Paul Anka

Acting

Paul Anka

Born 1941-07-30 · Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

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.

Acting credits

The Longest Day poster
7.6

The retelling of June 6, 1944, from the perspectives of the Germans, US, British, Canadians, and the Free French. Marshall Erwin Rommel, touring the defenses being established as part of the Reich's Atlantic Wall, notes to his officers that when the Allied invasion comes they must be stopped on the beach. "For the Allies as well as the Germans, it will be the longest day"

The Longest Day

1962

3000 Miles to Graceland poster
5.9

It was an ingenious enough plan: rob the Riviera Casino's count room during an Elvis impersonator convention. But Thomas Murphy decided to keep all the money for himself and shot all his partners, including recently-freed ex-con Michael Zane. With $3.2 million at stake, the Marshals Service closing in, Michael must track down Murphy.

3000 Miles to Graceland

2001

Captain Ron poster
5.6

When mild-mannered Martin Harvey finds out that he has inherited a vintage yacht, he decides to take his family on a Caribbean vacation to retrieve the vessel. Upon arriving on a small island and realizing that the ship is in rough shape, Martin and his family end up with more than they bargained for as the roguish Captain Ron signs on to sail the boat to Miami. It doesn't take long before Ron's anything-goes antics get the Harveys into plenty of trouble.

Captain Ron

1992

Mad Dog Time poster
5.2

With his boss in the madhouse, a mobster is temporary boss of the criminal empire just as vicious rivals threaten the control of the empire.

Mad Dog Time

1996

Ordinary Magic poster
5.6

When his father dies, Jeffrey is sent to live with his aunt Charlotte in Canada. Once there he leads his aunt and his friends in staging, a non-violent hunger strike to try to save his aunt's house from being demolished to make room for a ski resort.

Ordinary Magic

1993

Michael Jackson: The Life of an Icon poster
8.1

See Michael Jackson, one of the most recognizable and popular entertainers of all time, like never before in the feature-length tribute Michael Jackson: The Life of an Icon. Known to millions of fans worldwide for his record-breaking albums, groundbreaking music videos, mesmerizing dance moves and humanitarian efforts, his true story has never really been told...until now. This unprecedented look into the King of Pop's fascinating life includes all-new interviews with his mother Katherine Jackson as well as siblings Tito and Rebbie Jackson, his nephew Jaafar Jackson and niece Tahkyah brings plenty Jackson and Friends ends and music legends such as Smokey Robinson, Dionne Warwick and his 3 children and many more.

Michael Jackson: The Life of an Icon

2011

Comedy Central Roast of Alec Baldwin poster
7.0

Sean Hayes serves as roast master as it is Alec Baldwin's turn in the hot seat. Robert De Niro, Jeff Ross, and Caitlyn Jenner among others take jabs at the actor/comedian.

Comedy Central Roast of Alec Baldwin

2019

My Way poster
7.8

My Way is more than a song, it's a major score that has crossed the boundaries of eras and generations. An anthem that has become a part of ourselves and of music history. My Way is one of the most covered songs in the world, from Sid Vicious to Tom Jones, from Nina Simone to Pavarotti. Yet many people are unaware that it was conceived in France, by the pool of Claude François' private hotel, in the summer of 1967, and that a succession of chance encounters and sleepless nights guided it across the Atlantic to the man who was to make it a legend. Like a biopic, this documentary recounts the birth of a myth and how a song entered the pantheon of pop culture.

My Way

2024

No artwork available
NR

The 49th Royal Variety Performance, held at the London Palladium on the 21st of November, 1977. Presented by Bob Hope, includes his own performances, Julie Andrews, Paul Anka, Pam Ayres, Harry Belafonte, Brotherhood of Man, Tommy Cooper, Alan King, Cleo Laine and Johnny Dankworth, John Williams, Little and Large, Shirley MacLaine, Jim Henson's Muppets, Rudolf Nureyev, Jack Parnell with special visits from Queen Elizabeth II, her husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and Charles, Prince of Wales

The Royal Variety Performance 1977

1977

Girls Town poster
3.7

Chip is killed accidentally while trying to rape a blonde girl, who runs. Silver becomes the number one suspect even though she has an alibi, but due to previous brushes with the law she's sent to Girls Town, a home for young women in trouble with the law which is run by nuns. Silver is rebellious and causes trouble at the school, and her friend Sarafina totters near the brink of self-destruction because of an infatuation with a young singer. Meanwhile Chip's father hires a detective to find out the truth, and Chip's friend Fred gets Silver's sister in trouble at a drag race. Silver has a lot of problems all right.

