Paul Shaffer
Birthday: Born in 1949-11-28 in Fort William, Ontario, Canada
Deathday: Alive
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.
TV Credits
Ed
Character: Irv Nadler
After his wife leaves him and he's fired from his job at a high-profile New York city law firm, Ed Stevens moves back to his small hometown of Stuckeyville where he buys the local bowling alley and attempts to win the heart of his high school crush....
Hercules
Character: Hermes (voice)
Follow Herc's many labors during the years he spent training on how to be a hero under the tutelage of satyr Phil. Many of the Olympian Gods and Goddesses pay visit to the young hero-to-be and help or hinder him in his new adventures....
Flash Gordon
Character:
Flash Gordon is a 1996 animated television series based on the science fiction comic strip of the same name. The character, who had been around in the comics pages since Alex Raymond created him in 1934, had already starred in several movie serials, a 1980 feature, and two earlier cartoon series — The New Adventures of Flash Gordon and Defenders of the Earth....
Jeopardy!
Character:
America's favorite quiz show where contestants are presented with general knowledge clues in the form of answers, and must phrase their responses in question form....
Schitt's Creek
Character: Paul Shaffer
Formerly filthy rich video store magnate Johnny Rose, his soap star wife Moira, and their two kids, über-hipster son David and socialite daughter Alexis, suddenly find themselves broke and forced to live in Schitt's Creek, a small depressing town they once bought as a joke....
The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn
Character: Self
Craig Kilborn hosted this zany talk show, which followed David Letterman's show, from 1999 until 2004. Kilborn left The Daily Show in 1999 to be this show's host after Tom Synder retired. The segment "5 Questions" was carried over from when he was on The Daily Show. Kilborn was frequently beaten in the ratings by his NBC timeslot rival, Conan O'Brien. Kilborn left The Late Late Show to pursue new opportunities....
The Masked Singer
Character: Self - Video Message
Celebrities compete in a singing competition with one major twist: each singer is shrouded from head to toe in an elaborate costume, complete with full face mask to conceal his or her identity. One singer will be eliminated each week, ultimately revealing his or her true identity....
The Masked Singer
Character: Skeleton (archive footage)
Celebrities compete in a singing competition with one major twist: each singer is shrouded from head to toe in an elaborate costume, complete with full face mask to conceal his or her identity. One singer will be eliminated each week, ultimately revealing his or her true identity....
Mark Twain Prize
Character: Self
Honoring the best in American comedy annually since 1998, the recipients of the prestigious Mark Twain Prize for American Humor have included the likes of Billy Crystal, George Carlin, Carol Burnett, Bob Newhart, Steve Martin, Ellen DeGeneres, Eddie Murphy, and Tina Fey....
Paul Shaffer Plus One
Character: self
Paul Shaffer sits down with some of music's finest artists and discusses the stories behind their music and what inspires them....
Saturday Night Live
Character: Self - Host
A late-night live television sketch comedy and variety show created by Lorne Michaels. The show's comedy sketches, which parody contemporary culture and politics, are performed by a large and varying cast of repertory and newer cast members. Each episode is hosted by a celebrity guest, who usually delivers an opening monologue and performs in sketches with the cast, and features performances by a musical guest....
Saturday Night Live
Character: Self - Cameo (uncredited)
A late-night live television sketch comedy and variety show created by Lorne Michaels. The show's comedy sketches, which parody contemporary culture and politics, are performed by a large and varying cast of repertory and newer cast members. Each episode is hosted by a celebrity guest, who usually delivers an opening monologue and performs in sketches with the cast, and features performances by a musical guest....
Tony Awards
Character: Self - Performer
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway productions and performances, and an award is given for regional theatre....
Late Show with David Letterman
Character: Self -Musical Director
Late Show with David Letterman is an American late-night talk show hosted by David Letterman on CBS. The show debuted on August 30, 1993, and is produced by Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants Incorporated and CBS Television Studios. The show's music director and band-leader of the house band, the CBS Orchestra, is Paul Shaffer. The head writer is Matt Roberts and the announcer is Alan Kalter. Of the major U.S. late-night programs, Late Show ranks second in cumulative average viewers...
Hope & Faith
Character: Himself
Hope, a down-to-earth, happily married mother of three has her tidy world turned upside down when her celebrity sister moves in. Faith was living the Hollywood life as a soap opera star before her character was killed off....
