Biography for
Paul Anka More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

30 July 1941, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Birth Name

Paul Albert Anka

Height

5' 6" (1.68 m)

Mini Biography

Canadian-born Paul Anka first achieved success in the 1950s as a teenage singing star (and, for the times, an unusual one in that he wrote many of his own songs). Although he appeared in several films, and was quite believable as a nervous, hyper young soldier in The Longest Day (1962) (for which he also composed the theme music), Anka's main interest was music, and he concentrated his efforts into composing (he wrote lyrics for Frank Sinatra's classic "My Way") and nightclub appearances in Las Vegas.

IMDb Mini Biography By: frankfob2@yahoo.com

Spouse

Anna Anka	(26 July 2008 - 2010) (divorced) 1 child
Anne de Zogheb	(16 February 1963 - 2 October 2000) (divorced) 5 children

Trivia

Singer/songwriter

Father of five daughters: Alexandra Anka, Amanda Anka, Alicia Anka, Anthea Anka and Amelia Anka.

Anka played Sammy Glick for one week in the Broadway musical, "What Makes Sammy Run?" beginning on July 13, 1964.

Played himself on an episode of "The Simpsons" (1989).

During a live show Paul Anka on camera identified himself as a Catholic born in Canada to Lebanese immigrants.

makes his first network TV appearance (in the U.S.), as he features his soon-to-be #1 hit "Diana". [7 August 1957]

Formerly co-owner of the NHL's Ottawa Senators.

His song "Times of Your Life", originally a commercial jingle for Kodak cameras, was a Billboard #1 pop hit in 1973.

Father-in-law of actor/director Jason Bateman.

Wrote the song "Puppy Love" about his romance with Annette Funicello.

Not only did he appear in The Longest Day (1962), he also composed the main theme for the film.

Has dual Canadian/American citizenship. Became a U.S. citizen on September 6, 1990.

Father of Amanda Anka and Alexandra Anka.

He released a version of the song "Kabhi Kabhie" from the film Kabhi Kabhie - Love Is Life (1976) starring Indian actor Amitabh Bachchan.

Lorelai Gilmore's dog on "Gilmore Girls" (2000) is named after him.

Has street named after him in Ottawa, Paul Anka Dr.

His childhood ambition was to be a lawyer or a journalist.

He started singing at age 12.

At 15, he won a supermarket contest to collect the most number of Campbell's Soup wrappers. The prize was a train trip to Manhattan.

Wrote "Diana", a love song, for the 18-year-old babysitter of his younger brother and sister. The song became America's top song in September of 1957.

He wrote "Lonely Boy" for his mother, who died of a liver disease.

To date, Paul has recorded 125 albums--including songs in Japanese, German, Spanish, French, and Italian--and sold more than 15 million worldwide.

"My Way", the song he wrote for Frank Sinatra, is tagged as the "Killer Song" in the Philippines. It's the top pick of drinking buddies in karaoke/videoke bars and when sung off-key, the singer is usually roughed up (or oftentimes shot or stabbed to death) by other drunks in the bar.

Had a song duet with Regine Velasquez titled "It's Hard To Say Goodbye".

He discovered Michael Bublé, Corey Hart and David Clayton-Thomas.

He is friends with Ryan Reynolds and meets him once in a while (according to Ryan).

Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1993.

Was Mel Brooks first choice for the role of Leo Bloom in "The Producers." Brooks started writing it as a Broadway play called "Springtime for Hitler," and envisioned Anka as the lead character.

Pictured on one of four 52¢ Canadian commemorative postage stamps honoring Canadian Recording Artists, issued 29 June 2007. The other stamps pictured Gordon Lightfoot, Joni Mitchell, and Anne Murray.

Married his second ex-wife, Anna Anka, in Porto Cervo, Sardinia, Italy. They have one son, Ethan (b. 2004).

He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 6840 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.

Has 5 daughters, 1 son and 8 grandchildren.

Coincidentally, the first names of his five daughters and two wives all begin with the letter "A".

Daughter Anthea Anka duetted with him on the track "Do I Love You" from his album "A Body of Work" (1998) (on which Bee Gee Barry Gibb sang backing vocals).

Personal Quotes

I had this talent for these stupid little teenage songs.

[on Frank Sinatra's unpredictable personality] If you went to dinner with Frank, you took your passport.

[as a youngster, performing between exotic dance numbers] I used to hang out in the dressing room and dig holes in the walls with the pocket knife I carried around with me so I could ogle the girls.

[on Justin Bieber's dealing with early celebrity] You've gotta realize, none of us were born sophisticated. You get lucky at a young age, you have a God-given talent, and you're crawling and absolutely moaning and learning as you take that voyage in life. C'mon. You can't tell a kid who just got a cheque for $150 million. I don't care how smart he is.