Paul Shaffer
Biography
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.
Gallery
Known For
Acting History
2025
Spinal Tap II: The End Continues as Artie Fufkin
2025You Had to Be There: How the Toronto Godspell Ignited the Comedy Revolution... as Self
2025SNL50: The Homecoming Concert as Self
2025Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music as Self
2023The Voice That Rocked America: The Dick Biondi Story as Self
2022Finding Sandler as Self
2022Spector as Self
2020Chuck Leavell: The Tree Man as Self
2019Paul Shaffer Plus One as self
2019The Kelly Clarkson Show as Self
2019Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice as Self (archive footage)
2019The Masked Singer as Self - Video Message
2019The Masked Singer as Skeleton (archive footage)
2019The Masked Singer as Skeleton
2018Always at The Carlyle as Self
2018Bachman as Self
2018Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame: In Concert 2014-2017
2018Love, Gilda as Self
2017Night of Too Many Stars: America Unites for Autism Programs as Self
2016Sharknado 4: The 4th Awakens as Paul Shaffer
2016Todd Who? as Himself
2015A Very Murray Christmas as Paul Schaffer
2015Being Canadian as Self
2014The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon as Paul Shaffer and the World's Most Dangerous Band
201212-12-12 | The Concert for Sandy Relief as Self
2012Bachman & Turner - Live at the Roseland Ballroom as Keyboards
2010Running Wilde as Self
2009Celebrity Ghost Stories as Self
2008Ray Charles: The Legend Lives On as Self
2007Bob & Doug McKenzie's Two-Four Anniversary as Self
2007Fats and Friends as Self
2006Second City: First Family of Comedy as Self
2005How I Met Your Mother as Paul Shaffer
2005Saturday Night Live: The Best of Dan Aykroyd as Blues Brothers Band (archive footage)
2005The Blues Brothers: Transposing The Music as Self
2005Disney Heroes Volume 1 as Hermes (voice)
2004Rockin' Pianos as Self
2003Hope & Faith as Himself
2002The N.Y. Friars Club Roast of Chevy Chase as Self - Host
2001The Concert for New York City as Self
2001Law & Order: Criminal Intent as Paul Shaffer
2001America | A Tribute to Heroes as Self
2001Primetime Glick
2000Ed as Irv Nadler
1999Man on the Moon as Letterman Band (uncredited)
1999Hercules: Zero to Hero as Hermes (voice) (archive sound)
1999Where Are They Now? as Self
1999The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn as Self
1999Mark Twain Prize as Self
1998Hollywood Squares as Self - Panelist
1998The Stories Behind the Making of 'The Blues Brothers' as Self
1998Hercules as Hermes (voice)
1998Blues Brothers 2000 as Marco
1997The View as Self
1997Hercules as Hermes (voice)
1996Flash Gordon as Dr. Zarkov (voice)
1996Flash Gordon: Marooned on Mongo as Dr. Hans Zarkov (voice)
1995The Weinerville New Year's Special: Lost in the Big Apple as Self
1995The Show Formerly Known as the Martin Short Show as Self
1994The Best of the Blues Brothers as Himself (archive footage)
1993Friends of Gilda as Himself
1993Late Show with David Letterman as Self -Musical Director
1992A Spinal Tap Reunion: The 25th Anniversary London Sell-Out as Artie Fufkin
1990Look Who's Talking Too as Taxi Businessman
1990Seriously... Phil Collins as Self
1990Night of 100 Stars III as Self
1988Scrooged as Street Musician
1987Gandahar as Optiflow (voice: English version)
1987Heartbeat as Filmmaker's Assistant
1987The Beach Boys: 25 Years Together - A Celebration In Waikiki as Self
1985Tears Are Not Enough as Self
1985Martin Short: Concert for the North Americas
1984Jeopardy! as Self
1984This Is Spinal Tap as Artie Fufkin
1981Steve Martin's Best Show Ever as Self / Jo Jo the Dog-Faced Boy
1980Gilda Live as Don Kirshner / Arnie Schnachtman / Student Body President / The Candy Slice Group
1979Mr. Mike's Mondo Video as Church of Jack Lord Organist
1979CBS News Sunday Morning as Self
1978The Blues Brothers Live at Winterland
1977A Year at the Top
1975Saturday Night Live as Self - Host
1975Saturday Night Live as Self - Cameo (uncredited)
1975Saturday Night Live as Igor (uncredited)
1975Saturday Night Live as Self (uncredited)
1975Saturday Night Live as Crowd Member (uncredited)
1975Saturday Night Live as Self - Pianist (uncredited)
1975Saturday Night Live as Musician at Plato’s Cave (uncredited)
1975Saturday Night Live as Don Kirshner / Paul (uncredited)
1975Saturday Night Live as Self - The Blues Brothers Band / Don Kirshner (uncredited)
1975Saturday Night Live as Don Kirshner (uncredited)
1975Saturday Night Live as Paul (uncredited)
1975Saturday Night Live as Self - The Blues Brothers Band (uncredited)
1975Saturday Night Live as Don Kirshner / Self (uncredited)
1975Saturday Night Live as Danny Kreutzman (uncredited)
1975Saturday Night Live as Various (uncredited)
1975Saturday Night Live as Self/ Friend / Andy / Andrew Mazelle / Beatalo
1975Saturday Night Live as Don Kirshner
1975Saturday Night Live as Robert Vesco / Artie
1975Saturday Night Live as Self - Musician
1975Saturday Night Live as Various
1975Saturday Night Live as Marvin Hamlisch / Issac Stern’s nephew
1975Saturday Night Live as Oliver Selenko / Self
1956Tony Awards as Self - Performer
—Say Hello to Our Good Friend Paul Shaffer as Self