Hollywood Squares
Character: Self - Panelist
On September 14, 1998, a Hollywood Squares revival debuted with Tom Bergeron as its host. In addition to her production duties, Whoopi Goldberg served as the permanent center square, with series head writer Bruce Vilanch, Gilbert Gottfried, Martin Mull, and Caroline Rhea as regular panelists and Brad Garrett, Bobcat Goldthwait, Jeffrey Tambor, George Wallace, Kathy Griffin and various others as semi-regular panelists. Shadoe Stevens returned to announce, although he was not given a square on the...
Second City: First Family of Comedy
Character: Self
The series traces the evolution of one of the world's most successful comedy troupes from its humble beginnings as a stage production in Chicago to the hit late-night TV show....
The Kelly Clarkson Show
Character: Self
Kelly Clarkson presents the biggest newsmakers and names in film, television and music; as well as emerging new talent and everyday people who are beacons of hope in their communities....
The View
Character: Self
ABC Daytime's morning chatfest, currently featuring Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin, Sara Haines, Alyssa Farah Griffin, and Ana Navarro discussing the most exciting events of the day. Hot topics in the news, the best experts in their field, celebrity interviews and general entertainment are all part of The View....
Celebrity Ghost Stories
Character: Self
Compelling, surprising and downright spooky — celebrities share their real-life personal encounters with the paranormal in each one-hour special. From encounters with ghosts and angry spirits to haunted homes, unexplainable spells and magic, these descriptive, first person narratives from our favorite stars delivers a brand new way of experiencing the thrills and chills of the addictive world of the paranormal....
The Masked Singer
Character: Skeleton
Celebrities compete in a singing competition with one major twist: each singer is shrouded from head to toe in an elaborate costume, complete with full face mask to conceal his or her identity. One singer will be eliminated each week, ultimately revealing his or her true identity....
Saturday Night Live
Character: Self / Various
A late-night live television sketch comedy and variety show created by Lorne Michaels. The show's comedy sketches, which parody contemporary culture and politics, are performed by a large and varying cast of repertory and newer cast members. Each episode is hosted by a celebrity guest, who usually delivers an opening monologue and performs in sketches with the cast, and features performances by a musical guest....
How I Met Your Mother
Character: Paul Shaffer
A father recounts to his children - through a series of flashbacks - the journey he and his four best friends took leading up to him meeting their mother....
Spector
Character: Self
A four-part documentary series about enigmatic, legendary music producer Phil Spector and what happened on the fateful night of February 3, 2003 when actress Lana Clarkson was shot dead in his mansion....
Running Wilde
Character: Self
Running Wilde is an American comedy television series created by Mitchell Hurwitz for the Fox Network. It stars Will Arnett as Steve Wilde, a self-centered, idle bachelor and heir to an oil fortune. The series follows Wilde's awkward attempts to regain the affection of his childhood sweetheart, Emmy, an environmentalist who had been living in the South American jungle, but whose young daughter does not want to return there and who secretly enlists Steve's help to keep Emmy at his mansion, leadin...
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
Character: Paul Shaffer
The third installment of the “Law & Order” franchise takes viewers deep into the minds of its criminals while following the intense psychological approaches the Major Case Squad uses to solve its crimes....
Primetime Glick
Character:
Talk-show parody featuring obese host Jiminy Glick, who usually knows nothing about his guests and hurls veiled insults at them during his interviews....
Saturday Night Live
Character: Self
A late-night live television sketch comedy and variety show created by Lorne Michaels. The show's comedy sketches, which parody contemporary culture and politics, are performed by a large and varying cast of repertory and newer cast members. Each episode is hosted by a celebrity guest, who usually delivers an opening monologue and performs in sketches with the cast, and features performances by a musical guest....
CBS News Sunday Morning
Character: Self
The sparkling notes of a trumpet fanfare and the familiar logo of the sun alert viewers that it's time for CBS's Sunday morning staple. Journalist Jane Pauley helms the show, taking over hosting duties from Charles Osgood, who spent 22 years on the job. A morning talk show, this program airs at a different pace and focuses much of its attention on the performing arts. After a quick update of the day's news and national weather, correspondents offer longer-length segments on a variety of topics, ...
