Paul Shaffer

Paul Shaffer

Paul Shaffer is a Canadian musician, composer, vocalist, and band leader, among the highlights being the de facto leader of the early Saturday Night Live house band, and serving for 33 years (1982-2015) as the leader of David Letterman's house band.

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Known For

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

2014 • as Paul Shaffer and the World's Most Dangerous Band

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

2014 • Music Director

Late Show with David Letterman

Late Show with David Letterman

1993 • as Self -Musical Director

CBS News Sunday Morning

CBS News Sunday Morning

1979 • as Self

The Kelly Clarkson Show

The Kelly Clarkson Show

2019 • as Self

Jeopardy!

Jeopardy!

1984

Filmography

2025

Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music
Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music
as Self
Movie - Released: 1/27/2025
SNL50: The Homecoming Concert
SNL50: The Homecoming Concert
as Self
Movie - Released: 2/14/2025

2023

Movie
The Voice That Rocked America: The Dick Biondi Story
as Self
Movie - Released: 5/21/2023

2022

Finding Sandler
Finding Sandler
as Self
Movie - Released: 12/7/2022
Spector
Spector
as Self
TV - Released: 11/6/2022

2020

Chuck Leavell: The Tree Man
Chuck Leavell: The Tree Man
as Self
Movie - Released: 11/6/2020

2019

Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice
Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice
as Self (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 9/6/2019
The Masked Singer
The Masked Singer
as Self - Video Message
TV - Released: 1/2/2019
The Masked Singer
The Masked Singer
as Skeleton (archive footage)
TV - Released: 1/2/2019
Paul Shaffer Plus One
Paul Shaffer Plus One
as self
TV - Released: 9/15/2019
The Kelly Clarkson Show
The Kelly Clarkson Show
as Self
TV - Released: 9/9/2019
The Masked Singer
The Masked Singer
as Skeleton
TV - Released: 1/2/2019

2018

Love, Gilda
Love, Gilda
as Self
Movie - Released: 4/18/2018
Always at The Carlyle
Always at The Carlyle
as Self
Movie - Released: 5/11/2018
Bachman
Bachman
as Self
Movie - Released: 5/2/2018

2017

David Letterman: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize
David Letterman: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize
as Self
Movie - Released: 10/22/2017
Night of Too Many Stars: America Unites for Autism Programs
Night of Too Many Stars: America Unites for Autism Programs
as Self
Movie - Released: 11/18/2017

2016

Bill Murray: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize
Bill Murray: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize
as Self
Movie - Released: 10/28/2016
Todd Who?
Todd Who?
as Himself
Movie - Released: 7/9/2016
Sharknado 4: The 4th Awakens
Sharknado 4: The 4th Awakens
as Paul Shaffer
Movie - Released: 7/31/2016

2015

Being Canadian
Being Canadian
as Self
Movie - Released: 9/18/2015
A Very Murray Christmas
A Very Murray Christmas
as Paul Schaffer
Movie - Released: 12/4/2015
Schitt's Creek
Schitt's Creek
as Paul Shaffer
TV - Released: 1/13/2015

2014

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
as Paul Shaffer and the World's Most Dangerous Band
TV - Released: 2/17/2014

2012

12-12-12 | The Concert for Sandy Relief
12-12-12 | The Concert for Sandy Relief
as Self
Movie - Released: 12/12/2012
Bachman & Turner - Live at the Roseland Ballroom
Bachman & Turner - Live at the Roseland Ballroom
as Keyboards
Movie - Released: 6/26/2012

2010

Running Wilde
Running Wilde
as Self
TV - Released: 9/21/2010

2009

Celebrity Ghost Stories
Celebrity Ghost Stories
as Self
TV - Released: 10/3/2009

2008

Ray Charles: The Legend Lives On
Ray Charles: The Legend Lives On
as Self
Movie - Released: 6/12/2008

2007

Bob & Doug McKenzie's Two-Four Anniversary
Bob & Doug McKenzie's Two-Four Anniversary
as Self
Movie - Released: 5/20/2007

2006

Second City: First Family of Comedy
Second City: First Family of Comedy
as Self
TV - Released: 8/25/2006

2005

The Blues Brothers: Transposing The Music
The Blues Brothers: Transposing The Music
as Self
Movie - Released: 8/30/2005
Saturday Night Live: The Best of Dan Aykroyd
Saturday Night Live: The Best of Dan Aykroyd
as Blues Brothers Band (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 9/6/2005
Disney Heroes Volume 1
Disney Heroes Volume 1
as Hermes (voice)
Movie - Released: 5/23/2005
How I Met Your Mother
How I Met Your Mother
as Paul Shaffer
TV - Released: 9/19/2005

2004

Rockin' Pianos
Rockin' Pianos
as Self
Movie - Released: 3/29/2004

2003

Hope & Faith
Hope & Faith
as Himself
TV - Released: 9/23/2003

2002

The N.Y. Friars Club Roast of Chevy Chase
The N.Y. Friars Club Roast of Chevy Chase
as Self - Host
Movie - Released: 12/1/2002

