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 (for which he also composed the theme music), Anka's main interest was music, and he concentrated his efforts into composing (he wrote Frank Sinatra's classic "My Way") and nightclub appearances in Las Vegas.


Singer/songwriter Anka played Sammy Glick for one week in the Broadway musical, "What Makes Sammy Run?" beginning on July 13, 1964. Of Lebanese heritage. Formerly co-owner of the NHL's Ottawa Senators. Father-in-law of actor/director Jason Bateman. Not only did he appear in The Longest Day (1962), he also composed the main theme for the film. Father of Amanda Anka. Lorelai Gilmore's dog on "Gilmore Girls" (2000) is named after him. His childhood ambition was to be a lawyer or a journalist. 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. He wrote "Lonely Boy" for his mother, who died of a liver disease. "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. He discovered Michael Bublé, Corey Hart and David Clayton-Thomas. Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1993. 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. He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 6840 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.