Movie Credits
Blues Brothers 2000
Character: Marco
Finally released from prison, Elwood Blues is once again enlisted by Sister Mary Stigmata in her latest crusade to raise funds for a children's hospital. Hitting the road to re-unite the band and win the big prize at the New Orleans Battle of the Bands, Elwood is pursued cross-country by the cops....
Hercules
Character: Hermes (voice)
Bestowed with superhuman strength, a young mortal named Hercules sets out to prove himself a hero in the eyes of his father, the great god Zeus. Along with his friends Pegasus, a flying horse, and Phil, a personal trainer, Hercules is tricked by the hilarious, hotheaded villain Hades, who's plotting to take over Mount Olympus!...
Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice
Character: Self (archive footage)
With one of the most memorably stunning voices that has ever hit the airwaves, Linda Ronstadt burst onto the 1960s folk rock music scene in her early twenties....
The Beach Boys: 25 Years Together - A Celebration In Waikiki
Character: Self
Enjoy the Beach Boys in a 90 minute concert celebrating their 25 year anniversary with guest artists like Glen Campbell, Ray Charles, The Everly Brothers, Jeffery Osborne, Belinda Carlisle and Three Dog Night. The concert was recorded in December 1986 on the sunny Waikiki beach in Hawaii....
Finding Sandler
Character: Self
Years after a missed opportunity with his hero (Adam Sandler), a determined young filmmaker (David Seth Cohen) goes on a quest to re-capture what could have been....
David Letterman: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize
Character: Self
Emmy Award-winning comic and talk show host David Letterman accepts the 2017 Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. An outstanding lineup of entertainers gathers in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall to salute David Letterman, recipient of the 20th annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor....
Saturday Night Live: 40th Anniversary Special
Character: Self
Former members of Saturday Night Live come together to remember the past 40 years of Saturday Night Live....
Mr. Mike's Mondo Video
Character: Church of Jack Lord Organist
Mike O'Donoghue's parody of "Mondo Cane" showcases curious performers, strange musicians, celebrity mutations and unusual short films, including Thomas Alva Edison's "Elephant Electrocution". In the tradition of films like Groove Tube (1974), The Kentucky Fried Movie (1977), and Saturday Night Live....
Bill Murray: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize
Character: Self
Celebrate the work of actor and comedian Bill Murray at the Kennedy Center, as the recipient of the 19th annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor....
Flash Gordon: Marooned on Mongo
Character: Dr. Hans Zarkov (voice)
Earth teenagers Alex 'Flash' Gordon and Dale Arden, and their reluctant friend Dr. Hans Zarkov, journey to the fantastic planet Mongo where they fight to defeat the evil planetary dictator, Ming the Merciless....
The Blues Brothers Live at Winterland
Character:
The full unedited performance recorded on December 31, 1978, when the Blues Brothers opened for the Grateful Dead on the monumental closing night of Winterland....
Night of 100 Stars III
Character: Self
A celebrity benefit for The Actors' Fund of America, featuring music, songs, dance and comedy....
The Blues Brothers: Transposing The Music
Character: Self
A look at Dan and John's partnership and the music...
Heartbeat
Character: Filmmaker's Assistant
A surrealistic journey into the experiences and reflections of a documentary filmmaker as he evaluates the people and places that have made up his life. Alternatively, a 65 minute feature made up of songs from Don Johnson's record of the same name....
Steve Martin's Best Show Ever
Character: Self / Jo Jo the Dog-Faced Boy
Steve Martin's fourth NBC special was in the spirit of his previous association with Saturday Night Live. It was broadcast live from Studio 8H, produced by Lorne Michaels and featured some original cast members of the show....
Saturday Night Live: The Best of Dan Aykroyd
Character: Blues Brothers Band (archive footage)
A collection of classic Saturday Night Live sketches featuring Dan Aykroyd....
Being Canadian
Character: Self
What does it actually mean to be Canadian? This humorous documentary, featuring interviews with a who's-who of famous Canadians, hopes to find the answer....
