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.

Personal Facts

Known For

Acting

Gender

male

Known Credits

73

Birth Date

1949-11-28 00:00:00

Birth Place

Fort William, Ontario, Canada

Known For

• 

  Late Show with David Letterman
• 

  A Very Murray Christmas
• Say Hello to Our Good Friend Paul Shaffer
• 

  The N.Y. Friars Club Roast of Chevy Chase
• 

  Heartbeat
• 

  Bachman

Credits

• actors (64 credits)

  • You Had to Be There: How the Toronto Godspell Ignited the Comedy Revolution...

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2026
  • Say Hello to Our Good Friend Paul Shaffer

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2026
  • Darlene Love: I Know Where I've Been

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2026
  • Peter Asher: Everywhere Man

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2026
  • Marty, Life Is Short

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2026
  • I'm Chevy Chase and You're Not

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2025
  • Spinal Tap II: The End Continues

    Artie Fufkin

    actor

    actors
    2025
  • SNL50: The Homecoming Concert

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2025
  • Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music

    Self - SNL Band Member 1975 - 1980

    actor

    actors
    2025
  • The Voice That Rocked America: The Dick Biondi Story

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2023
  • Finding Sandler

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2022
  • Chuck Leavell: The Tree Man

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2020
  • Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice

    Self (archive footage)

    actor

    actors
    2019
  • Love, Gilda

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2018
  • Always at The Carlyle

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2018
  • Bachman

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2018
  • Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame: In Concert 2014-2017

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2018
  • Night of Too Many Stars: America Unites for Autism Programs

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2017
  • Sharknado 4: The 4th Awakens

    Paul Shaffer

    actor

    actors
    2016
  • Todd Who?

    Himself

    actor

    actors
    2016
  • A Very Murray Christmas

    Paul Schaffer

    actor

    actors
    2015
  • Being Canadian

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2015
  • The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

    - The Worst of "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert" (Not A Clip Show!) (2026) ... Self - Musical Guest actor actors
    2015
  • The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

    - Caleb McLaughlin, Carmelo Anthony, Darlene Love ft. Paul Shaffer, Little Steven & The Disciples of Soul (2025) ... Self - Musical Guest actor actors

    - Jim Gaffigan, Betty Gilpin, Mary Ellen Matthews, Adam Lambert (2025) ... Paul Shaffer and the World's Most Dangerous Band actor actors
    2014
  • 12-12-12 | The Concert for Sandy Relief

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2012
  • Bachman & Turner - Live at the Roseland Ballroom

    Keyboards

    actor

    actors
    2012
  • Ray Charles: The Legend Lives On

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2008
  • Bob & Doug McKenzie's Two-Four Anniversary

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2007
  • Fats and Friends

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2007
  • Saturday Night Live: The Best of Dan Aykroyd

    Blues Brothers Band (archive footage)

    actor

    actors
    2005
  • The Blues Brothers: Transposing The Music

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2005
  • Disney Heroes Volume 1

    Hermes (voice)

    actor

    actors
    2005
  • Rockin' Pianos

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2004
  • The N.Y. Friars Club Roast of Chevy Chase

    Self - Host

    actor

    actors
    2002
  • The Concert for New York City

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2001
  • 50 Years of NBC Late Night

    Self (archive footage)

    actor

    actors
    2001
  • America | A Tribute to Heroes

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2001
  • Man on the Moon

    Letterman Band (uncredited)

    actor

    actors
    1999
  • Hercules: Zero to Hero

    Hermes (voice) (archive sound)

    actor

    actors
    1999
  • The Stories Behind the Making of 'The Blues Brothers'

    Self

    actor

    actors
    1998
  • Blues Brothers 2000

    Marco

    actor

    actors
    1998
  • Hercules

    Hermes (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1997
  • Flash Gordon: Marooned on Mongo

    Dr. Hans Zarkov (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1996
  • The Weinerville New Year's Special: Lost in the Big Apple

    Self

    actor

    actors
    1995
  • The Show Formerly Known as the Martin Short Show

    Self

    actor

    actors
    1995
  • Friends of Gilda

    Self

    actor

    actors
    1993
  • Late Show with David Letterman

    Self - Musical Director

    actor

    actors

    - Episode 149 (2015) ... Self - Musical Director actor actors

    - The Final Late Show with David Letterman (2015) ... Self - Musical Director actor actors

    - Bill Murray, Bob Dylan (2015) ... Self - Musical Director actor actors

    - Tom Hanks, Eddie Vedder (2015) ... Self - Musical Director actor actors

    - Oprah Winfrey, Norm Macdonald (2015) ... Self - Musical Director actor actors
    1993
  • The Best of the Blues Brothers

    Self (archive footage)

    actor

    actors
    1993
  • A Spinal Tap Reunion: The 25th Anniversary London Sell-Out

    Artie Fufkin

    actor

    actors
    1992
  • Look Who's Talking Too

    Taxi Businessman

    actor

    actors
    1990
  • Seriously... Phil Collins

    Self

    actor

    actors
    1990
  • Night of 100 Stars III

    Self

    actor

    actors
    1990
  • Scrooged

    Street Musician

    actor

    actors
    1988
  • Heartbeat

    Filmmaker's Assistant

    actor

    actors
    1987
  • The Beach Boys: 25 Years Together - A Celebration In Waikiki

    Self

    actor

    actors
    1987
  • Tears Are Not Enough

    Self

    actor

    actors
    1985
  • Martin Short: Concert for the North Americas

    Self

    actor

    actors
    1985
  • This Is Spinal Tap

    Artie Fufkin

    actor

    actors
    1984
  • Jeopardy!

    - Show #5106: Celebrity Special 9 (2006) ... Self actor actors
    1984
  • Steve Martin's Best Show Ever

    Self / Jo Jo the Dog-Faced Boy

    actor

    actors
    1981
  • Gilda Live

    Don Kirshner / Arnie Schnachtman / Student Body President / The Candy Slice Group

    actor

    actors
    1980
  • Mr. Mike's Mondo Video

    Church of Jack Lord Organist

    actor

    actors
    1979
  • The Blues Brothers Live at Winterland

    actor

    actors
    1978
  • The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

    - Episode 132 (1986) ... Self actor actors
    1962

• sound (6 credits)

  • My Next Guest with David Letterman and Volodymyr Zelenskyy

    original music composer

    sound
    2022
  • My Next Guest with David Letterman and Shah Rukh Khan

    original music composer

    sound
    2019
  • The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

    - Jim Gaffigan, Betty Gilpin, Mary Ellen Matthews, Adam Lambert (2025) ... music director sound
    2014
  • The Concert for New York City

    music director

    sound
    2001
  • Blues Brothers 2000

    original music composer

    sound
    1998
  • Gilda Live

    music

    sound
    1980

• writing (2 credits)

  • Saturday Night Live: 25th Anniversary Special

    writer

    writing
    1999
  • Gilda Live

    writer

    writing
    1980

• crew (1 credits)

  • Nightwatch

    stunts

    crew
    1985