“Paul Anka, Newly-Minted Documentary Subject, Looks Back: Frank Sinatra, The Beatles, ‘Goodfellas,’ and More”

The beloved Canadian singer and songwriter is now the subject of John Maggio's wide-ranging documentary, which will premiere at the festival this week. Ahead, the bonafide icon looks back at his life in music and movies.

This can be written with great confidence: You know a Paul Anka song. Right now, you’re either thinking, “Well, yes, of course I do,” or you’re thinking, “I do not.” If you are in the latter group, you are wrong. There are, of course, his big hits like “Put Your Head on My Shoulder.” But then there are the songs he’s written for others, most notably “My Way,” which he wrote for Frank Sinatra and has been covered by Elvis, Nina Simone, Aretha Franklin, Sid Vicious, and countless others. It’s in the conversation for one of the most famous songs ever written. 

That’s kind of the remarkable think about Paul Anka — who is at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, returning to his Canadian roots for the premiere of John Maggio’s documentary “Paul Anka: His Way” — that he’s written so many famous songs for others. There’s “She’s a Lady” for Tom Jones. Remember when Michael Jackson posthumously did a duet with Justin Timberlake, then later another with Drake? Yep, Paul Anka was the co-writer on all of those. (The long, strange story behind that is all explained in the film). Oh, then there’s the theme song to Johnny Carson’s “The Tonight Show,” which was, yes, written by Paul Anka.