Rockin' Pianos
Character: Himself
1. Introduction 2. The Fat Man - Fats Domino 3. Walking To New Orleans - Fats Domino 4. Blueberry Hill - Fats Domino 5. Shake, Rattle And Roll - Fats Domino 6. C.C. Rider - Fats Domino 7. Sentimental Journey - Fats Domino 8. I Was Raised On Rock - Jerry Lee Lewis feat. Ron Wood 9. Great Balls Of Fire - Jerry Lee Lewis feat. Ron Wood 10. Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On - Jerry Lee Lewis feat. Ron Wood 11. A Certain Girl - Ron Wood & Paul Shaffer 12. I Got A Woman - Ray Charles feat. Ron W...
Man on the Moon
Character: Letterman Band (uncredited)
The story of the life and career of eccentric avant-garde comedian, Andy Kaufman....
Scrooged
Character: Street Musician
Frank Cross is a wildly successful television executive whose cold ambition and curmudgeonly nature has driven away the love of his life. But after firing a staff member on Christmas Eve, Frank is visited by a series of ghosts who give him a chance to re-evaluate his actions and right the wrongs of his past....
Seriously... Phil Collins
Character: Self
4 TV Executives attempt to make a television special to promote ...But Seriously. Mostly made of sketches this film includes a rap version of Don't Lose My Number and a country take on Separate Lives. Phil even attempts to be Elvis Presley while singing One More Night....
A Very Murray Christmas
Character: Paul Schaffer
Bill Murray worries no one will show up to his TV show due to a massive snowstorm in New York City. Through luck and perseverance, guests arrive at Gotham’s Carlyle Hotel to help him — dancing and singing in holiday spirit....
The Best of the Blues Brothers
Character: Himself (archive footage)
Writer Tom Davis hosts a Blues Brothers retrospective that tells the whole truth about the legendary band's early days and righteous ways. The Blues Brothers were an unforgettable part of Saturday Night Live's golden era, making their musical debut in bee costumes singing "I'm a King Bee," and becoming an overnight sensation. Switching to hats and shades inspired by John Lee Hooker, they combined classic Chicago Blues with Stax-Volt R&B to create a sound all their own. Their first album, Bri...
Todd Who?
Character: Himself
Todd Who? is a passionate, quirky 'rockumentary' that chronicles a fan’s 30 year obsession with criminally underrated rock musician Todd Rundgren....
12-12-12 | The Concert for Sandy Relief
Character: Self
“12-12-12” was a fundraising concert to aid the victims of Hurricane Sandy, it took place on December 12, 2012 at Madison Square Garden. The concert featured Bon Jovi, Eric Clapton, Dave Grohl, Billy Joel, Alicia Keys, Chris Martin (featuring Michael Stipe), The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, Eddie Vedder, Roger Waters, Kanye West, The Who, Paul McCartney (featuring Nirvana) as well as other artists....
Sharknado 4: The 4th Awakens
Character: Paul Shaffer
The new installment of the Sharknado franchise takes place 5 years after Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! There have been no Sharknados in the intervening years, but now they’re appearing again in unexpected ways....
This Is Spinal Tap
Character: Artie Fufkin
"This Is Spinal Tap" shines a light on the self-contained universe of a metal band struggling to get back on the charts, including everything from its complicated history of ups and downs, gold albums, name changes and undersold concert dates, along with the full host of requisite groupies, promoters, hangers-on and historians, sessions, release events and those special behind-the-scenes moments that keep it all real....
Night of Too Many Stars: America Unites for Autism Programs
Character: Self
Jon Stewart returns to television to host a live show presented from The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York. Benefiting NEXT for Autism, the special features stand-up performances, sketches and short films....
The Show Formerly Known as the Martin Short Show
Character: Self
Late night, sketch/variety comedy special starring comedian Martin Short. It features most of Marty's classic characters: Ed Grimley, Jackie Rogers Jr, Irving Cohen, and, from the SNL days, lawyer Nathan Thurm....
Bachman & Turner - Live at the Roseland Ballroom
Character: Keyboards
Over the course of a four-year run, Bachman-Turner Overdrive sold in excess of 30 million records, earning a staggering 120 platinum, gold and silver discs, and notching up hits in more than 20 countries. The iconic duo shared duties on the lead vocals, with Bachman contributing lead guitar and Turner the bass. Reuniting at the end of 2009 they released an eponymous album in 2010, and in November of that year they performed at the famous Roseland Ballroom in New York City, as part of their North...
Love, Gilda
Character: Self
Diaries, audiotapes, videotapes and testimonies from friends and colleagues offer insight into the life and career of Gilda Radner -- the beloved comic and actress who became an icon on Saturday Night Live....
