Elvis Costello
Known for: Acting
Referencing prodigies of rock lyricism may not bring Elvis Costello to mind for some, but he does deserve consideration. Through the course of over four decades, the former computer programmer has maintained a career as a singer-songwriter, giving the likes of Bob Dylan himself a reckoning. He was born Declan MacManus in London, England, on August 25, 1954. He took the moniker Elvis Costello in 1977, adopting his first name from Elvis Presley and the last part from the maiden name of his mother. Also in '77, Costello's debut album My Aim Is True was released, drawing connections to the new wave and punk movement while showing musical variance. That year, Costello's band The Attractions was assembled. The group released a number of albums, including This Year's Model, Armed Forces, and Trust. 1986's Blood and Chocolate produced memorable, literate gems, such as "Tokyo Storm Warning" and "I Want You." After the Attractions' final show in 1996, caused by conflict between Costello and the band's bassist Bruce Thomas, two of the group's other members would become part of his new backing band, The Imposters. Costello has released over 30 albums.
Filmography
Series
The Simpsons
Elvis Costello (voice)
1989
Series
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Self - Musical Guest
2014
Series
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Self
2015
Series
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Self - Musical Guest
2015
Series
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Self - Guest
2015
Series
The Daily Show
Self
1996
Series
Late Show with David Letterman
Self - Musical Guest
1993
Series
Two and a Half Men
Elvis Costello
2003
Series
Frasier
Ben
1993
Series
Saturday Night Live
Self - Musical Guest
1975
Series
Real Time with Bill Maher
Self
2003
Series
The Graham Norton Show
Self
2007
Series
Top of the Pops
Self (archive footage)
1964
Series
The Colbert Report
Self
2005
Series
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Self
2003
Series
30 Rock
Elvis Costello
2006
Series
Die Harald Schmidt Show
Self
1995
Series
Have I Got News for You
Self
1990
Series
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
Self - Musical Guest
1992
Series
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Self - Guest
1993
Series
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Self - Musical Guest
1993
Series
The Larry Sanders Show
Elvis Costello
1992
Series
3rd Rock from the Sun
Elvis Costello
1996
Series
Champs-Elysées
Self
1982
Series
The Oscars
Self
1953
Series
TFI Friday
1996
Series
Austin City Limits
Self
1975
Series
Classic Albums
Self
1997
Series
The Comic Strip Presents...
Stone Deaf A & R Man
1982
Series
CMT Crossroads
Self
2002
Series
MTV Unplugged
Self
1989
Series
Treme
Elvis Costello
2010
Film
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
Elvis Costello
1999
Film
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
Elvis Costello
2006
Series
Lo + plus
Self
1995
Series
Legends
Self
2006
Series
The Frank Skinner Show
Self
1995
Series
Live from the Artists Den
Self
2009
Series
Pete the Cat
Pete's Dad (voice)
2017
Series
This Is Pop
Self (archive footage)
2021
Series
The Kenny Everett Video Show
Self
1978
Film
Spice World
Elvis Costello
1997
Film
200 Cigarettes
Self
1999
Hamburg Journal
self
2011
Film
Delirious
Elvis Costello
2007
Film
De-Lovely
Musical Performer - "Let's Misbehave"
2004
Film
Live Aid
Self
1985
Film
Dusty
Self - Interviewee
1994
Film
Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music
Self
2025
Film
The Beatles: Eight Days a Week - The Touring Years
Self
2016
Series
Spectacle: Elvis Costello with...
Self
2008
Film
Lindisfarne's Geordie Genius: The Alan Hull Story
Self
2021
Film
I Love Your Work
Self
2003
Film
Burt Bacharach: One Amazing Night
Self
1998
Series
Scully
Henry Scully
1984
Film
Straight to Hell
Hives The Butler
1987
Film
Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary Celebration
Self
2019
Film
Americathon
The Earl of Manchester
1979
Film
Prison Song
Public Defender / Teacher
2001
Film
Unleaded
Elvis Costello
2000
Series
Words + Music
Self
2025
Film
Love Shines
Self
2010
Film
Weird Nightmare
Self
1993
Film
Roy Orbison and Friends: A Black and White Night
Self - Guitar/Electric Organ/Harmonica
1988
Film
Ex Libris: The New York Public Library
Self
2017
Film
McCartney: The Hunt for the Lost Bass
Self
2026
Film
There's Only One Paul McCartney
Self
2002
Film
Elvis Costello & The Attractions Live in Montreaux
Self - Performer
1980
Film
Before the Music Dies
Self - Musician
2006
Film
Ringo Starr’s Big Birthday Show
Self - Performer
2020
Film
No Surrender
Rosco De Ville
1985
Film
Behind the Scenes of 'Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me'
Self
1999
Film
Memento Mori
Self
2008
Film
Record On: The Specials - A Message to You
Self
2024
Film
Beautiful Dreamer: Brian Wilson and the Story of Smile
Self
2004
Film
Concerts for the People of Kampuchea
Self
1981
Film
Philip K Dick: A Day in the Afterlife
Self - Interviewee
1994
Film
The Bullshitters: Roll Out the Gunbarrel
Stone Deaf A & R Man
1984
Film
A MusiCares Tribute to Neil Young
Self
2011
Film
Tower of Song: A Memorial Tribute to Leonard Cohen
Self - Performer
2018
Film
In Dreams: The Roy Orbison Story
Self
1999
Film
A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!
