Paul Anka

Personal Info

Known For Actor

Gender Male

Birthday 1941-07-30 (83 years old)

Place of Birth Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Paul Anka

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

Actor

2024
2024
My Way

as Self

2024
Vegas: The Story of Sin City

as Self - Entertainer

2019
The Masked Singer

as Broccoli

2019
The Masked Singer

as Broccoli (archive footage)

2013
2009
2008
The Memories of Angels

as Self (archive footage)

2002
American Idol

as Self - Guest

2001
2001
Star Academy

as Self

2000
Gilmore Girls

as Paul Anka

1998
That '70s Show

as Paul Anka

1997
The View

as Self

1996
Mad Dog Time

as Danny Marks

1994
Shake, Rattle and Rock!

as Mr. Lagrange

1993
Ordinary Magic

as Joey Dean

1992
Captain Ron

as Donaldson

1991
Voices That Care

as Self - Choir Member

1989
The Simpsons

as Paul Anka (voice)

1987
Téléthon

as Self

1986
1984
1982
1981
1979
My Way

as Himself

1976
1975
Numéro un

as Self

1974
3 nach 9

as Self

1973
Kojak

as Buddy Maus

1972
Midi trente

as Self (voice)

1971
1971
Samedi soir

as Self

1969
1964
The Hollywood Palace

as Self - Singer

1963
1962
The Longest Day

as U.S. Army Ranger

1962
Lonely Boy

as Himself

1961
Look in Any Window

as Craig Fowler

1961
The Mike Douglas Show

as Self - Co-Host

1959
Girls Town

as Jimmy Parlow

1958
Let's Rock!

as Himself

1958
1957
1957
1950
What's My Line?

as Self - Mystery Guest

1948
The Ed Sullivan Show

as Self - Singer

Sound

1965
Sylvia

as Theme Song Performance

Crew

1962
The Longest Day

as Additional Music