Tears Are Not Enough
Character: Self
On 10 February 1985, fifty-three of Canada's top performers gathered together to record the song Tears Are Not Enough in an effort to generate aid to famine victims in Africa. This is a behind-the-scenes look at that historic session, filled with moments of excitement, pathos, humor and magic....
Martin Short: Concert for the North Americas
Character:
A made for Showtime network comedy special with numerous skits and music starring Martin Short and featuring a number of his fellow SCTV cast members. The special has skits with characters such as Ed Grimley, Jackie Rogers Jr., Jerry Lewis, and many more....
The Concert for New York City
Character: Self
The Concert for New York City took place on October 20, 2001 at Madison Square Garden. It was a celebration of the strength of New York and a thank-you to the heroic firefighters, police officers and rescue workers who saved tens of thousands of lives on September 11th. More than 6000 firefighters, police officers and rescue workers attended as guests....
The N.Y. Friars Club Roast of Chevy Chase
Character: Self - Host
Chevy Chase bitterly takes in his roast....
Always at The Carlyle
Character: Self
The iconic Carlyle hotel has been an international destination for a particular jet set as well as a favorite haunt of the most discernible New Yorkers....
The Return of Spinal Tap
Character: Artie Fufkin
Spinal Tap is back in a whole new feature-length rockumentary. Go behind the scenes and find out where the somewhat-less-than-fab three are now -- and where it all began in Squatney, England. Also, catch up with director Marty DiBergi, ex-Polymer marketing whiz Artie Fufkin, and Jeanine, who now owns a shop specializing in itchy Irish clothing....
Ray Charles: The Legend Lives On
Character: Himself
American R&B icon Ray Charles lets loose on this collection of electrifying live performances from throughout his legendary career....
The Stories Behind the Making of 'The Blues Brothers'
Character: Self
The Stories Behind the Making of The Blues Brothers is an hour- long documentary featuring every participant from the film. Star and co-writer Dan Aykroyd explains how a joke that he and best friend John Belushi shared with friends evolved from a Saturday Night Live skit to a best-selling album and then to a film. Director John Landis covers the difficult production, from the outrageous stunts to Belushi's disappearances from the set....
America | A Tribute to Heroes
Character: Self
A benefit concert and telethon organized by George Clooney and broadcast uninterrupted and commercial-free by the four major television networks just 10 days after the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and The Pentagon to raise money for the victims and their families,...
Hercules: Zero to Hero
Character: Hermes (voice) (archive sound)
The film briefly gives Hercules' history after defeating Hades for good, in which he marries Meg and revisits his teenage years. In particular, it shows an adolescent Hercules's enrollment and the beginning of his adventures at the Prometheus Academy, a school for gods and mortals, which Hercules supposedly attended during the time when he was training to be a hero with his mentor, the satyr Philoctetes....
Chuck Leavell: The Tree Man
Character: Self
It took his whole life to live and three full years to film Chuck Leavell: The Tree Man. Filmed in four countries with more than 80 interviews from artists with a combined 58 Grammy Awards by the artist included, “Chuck Leavell: The Tree Man,” an Allen Farst film, is the cinematic documentary that shines a light on one of the greatest rock’n roll pianists and keyboardists over the last 40 years. Not just known for his musical influence, Leavell is also one of the biggest names in environmenta...
Gilda Live
Character: Don Kirshner / Arnie Schnachtman / Student Body President / The Candy Slice Group
Gilda Radner is recorded during a live comedy concert. Radner's classic characters are seen in sketches that are sometimes more risque than when they appeared on television. During her breaks, the character Father Guido Sarducci takes the stage....
Bob & Doug McKenzie's Two-Four Anniversary
Character: Self
In 1980, the SCTV crew had a request from their broadcaster, the CBC, for distinctively Canadian content. What players Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas created was a satire of it, but Bob and Doug became so much more. This documentary tells the special tale of how the McKenzie Brothers became a sensation that would become a cherished part of Canada's self identity....
Disney Heroes Volume 1
Character: Hermes (voice)
...
Bachman
Character: Self
Documentary follows the award-winning Canadian musician Randy Bachman as he creates his next hit song, featuring rarely seen footage, pictures and archived documents that had been stored in Ottawa for decades....