Paul Anka

Paul Anka

Known for: Acting
Biography: 1941-07-30 (82 years old)

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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.

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Filmography

all 81

self 58

TV Shows 47

Movies 34

Self
Vegas: The Story of Sin City

Vegas: The Story of Sin City (2024)

TV
Self
Jay Sebring… Cutting to the Truth

Jay Sebring… Cutting to the Truth (2020)

Movie
Self
Comedy Central Roast of Alec Baldwin

Comedy Central Roast of Alec Baldwin (2019)

Movie
Self
David Foster: Off the Record

David Foster: Off the Record (2019)

Movie
Broccoli / Broccoli (archive footage)
The Masked Singer

The Masked Singer (2019)

TV
6
Self
Buddy Holly: Rave On

Buddy Holly: Rave On (2017)

Movie
Paul Anka
Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life

Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life (2016)

TV
7.13
Self
The Outrageous Sophie Tucker

The Outrageous Sophie Tucker (2014)

Movie
Self
C'est votre vie

C'est votre vie (2013)

Movie
Paul Anka - Live in Switzerland

Paul Anka - Live in Switzerland (2013)

Movie
Paul Anka plays Avo Session

Paul Anka plays Avo Session (2011)

Movie
Self
Michael Jackson: The Life of an Icon

Michael Jackson: The Life of an Icon (2011)

Movie
Himself
Svenska Hollywoodfruar

Svenska Hollywoodfruar (2009)

TV
Self
The Memories of Angels

The Memories of Angels (2008)

Movie
Self / Self - Performer
George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight

George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight (2005)

TV
Self
Willkommen bei Carmen Nebel

Willkommen bei Carmen Nebel (2004)

TV
Las Vegas

Las Vegas (2003)

TV
5.86
Self
Die ultimative Chartshow

Die ultimative Chartshow (2003)

TV
Self - Guest
American Idol

American Idol (2002)

TV
7.25
Self
Star Academy

Star Academy (2001)

TV
10
Pit Boss #1
3000 Miles to Graceland

3000 Miles to Graceland (2001)

Movie
4
Paul Anka
Gilmore Girls

Gilmore Girls (2000)

TV
6.71
Self
Ein Herz für Kinder

Ein Herz für Kinder (1998)

TV
Paul Anka
That '70s Show

That '70s Show (1998)

TV
6.14
Self
Frank Sinatra: The Voice of the Century

Frank Sinatra: The Voice of the Century (1998)

Movie
Self
The View

The View (1997)

TV
5.5
Danny Marks
Mad Dog Time

Mad Dog Time (1996)

Movie
Self
The Rosie O'Donnell Show

The Rosie O'Donnell Show (1996)

TV
3.93
Mr. Lagrange
Shake, Rattle and Rock!

Shake, Rattle and Rock! (1994)

Movie
Joey Dean
Ordinary Magic

Ordinary Magic (1993)

Movie
Self
Holiday Greetings from 'The Ed Sullivan Show'

Holiday Greetings from 'The Ed Sullivan Show' (1992)

Movie
Donaldson
Captain Ron

Captain Ron (1992)

Movie
6
Nick Angel
Perry Mason: The Case of the Maligned Mobster

Perry Mason: The Case of the Maligned Mobster (1991)

Movie
Himself
Prince of the Hit Parade

Prince of the Hit Parade (1991)

Movie
Self - Choir Member
Voices That Care

Voices That Care (1990)

Movie
Paul Anka (voice)
The Simpsons

The Simpsons (1989)

TV
6.75
Music
Bill Hicks: Sane Man

Bill Hicks: Sane Man (1989)

Movie
Songs
George and the Christmas Star

George and the Christmas Star (1985)

Movie
Self
Goldener Löwe

Goldener Löwe (1984)

TV
Self
Champs-Elysées

Champs-Elysées (1982)

TV
Self
Lily: Sold Out

Lily: Sold Out (1981)

Movie
Self
Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters

Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters (1980)

TV
Self
My Way

My Way (1979)

