Born on June 13, 1935, in Bangkok, Mr Samak Sundaravej went on to earn a law degree from Thammasat University.
From 1957 to 1973, he wrote a fiery political column for Siam Rath, a Thai-language daily.
In 1968, he joined the Democrat Party. He won his first parliamentary seat in 1973.
In 1976, he ranted through a radio show against left-wing students at Thammasat University, stirring up right-wing emotion that culminated in a massacre of the students.
In 1992, he said troops who shot at pro-democracy students protesting in Bangkok against dictator Suchinda Kraprayoon were legitimately suppressing 'mob rule'.
Mr Samak has served in several Thai Cabinets, rising to the rank of deputy prime minister. He has also been interior minister and transport minister.
He left the Democrat Party and founded the right-wing Prachakorn Thai party in 1979 and became governor of Bangkok in 2000.
After leaving the post in 2004, he resumed his TV and radio talk shows and started a successful TV culinary show that further entrenched him as a household name.
He is under investigation for alleged corruption over the purchase of fire trucks while he was Bangkok governor. He has also been convicted and sentenced to two years' jail for defamation, but the case is under appeal.