Paul Anka
Acting
Born: July 30, 1941 (age 85) · Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Highest Rated
Biography
Paul Albert Anka (born July 30, 1941) is a Canadian-American singer, songwriter and actor. He is best known for his signature hit songs including "Diana", "Lonely Boy", "Put Your Head on My Shoulder", and "(You're) Having My Baby". Anka also wrote the theme for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson; one of Tom Jones' biggest hits, "She's a Lady"; and the English lyrics to Claude François and Jacques Revaux's music for Frank Sinatra's signature song "My Way", which has been recorded by many, including Elvis Presley. He co-wrote three songs with Michael Jackson: "This Is It" (originally titled "I Never Heard") "Love Never Felt So Good", and "Don't Matter to Me", which became posthumous hits for Jackson in 2009, 2014, and 2018, respectively. Anka was born in Ottawa, Ontario, to Camelia (née Tannis) and Andrew Emile "Andy" Anka Sr., who owned a restaurant called the Locanda. His parents were both of Lebanese descent. His father came to Canada from Bab Tuma, Damascus, Syria, and his mother was an immigrant from Lebanon. His mother died when he was 18. Anka sang with the St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral choir under the direction of Frederick Karam, with whom he studied music theory. He studied piano with Winnifred Rees. He attended Fisher Park High School, where he was part of a vocal trio called the Bobby Soxers. Paul Anka recorded his first single, "I Confess", when he was 14. In 1956, with $100 given to him by his uncle, he went to New York City where he auditioned for Don Costa at ABC Records, singing what was widely believed to be a lovestruck verse he had written to a former babysitter. In an interview with NPR's Terry Gross in 2005, he stated that it was to a girl at his church whom he hardly knew. The resulting song "Diana" brought Anka stardom as it went to No. 1 on the Canadian and US music charts. "Diana" is one of the best selling singles ever by a Canadian recording artist. He followed up with four songs that made it into the Top 20 in 1958, including "It's Time to Cry", which hit No. 4 and "(All of a Sudden) My Heart Sings", which reached No. 15, making him (at 17) one of the biggest teen idols of the time. He toured Britain, then Australia with Buddy Holly. Anka also wrote "It Doesn't Matter Anymore" – a song written for Holly, which Holly recorded just before he died in 1959. Anka stated shortly afterward: "It Doesn't Matter Anymore" has a tragic irony about it now, but at least it will help look after Buddy Holly's family. I'm giving my composer's royalty to his widow – it's the least I can do." ... Source: Article "Paul Anka" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.
Known for
The Simpsons
1989
That '70s Show
1998
Gilmore Girls
2000
The Longest Day
1962
3000 Miles to Graceland
2001
Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life
2016
Captain Ron
1992
Las Vegas
2003
Michael Jackson: The Life of an Icon
2011
Kojak
1973
Bill Hicks: Sane Man
1989
Mad Dog Time
1996
Photos (1)
Movies (13)
The Longest Day
U.S. Army Ranger
3000 Miles to Graceland
Pit Boss #1
Captain Ron
Donaldson
Mad Dog Time
Danny Marks
Ordinary Magic
Joey Dean
Girls Town
Jimmy Parlow
Shake, Rattle and Rock!
Mr. Lagrange
Perry Mason: The Case of the Maligned Mobster
Nick Angel
Look in Any Window
Craig Fowler
Paul Anka - Live in Switzerland
2013
The Private Lives of Adam and Eve
Pinkie Parker
The Midnight Special Legendary Performances: More 1974
1974
Paul Anka plays Avo Session
2011
TV Shows (10)
The Simpsons
Paul Anka (voice) · 2 eps
Gilmore Girls
Paul Anka · 1 eps
Las Vegas
Paul Anka · 3 eps
That '70s Show
Paul Anka · 1 eps
The Masked Singer
Broccoli · 2 eps
The Masked Singer
Broccoli (archive footage) · 1 eps
Kojak
Buddy Maus · 1 eps
Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life
Paul Anka · 1 eps
Rebel Highway
Mr. Lagrange · 1 eps
Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell
4 eps
Self / Appearances (56)
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self · 1 eps
Real Time with Bill Maher
Self · 1 eps
The Mike Douglas Show
Self - Co-Host · 2 eps
The Mike Douglas Show
Self · 4 eps
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Self - Musical Guest · 1 eps
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Self - Guest · 1 eps
The View
Self · 2 eps
The Merv Griffin Show
Self · 1 eps
American Idol
Self - Guest · 1 eps
Sacrée soirée
Self · 2 eps
Champs-Elysées
Self · 1 eps
Les Rendez-vous du dimanche
Self · 2 eps
What's My Line?
Self - Mystery Guest · 2 eps
Dinah!
Self · 1 eps
The Ed Sullivan Show
Self · 9 eps
Numéro un
Self · 2 eps
Viña del Mar International Song Festival
Self - Musical Guest · 1 eps
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
Self · 1 eps
Midi trente
Self (voice) · 1 eps
Kraft Music Hall
Self · 1 eps
The Midnight Special
Self · 3 eps
Soundbreaking
Self · 2 eps
American Bandstand
Self · 1 eps
Aktuelle Schaubude
Self · 1 eps
Donny & Marie
Self · 1 eps
Star Academy
Self · 2 eps
The Hollywood Palace
Self · 1 eps
The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour
Self · 1 eps
The Dick Clark Show
Self · 10 eps
Téléthon
Self · 1 eps
Svenska Hollywoodfruar
Himself · 4 eps
The Rosie O'Donnell Show
Self · 1 eps
Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters
Self · 1 eps
Ein Herz für Kinder
Self · 1 eps
Cadet Rousselle
Self · 1 eps
This Is Tom Jones
Self · 1 eps
Michael Jackson: The Life of an Icon
Self
Vegas: The Story of Sin City
Self - Entertainer · 4 eps
My Way
Self
Jay Sebring… Cutting to the Truth
Self
Voices That Care
Self - Choir Member
Prince of the Hit Parade
Himself
Lill-Babs 40 år som artist
Self
Comedy Central Roast of Alec Baldwin
Self
Lily: Sold Out
Self
David Foster: Off the Record
Self
AFI's 100 Years... 100 Songs: America's Greatest Music in the Movies
Self
The Memories of Angels
Self (archive footage)
Cinderella at the Palace
Self
Mireille Mathieu - Singen, nur singen
Self (archive footage)
Lindsay Wagner: Another Side of Me
Self
Paul Anka: His Way
Self
C'est votre vie
Self
Buddy Holly: Rave On
Self
My Way
Self
Lonely Boy
Himself