Movie
Actor
Lindsay Wagner: Another Side of Me

Lindsay Wagner: Another Side of Me (1977)

Movie
Self
Donny & Marie

Donny & Marie (1976)

TV
Self
Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell

Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell (1975)

TV
Self
Numéro un

Numéro un (1975)

TV
Self
Les Rendez-vous du dimanche

Les Rendez-vous du dimanche (1975)

TV
Self
III nach neun

III nach neun (1974)

TV
Buddy Maus
Kojak

Kojak (1973)

TV
6
Host
The Midnight Special

The Midnight Special (1972)

TV
Self (voice)
Midi trente

Midi trente (1972)

TV
Self
Cadet Rousselle

Cadet Rousselle (1971)

TV
Self
Samedi soir

Samedi soir (1971)

TV
This Is Tom Jones

This Is Tom Jones (1969)

TV
Self
The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour

The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour (1969)

TV
Self
4-3-2-1 Hot and Sweet

4-3-2-1 Hot and Sweet (1966)

TV
Theme Song Performance
Sylvia

Sylvia (1965)

Movie
Self - Host / Self
Hullabaloo

Hullabaloo (1965)

TV
Einer wird gewinnen

Einer wird gewinnen (1964)

TV
Self - Singer
The Hollywood Palace

The Hollywood Palace (1964)

TV
Self - Musical Guest
Viña del Mar International Song Festival

Viña del Mar International Song Festival (1963)

TV
Self
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962)

TV
6
U.S. Army Ranger / Additional Music
The Longest Day

The Longest Day (1962)

Movie
1
Self
Lonely Boy

Lonely Boy (1962)

Movie
Self - Co-Host / Self
The Mike Douglas Show

The Mike Douglas Show (1961)

TV
self
Werner Müllers Schlagermagazin

Werner Müllers Schlagermagazin (1961)

TV
Craig Fowler
Look in Any Window

Look in Any Window (1961)

Movie
Paul Anka
Dan Raven

Dan Raven (1960)

TV
Pinkie Parker
The Private Lives of Adam and Eve

The Private Lives of Adam and Eve (1960)

Movie
Jimmy Parlow
Girls Town

Girls Town (1959)

Movie
Paul Anka
Let's Rock!

Let's Rock! (1958)

Movie
Self
Kraft Music Hall

Kraft Music Hall (1958)

TV
Self
The Dick Clark Show

The Dick Clark Show (1958)

TV
Self
American Bandstand

American Bandstand (1957)

TV
Self
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show

The Dinah Shore Chevy Show (1956)

TV
Self - Mystery Guest
What's My Line?

What's My Line? (1950)

TV
Self - Singer / Self
The Ed Sullivan Show

The Ed Sullivan Show (1948)

TV
6
Self
A Classic Christmas From The Ed Sullivan Show

A Classic Christmas From The Ed Sullivan Show

Movie
Self
The Songwriter's Hall of Fame 20th Anniversary... The Magic of Music

The Songwriter's Hall of Fame 20th Anniversary... The Magic of Music

TV
The Midnight Special Legendary Performances: More 1974

The Midnight Special Legendary Performances: More 1974

Movie

Ratings

Average 5.58
Based on 1.06 Million movie and tv ratings over time
1948
1965
1984
1972
2024
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Information

Known For
Acting

Gender
Male

Birthday
1941-07-30 (82 years old)

Birth Name
Paul Albert Anka

Birth Place
Ottawa, Canada

Relationships
Anna Anka (2008-07-26 - 2010-01-01)

Children
Anthea Anka, Amanda Anka

Citizenships
United States of America, Canada

Residences
Ottawa, Canada

Also Known As
Paul Albert Anka

Awards
Canada's Walk of Fame, Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres, Juno Award for Songwriter of the Year, Canadian Music Hall of Fame, Great Immigrants, Johnny Mercer Award, star on Hollywood Walk of Fame, Officer of the Order of Canada


This article uses material from Wikipedia.
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