Paul Anka

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).

On September 7, 1957 he recorded his United States (network) and (overall) world TV premiere appearance, as himself, with host Ed Sullivan on The Ed Sullivan Show: Episode #10.50 (1957), which was broadcast the following day, September 8, 1957, just as his song, "Diana," was charting in the US (#1 on Billboard for one week in September) and the UK (#1 for nine weeks beginning in September). His first live appearance was broadcast on December 4, 1957, with hostess Patti Page, on The Big Record: Episode #1.12 (1957). Mistakenly, some believe his first overall TV appearance was on "Sunday Night at the London Palladium" (Val Parnell's Sunday Night at the London Palladium: Episode #3.13 (1957)) in the UK, but it was neither his first television appearance, nor was it his first live appearance, as it was broadcast on December 8, 1957, which was four days after the December 4, 1957 broadcast of "The Big Record." He sang his hit song "Diana" on both "The Big Record" and the "Palladium" shows, and both shows were live. "The Big Record" was his first live TV appearance in the US, or anywhere, "Palladium" was his first TV appearance (live or recorded) in the UK or Europe, and "The Ed Sullivan Show" was his overall worldwide television debut, happening three months before the two live shows in December 1957.

Paul Anka's first acting role was an uncredited cameo on the The Twilight Zone (1959), season one, episode 5, 1958, The Twilight Zone: Walking Distance (1959). In the final scene, he plays a soda jerk who has a conversation with the main character, Martin Sloan, portrayed by Gig Young.

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

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

Was Mel Brooks first choice for the role of Leo Bloom in The Producers (1967) (both stage and screen). Brooks started writing it as a Broadway play called "Springtime for Hitler," and envisioned Anka as the lead character. Anka turned him down for both.

His song "Times of Your Life," originally a commercial jingle for Eastman Kodak Company's Kodak cameras in early 1975, was later released as a single (from his 1975 album of the same name) in late 1975, and became a Billboard hit in January 1976, when it hit #1 on Billboard's easy listening (adult contemporary) chart, and then peaking at #7 on Billboard's pop (Hot 100) chart in February 1976, remaining on Billboard's Top 40 for a total of 12 weeks. The song was written by Roger Nichols (music) and Bill Lane (lyrics).

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

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

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

Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1993.

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).

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

Father-in-law of actor/director Jason Bateman, who married Paul's daughter, Amanda Anka in 2001.

He was awarded the O.C. (Officer of the Order of Canada) on October 29, 2004 and invested on: June 10, 2005 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada One of the most popular singer-songwriters of our time, he began his journey to stardom in Ottawa in the early 1950s. Hits like "Diana," "Lonely Boy" and "Puppy Love" catapulted him to the top of the charts, an unprecedented achievement for an 18-year-old. He has sold over 60 million records, impressing both his public and peers with his unique blend of talent and ambition. Generous with his time and talent, he promotes a number of charitable causes and fund-raising events, including "A Night to Remember," in support of the Canadian Liver Foundation. In addition, his commitment to aspiring Canadian performers and composers has been unwavering.

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 in 2008, four years after the birth of his only son, and their only child together, Ethan, born 2004. They divorced in 2010, and Anka was awarded sole physical custody in 2017, by court proceedings.

He was awarded the 2012 Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal from the Canadian Governor General for his services to Canada.

Co-wrote Michael Jackson's posthumous hit "Love Never Felt So Good" (2014).

His reported income is about $300,000 per month (as of July 2017 when reported to the court in his winning effort to gain sole custody of his son).

He was nominated for the 2019-2020 Class of New Jersey Hall of Fame in the Performing Arts category.