2001

The Concert for New York City
The Concert for New York City
as Self
Movie - Released: 10/20/2001
America | A Tribute to Heroes
America | A Tribute to Heroes
as Self
Movie - Released: 9/21/2001
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
as Paul Shaffer
TV - Released: 9/30/2001
Primetime Glick
Primetime Glick
TV - Released: 6/20/2001

2000

Ed
Ed
as Irv Nadler
TV - Released: 10/8/2000

1999

Man on the Moon
Man on the Moon
as Letterman Band (uncredited)
Movie - Released: 12/22/1999
Hercules: Zero to Hero
Hercules: Zero to Hero
as Hermes (voice) (archive sound)
Movie - Released: 8/17/1999
TV
Where Are They Now?
as Self
TV - Released: 6/7/1999
The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn
The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn
as Self
TV - Released: 3/30/1999
Mark Twain Prize
Mark Twain Prize
as Self
TV - Released: 1/20/1999

1998

Blues Brothers 2000
Blues Brothers 2000
as Marco
Movie - Released: 2/5/1998
The Stories Behind the Making of 'The Blues Brothers'
The Stories Behind the Making of 'The Blues Brothers'
as Self
Movie - Released: 9/8/1998
Hercules
Hercules
as Hermes (voice)
TV - Released: 8/31/1998
Hollywood Squares
Hollywood Squares
as Self - Panelist
TV - Released: 9/14/1998

1997

Hercules
Hercules
as Hermes (voice)
Movie - Released: 6/13/1997
The View
The View
as Self
TV - Released: 8/11/1997

1996

Flash Gordon: Marooned on Mongo
Flash Gordon: Marooned on Mongo
as Dr. Hans Zarkov (voice)
Movie - Released: 5/20/1996
Flash Gordon
Flash Gordon
as Dr. Zarkov (voice)
TV - Released: 9/21/1996

1995

Movie
The Weinerville New Year's Special: Lost in the Big Apple
as Self
Movie - Released: 12/31/1995
The Show Formerly Known as the Martin Short Show
The Show Formerly Known as the Martin Short Show
as Self
Movie - Released: 5/20/1995

1994

The Best of the Blues Brothers
The Best of the Blues Brothers
as Himself (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 7/26/1994

1993

Late Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman
as Self -Musical Director
TV - Released: 8/30/1993

1992

The Return of Spinal Tap
The Return of Spinal Tap
as Artie Fufkin
Movie - Released: 12/31/1992

1990

Night of 100 Stars III
Night of 100 Stars III
as Self
Movie - Released: 5/21/1990
Seriously... Phil Collins
Seriously... Phil Collins
as Self
Movie - Released: 9/8/1990

1988

Scrooged
Scrooged
as Street Musician
Movie - Released: 11/22/1988

1987

The Beach Boys: 25 Years Together - A Celebration In Waikiki
The Beach Boys: 25 Years Together - A Celebration In Waikiki
as Self
Movie - Released: 3/13/1987
Heartbeat
Heartbeat
as Filmmaker's Assistant
Movie - Released: 5/10/1987

1985

Tears Are Not Enough
Tears Are Not Enough
as Self
Movie - Released: 10/4/1985
Martin Short: Concert for the North Americas
Martin Short: Concert for the North Americas
Movie - Released: 1/1/1985

1984

This Is Spinal Tap
This Is Spinal Tap
as Artie Fufkin
Movie - Released: 3/2/1984
Jeopardy!
Jeopardy!
TV - Released: 9/10/1984

1981

Steve Martin's Best Show Ever
Steve Martin's Best Show Ever
as Self / Jo Jo the Dog-Faced Boy
Movie - Released: 11/25/1981

1980

Gilda Live
Gilda Live
as Don Kirshner / Arnie Schnachtman / Student Body President / The Candy Slice Group
Movie - Released: 3/28/1980

1979

Mr. Mike's Mondo Video
Mr. Mike's Mondo Video
as Church of Jack Lord Organist
Movie - Released: 9/20/1979
CBS News Sunday Morning
CBS News Sunday Morning
as Self
TV - Released: 1/28/1979

1978

The Blues Brothers Live at Winterland
The Blues Brothers Live at Winterland
Movie - Released: 12/31/1978

1977

TV
A Year at the Top
TV - Released: 8/5/1977

1975

Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
as Self - Host
TV - Released: 10/11/1975
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
as Self - Cameo (uncredited)
TV - Released: 10/11/1975
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
as Self / Various
TV - Released: 10/11/1975
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
as Self
TV - Released: 10/11/1975

1956

Tony Awards
Tony Awards
as Self - Performer
TV - Released: 4/1/1956

Unknown

Movie
Godspell 2025
Movie