Paul Anka
Known for Acting · 86 credits
- Born
- 1941-07-30 (age 84)
- Place of birth
- Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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
TV Shows (53)
The Simpsons
1989
as Paul Anka (voice)
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
as Self
Real Time with Bill Maher
2003
as Self
Gilmore Girls
2000
as Paul Anka
The Mike Douglas Show
1961
as Self - Co-Host
The View
1997
as Self
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
2003
as Self - Musical Guest
That '70s Show
1998
as Paul Anka
American Idol
2002
as Self - Guest
Las Vegas
2003
as Paul Anka
The Merv Griffin Show
1962
as Self
What's My Line?
1950
as Self - Mystery Guest
Champs-Elysées
1982
as Self
The Masked Singer
2019
as Broccoli / Broccoli (archive footage)
Sacrée soirée
1987
as Self
The Ed Sullivan Show
1948
as Self
3 nach 9
1974
as Self
Kojak
1973
as Buddy Maus
Les Rendez-vous du dimanche
1975
as Self
Numéro un
1975
as Self
Dinah!
1974
as Self
The Midnight Special
1972
as Self
Midi trente
1972
as Self (voice)
Die ultimative Chartshow
2003
as Self
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
1956
as Self
Kraft Music Hall
1958
as Self
Viña del Mar International Song Festival
1963
as Self - Musical Guest
Samedi soir
1971
as Self
The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour
1969
as Self
American Bandstand
1957
as Self
The Hollywood Palace
1964
as Self
Star Academy
2001
as Self
Téléthon
1987
as Self
Donny & Marie
1976
as Self
Rebel Highway
1994
as Mr. Lagrange
Aktuelle Schaubude
1957
as Self
The Dick Clark Show
1958
as Self
Willkommen bei Carmen Nebel
2004
as Self
Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life
2016
as Paul Anka
Einer wird gewinnen
1964
The Rosie O'Donnell Show
1996
as Self
Svenska Hollywoodfruar
2009
as Himself
Ein Herz für Kinder
1998
as Self
Wedden, dat..?
1986
as Self
4-3-2-1 Hot and Sweet
1966
as Self
Cadet Rousselle
1971
as Self
Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters
1980
as Self
Soundbreaking
2016
as Self
This Is Tom Jones
1969
as Self
Goldener Löwe
1984
as Self
Werner Müllers Schlagermagazin
1961
as Self
Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell
1975
Vegas: The Story of Sin City
2024
as Self - Entertainer
Movies (33)
Michael Jackson: The Life of an Icon
2011
as Self
The Longest Day
1962
as U.S. Army Ranger
3000 Miles to Graceland
2001
as Pit Boss #1
Captain Ron
1992
as Donaldson
Mad Dog Time
1996
as Danny Marks
AFI's 100 Years... 100 Songs: America's Greatest Music in the Movies
2004
as Self
Shake, Rattle and Rock!
1994
as Mr. Lagrange
David Foster: Off the Record
2019
as Self
My Way
2024
as Self
Voices That Care
1991
as Self - Choir Member
Perry Mason: The Case of the Maligned Mobster
1991
as Nick Angel
Comedy Central Roast of Alec Baldwin
2019
as Self
Ordinary Magic
1993
as Joey Dean
Lily: Sold Out
1981
as Self
Girls Town
1959
as Jimmy Parlow
Jay Sebring… Cutting to the Truth
2020
as Self
The Private Lives of Adam and Eve
1960
as Pinkie Parker
Prince of the Hit Parade
1991
as Himself
Look in Any Window
1961
as Craig Fowler
The Royal Variety Performance 1977
1977
as Self
Lindsay Wagner: Another Side of Me
1977
as Self
C'est votre vie
2013
as Self
Buddy Holly: Rave On
2017
as Self
Cinderella at the Palace
1978
as Self
Let's Rock!
1958
as Himself
Mireille Mathieu - Singen, nur singen
2021
as Self (archive footage)
The Memories of Angels
2008
as Self (archive footage)
Paul Anka: His Way
2024
as Self
Paul Anka - Live in Switzerland
2013
My Way
1979
as Self
Lonely Boy
1962
as Himself
The Midnight Special Legendary Performances: More 1974
1974
Paul Anka plays Avo Session
2011
About Paul Anka
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 wi… With 86 credits spanning from 1948 to 2024, Paul Anka has appeared in 33 films and 53 TV shows.
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Most Popular Paul Anka Movies
- Michael Jackson: The Life of an Icon (2011) — as Self
- The Longest Day (1962) — as U.S. Army Ranger
- 3000 Miles to Graceland (2001) — as Pit Boss #1
- Captain Ron (1992) — as Donaldson
- Mad Dog Time (1996) — as Danny Marks
Where to Watch Paul Anka Films
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