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Paul Anka Facts
| Sign | Leo |
| Born |
Jul 30, 1941 Ottawa, Canada |
| Age | 85 |
| Total Facts | 34 |
"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.
Anka played Sammy Glick for one week in the Broadway musical, "What Makes Sammy Run?" beginning on July 13, 1964.
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.
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).
During a live show Paul Anka on camera identified himself as a Catholic born in Canada to Lebanese immigrants.
Father of Amanda Anka and Alexandra Anka.
Father of five daughters: Alexandra Anka, Amanda Anka, Alicia Anka, Anthea Anka and Amelia Anka.
Father-in-law of actor/director Jason Bateman.
Formerly co-owner of the NHL's Ottawa Senators.
Had a song duet with Regine Velasquez titled "It's Hard To Say Goodbye".
Has 5 daughters, 1 son and 8 grandchildren.
Has dual Canadian/American citizenship. Became a U.S. citizen on September 6, 1990.
Has street named after him in Ottawa, Paul Anka Dr.
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).
He released a version of the song "Kabhi Kabhie" from the film Kabhi Kabhie - Love Is Life (1976) starring Indian actor Amitabh Bachchan.
He started singing at age 12.
He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 6840 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
He wrote "Lonely Boy" for his mother, who died of a liver disease.
His childhood ambition was to be a lawyer or a journalist.
His song "Times of Your Life", originally a commercial jingle for Kodak cameras, was a Billboard #1 pop hit in 1973.
Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1993.
Lorelai Gilmore's dog on "Gilmore Girls" (2000) is named after him.
makes his first network TV appearance (in the U.S.), as he features his soon-to-be #1 hit "Diana". [7 August 1957]
Married his second ex-wife, Anna Anka, in Porto Cervo, Sardinia, Italy. They have one son, Ethan (b. 2004).
Not only did he appear in The Longest Day (1962), he also composed the main theme for the film.
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.
Played himself on an episode of "The Simpsons" (1989).
Singer/songwriter
To date, Paul has recorded 125 albums--including songs in Japanese, German, Spanish, French, and Italian--and sold more than 15 million worldwide.
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.
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.
Wrote the song "Puppy Love" about his romance with Annette Funicello.