Self
2008
Film
Johnny Vegas: 18 Stone of Idiot - Unseen and Uncut
Guest
2005
Film
Classic Albums: U2 - The Joshua Tree
Self
1999
Film
Live Aid
Self
2004
Film
Roy Orbison: Black and White Night 30
Self
2017
Film
If It Ain't Stiff: The Stiff Records Story
Self
2007
Film
Red Shoes In the Land of the Midnight Sun: Elvis Costello & The Confederates Live in Tokyo
Self - Performer
1987
Film
Live Aid: 20 Years Ago Today
Self
2005
Film
Little Red Robin Hood
Self
Film
If It Ain't Stiff, It Ain't Worth a Fuck
Self
1978
Film
Johnny Cash: The Last Great American
Self
2004
Film
Live From Bonnaroo 2009
Self
2009
Film
Emmylou Harris: From a Deeper Well
Self
2003
Film
Willie Nelson & Friends: Live and Kickin'
Self
2003
Film
Tony Bennett: Duets - The Making of an American Classic
Self
2007
Film
Roy Orbison Forever
Self
2022
Film
Elvis Costello & The Imposters: The Return Of The Spectacular Spinning Songbook
Self - Performer
2012
Film
Tony Bennett's New York
Self
1996
Film
Elvis Costello & Friends
Self (archive footage)
2006
Film
The Harry Smith Project Live
Self
2006
Film
Tony Bennett: MTV Unplugged
Self
1994
Film
Paul McCartney: Put It There
Self
1989
Film
Life Is a Carnival: A Musical Celebration of Robbie Robertson
Self
Film
Lost Songs: The Basement Tapes Continued
Self
2014
The Pretenders: No Turn Left Unstoned
Self
2005
Film
September Songs: The Music of Kurt Weill
Self
1994
Film
The Tomorrow Show with Tom Snyder: Punk & New Wave
Self
2006
Film
Experience Montreux
Self
2013
Film
Elvis Costello: Mystery Dance
Self
2013
Film
Chet Baker Live at Ronnie Scott's
Self
1986
Film
Freedom Beat
Self
2003
Film
I Was There: When the Beatles Played the Cavern
Self (archive footage)
2011
Film
Elvis Costello: The Right Spectacle - The Very Best of Elvis Costello
Self - Performer
2005
Film
Sounds of Liverpool at the BBC
Self (archive footage)
2023
Film
Here, There and Everywhere: A Concert for Linda
Self
1999
Film
Johnny Cash: The Man in Black in Britain
Self
2020
The Way They Were: Punk and the New Wave 1976-1978
Self
1986
Film
Elvis Costello & Allen Toussaint: Hot as a Pistol, Keen as a Blade
Self
2006
Film
From the Big Apple to the Big Easy: The Concert for New Orleans
Self
2006
Film
Brian Wilson’s Imagination
Self
1998
Film
Elvis Costello & WDR Big Band @ Leverkusener Jazztage 2025
2025
Film
Elvis Costello - Detour Live at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
Self
2015
Film
Elvis Costello: Live: A Case for Song
Self - Vocals, Guitar
2007
Film
A Tribute To Burt Bacharach & Hal David
Self
2001
Film
Elvis Costello and The Attractions: Live at The Capitol Theatre
Self
1978
Film
A Prairie Home Companion Live in HD!
Self - Singer
2010
Film
The Old, Weird America: Harry Smith's Anthology of American Folk Music
Self
2007
Film
George Jones: With a Little Help from His Friends
Self
1981
Film
Off The Beaten Path: A Road Trip With Elvis & Pete
Self
2005
Film
Grand Ole Opry Live
Self
2006
Hard Rock Calling 2010
Self
2010
Film
Elvis Costello and the Brodsky Quartet - The Juliet Letters
Self
1991
Film
Elvis Costello & Friends Live at Sweetwater
1989
Alma Naidu @ Levekusener Jazztage 2025
2025
Elvis Costello and Burt Bacharach: Sessions at West 54th
Self
1998
Film
Elvis Costello & The Imposters: Club Date - Live in Memphis
Self
2004
Film
Elvis Costello: North
Self
2003
Film
Putting the River in Reverse
Self
2006
Film
Elvis Costello & the Attractions live in Boston & Detroit 1978