Girls Town

1959

Voices That Care poster
7.0

Behind the scenes making of the charity single "Voices That Care".

Voices That Care

1991

Prince of the Hit Parade poster
5.3

A Finnish music comedy set in the ealy 1960s.

Prince of the Hit Parade

1991

Lill-Babs 40 år som artist poster
NR

Legendary Swedish artist Lill-Babs celebrates 40 years as an artist with a grand evening full of performances and congratulations from some of the people she has crossed paths with over the decades.

Lill-Babs 40 år som artist

1994

Shake, Rattle and Rock! poster
6.0

In 1950s America, teenage rebellion comes easy when something like rock 'n' roll is viewed as sinful. Looking to have a good time while they're young, small-town teens Susan, Cookie and Tony start a nightclub where host Danny Klay introduces the newest rock 'n' roll talent, and everyone can dance the night away. Of course, not everyone in town is happy with the new establishment.

Shake, Rattle and Rock!

1994

Perry Mason: The Case of the Maligned Mobster poster
6.7

A gangster who has commited all kinds of crimes is accused to have killed his wife. As he was not the murderer in this case Perry Mason intents to find the killer...

Perry Mason: The Case of the Maligned Mobster

1991

Jay Sebring… Cutting to the Truth poster
7.5

An illuminating portrait of Jay Sebring — the long-forgotten artist, designer, and entrepreneur who created a billion-dollar hair & beauty industry and defined iconic Hollywood styles for men.

Jay Sebring… Cutting to the Truth

2020

AFI's 100 Years... 100 Songs: America's Greatest Music in the Movies poster
8.3

The top 100 songs of the past 100 years chosen by the American Film Institute are presented by host-actor John Travolta.

AFI's 100 Years... 100 Songs: America's Greatest Music in the Movies

2004

The Private Lives of Adam and Eve poster
4.2

A modern couple dream that they are Adam and Eve.

The Private Lives of Adam and Eve

1960

David Foster: Off the Record poster
7.0

A documentary about Canadian music icon David Foster.

David Foster: Off the Record

2019

Lily: Sold Out poster
6.5

After taking her successful Broadway show to Las Vegas, Lily Tomlin is faced with a tough decision: soften her act for mass appeal, or keep her material the way she originally intended?

Lily: Sold Out

1981

Mireille Mathieu - Singen, nur singen poster
7.0

Mireille Mathieu, along with Edith Piaf and Dalida, is part of France's national cultural heritage. The documentary shows the tension between the celebrated and at the same time banished, the ambassador of France in the world, who appears only rarely in her own homeland. Why is Mireille Mathieu, the unusual star, so divisive?

Mireille Mathieu - Singen, nur singen

2021

Paul Anka - Live in Switzerland poster
8.0

1957, at the tender age of 16, Paul Anka's debut hit single Diana immediately catapulted him into Hall of Fame status. For decades now, Anka has been one of the most successful composers around: Tom Jones' She's a Lady was written by him, as well as the lyrics for Frank Sinatra's legendary signature song My Way. He has released over 120 albums and sold over 100 million records. Anka has also been named the 21st most successful artist in Billboard's history (Billboard statistic). Today, Paul Anka is known as the last great crooner. When he translates his own as well as cover songs into elegant swing and gives his charm free reign on the stage, Anka glorifies the purest form of entertainment. Joined by his Big Band, he presents his programme 'Rock Swings' including famous rock classics in Swing versions at AVO SESSION Basel. This performance includes the big hits Diana, My Way, New York New York, Put Your Head On My Shoulder and more.

Paul Anka - Live in Switzerland

2013

Lindsay Wagner: Another Side of Me poster
9.0

Television special in which Lindsay Wagner sings, re-enacts her wedding day, plays in a silent-comedy spoof, meets Paul Anka, swims a la Esther Williams and plays Guinevere to Michael Brandon's Lancelot.

Lindsay Wagner: Another Side of Me

1977

No artwork available
4.5

A lounge singer tries to adjust to rock 'n' roll music.

Let's Rock!

1958