Paul Shaffer
Known for: Acting
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.
Filmography
Series
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Self - Musical Guest
2015
Series
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Paul Shaffer and the World's Most Dangerous Band
2014
Series
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Self - Musical Guest
2014
Series
The Kelly Clarkson Show
Self
2019
Series
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self
1962
Series
Jeopardy!
Self
1984
Series
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
Paul Shaffer
2001
Series
Late Show with David Letterman
Self - Musical Director
1993
Series
Saturday Night Live
Self - Host
1975
Series
Saturday Night Live
Self - Cameo (uncredited)
1975
Series
Saturday Night Live
Igor (uncredited)
1975
Series
Saturday Night Live
Self (uncredited)
1975
Series
Saturday Night Live
Crowd Member (uncredited)
1975
Series
Saturday Night Live
Self - Pianist (uncredited)
1975
Series
Saturday Night Live
Musician at Plato’s Cave (uncredited)
1975
Series
Saturday Night Live
Don Kirshner / Paul (uncredited)
1975
Series
Saturday Night Live
Self - The Blues Brothers Band / Don Kirshner (uncredited)
1975
Series
Saturday Night Live
Don Kirshner (uncredited)
1975
Series
Saturday Night Live
Paul (uncredited)
1975
Series
Saturday Night Live
Self - The Blues Brothers Band (uncredited)
1975
Series
Saturday Night Live
Don Kirshner / Self (uncredited)
1975
Series
Saturday Night Live
Danny Kreutzman (uncredited)
1975
Series
Saturday Night Live
Various (uncredited)
1975
Series
Saturday Night Live
Self - Musician
1975
Series
Saturday Night Live
Self - Various Characters
1975
Series
How I Met Your Mother
Paul Shaffer
2005
Series
Hollywood Squares
Self - Panelist
1998
Series
The View
Self
1997
Series
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Self
2003
Series
Tony Awards
Self - Performer
1956
Series
CBS News Sunday Morning
Self
1979
Series
The Masked Singer
Self - Video Message
2019
Series
The Masked Singer
Skeleton (archive footage)
2019
Series
The Masked Singer
Skeleton
2019
Film
Hercules
Hermes (voice)
1997
Series
Hercules
Hermes (voice)
1998
Series
Celebrity Ghost Stories
Self
2009
Series
Hope & Faith
Himself
2003
Series
Ed
Irv Nadler
2000
Where Are They Now?
Self
1999
Series
The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn
Self
1999
Series
Primetime Glick
2001
Film
Man on the Moon
Letterman Band (uncredited)
1999
Series
Running Wilde
Self
2010
Film
Marty, Life Is Short
Self
2026
Film
Scrooged
Street Musician
1988
Series
Mark Twain Prize
Self
1999
Film
This Is Spinal Tap
Artie Fufkin
1984
Film
Blues Brothers 2000
Marco
1998
Film
Look Who's Talking Too
Taxi Businessman
1990
Film
Sharknado 4: The 4th Awakens
Paul Shaffer
2016
Film
Spinal Tap II: The End Continues
Artie Fufkin
2025
Series
Second City: First Family of Comedy
Self
2006
Film
SNL50: The Homecoming Concert
Self
2025
Film
America | A Tribute to Heroes
Self
2001
Film
I'm Chevy Chase and You're Not
Self
2025
Film
A Very Murray Christmas
Paul Schaffer
2015
Film
Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music
Self - SNL Band Member 1975 - 1980
2025
Series
Flash Gordon
Dr. Zarkov (voice)
1996
Series
Spector
Self
2022
Film
The Concert for New York City
Self
2001
Film
You Had to Be There: How the Toronto Godspell Ignited the Comedy Revolution...
Self
2026
Film
Being Canadian
Self
2015
Film
Steve Martin's Best Show Ever
Self / Jo Jo the Dog-Faced Boy
1981
Film
Mr. Mike's Mondo Video
Church of Jack Lord Organist
1979
Film
Always at The Carlyle
Self
2018
Series
Paul Shaffer Plus One
self
2019
Darlene Love: I Know Where I've Been
Self
Film
Night of 100 Stars III
Self
1990
Film
12-12-12 | The Concert for Sandy Relief
Self
2012
Film
Hercules: Zero to Hero
Hermes (voice) (archive sound)
1999
Film
Bachman
Self
2018
A Year at the Top
1977
Film
50 Years of NBC Late Night
Self (archive footage)
2001
Film
Night of Too Many Stars: America Unites for Autism Programs
Self
2017
Film
Seriously... Phil Collins
Self
1990
Film
Love, Gilda
Self
2018
Friends of Gilda
Self
1993
Film
Peter Asher: Everywhere Man
Self
2026
Film
The Best of the Blues Brothers
Self (archive footage)
1993
Film
Chuck Leavell: The Tree Man
Self
2020
Film
Gilda Live
Don Kirshner / Arnie Schnachtman / Student Body President / The Candy Slice Group
1980
Film
Disney Heroes Volume 1
Hermes (voice)
2005
Film
Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice
Self (archive footage)
2019
Film
The N.Y. Friars Club Roast of Chevy Chase
Self - Host
2002
Film
Heartbeat
Filmmaker's Assistant
1987
Film
A Spinal Tap Reunion: The 25th Anniversary London Sell-Out
Artie Fufkin
1992
Film
The Show Formerly Known as the Martin Short Show
Self
1995
Film
The Blues Brothers: Transposing The Music
Self
2005
Film
Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame: In Concert 2014-2017
Self
2018
Film
Saturday Night Live: The Best of Dan Aykroyd
Blues Brothers Band (archive footage)
2005
Film
The Blues Brothers Live at Winterland
1978
Film
The Stories Behind the Making of 'The Blues Brothers'
Self
1998
Film
Finding Sandler
Self
2022
Film
Tears Are Not Enough
Self
1985
Film
Martin Short: Concert for the North Americas
1985
Film
Flash Gordon: Marooned on Mongo
Dr. Hans Zarkov (voice)
1996
Film
Ray Charles: The Legend Lives On
Self
2008
Film
The Beach Boys: 25 Years Together - A Celebration In Waikiki
Self
1987
Film
The Weinerville New Year's Special: Lost in the Big Apple
Self
1995
Say Hello to Our Good Friend Paul Shaffer
Self
Film
Bob & Doug McKenzie's Two-Four Anniversary
Self
2007
Film
Bachman & Turner - Live at the Roseland Ballroom
Keyboards
2012
Film
Fats and Friends
Self
2007
Film
The Voice That Rocked America: The Dick Biondi Story
Self
2023
Film
Todd Who?
Himself
2016
Film
Rockin' Pianos
Self
2004