his breath in his bedroom at around 8am," Sida said, "I went upstairs to check whether he was okay and he told me, 'I'm fine. I just had a dream and talked in my sleep'. So I went downstairs."

Sida said she did not suspect anything was wrong until 11am when Apichart still had not come down for breakfast.

"Our maid then went up and knocked on the door of his bedroom, but my son did not answer. Another maid did the same and there was still no response. So we asked security guards at our village to break in. What I found was him dead," the grieving mother said.

The family's home is in Bangkok.

Sida said she would hold the funeral services for her son at Lat Phrao Temple.

Apichart entered show business nearly a decade ago. He got his nickname because his looks and haircut resembled Reeves in his blockbuster movie "Speed". He had starred in many TV series before his asthma forced him to retire.

Apichart's health improved last year and he made a comeback in the entertainment business. He had regularly visited hospitals for treatment.

At the time of his death, he had just taken a new role in another TV series.

Kullanat Preeyawat, a leading actress who played alongside Apichart in his first and last TV series, said she was saddened by his premature death.

"He was a great actor and was still so young," she said.