Paul Shaffer
Acting
106
Acting Credits
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.
Known For
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Self - Musical Guest
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Paul Shaffer and the World's Most Dangerous Band
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Self - Musical Guest
The Kelly Clarkson Show
Self
Late Show with David Letterman
Self - Musical Director
Jeopardy!
Self
The View
Self
Filmography
You Had to Be There: How the Toronto Godspell Ignited the Comedy Revolution...
2026
as Self
Darlene Love: I Know Where I've Been
2026
as Self
Marty, Life Is Short
2026
as Self
Peter Asher: Everywhere Man
2026
as Self
Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music
2025
as Self - SNL Band Member 1975 - 1980
SNL50: The Homecoming Concert
2025
as Self
Spinal Tap II: The End Continues
2025
as Artie Fufkin
I'm Chevy Chase and You're Not
2025
as Self
The Voice That Rocked America: The Dick Biondi Story
2023
as Self
Finding Sandler
2022
as Self
Spector
2022
as Self
Chuck Leavell: The Tree Man
2020
as Self
Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice
2019
as Self (archive footage)
The Masked Singer
2019
as Self - Video Message
The Masked Singer
2019
as Skeleton (archive footage)
Paul Shaffer Plus One
2019
as self
The Kelly Clarkson Show
2019
as Self
The Masked Singer
2019
as Skeleton
Love, Gilda
2018
as Self
Always at The Carlyle
2018
as Self
Bachman
2018
as Self
Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame: In Concert 2014-2017
2018
as Self
Night of Too Many Stars: America Unites for Autism Programs
2017
as Self
Todd Who?
2016
as Himself
Sharknado 4: The 4th Awakens
2016
as Paul Shaffer
Being Canadian
2015
as Self
A Very Murray Christmas
2015
as Paul Schaffer
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
2015
as Self - Musical Guest
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
2014
as Paul Shaffer and the World's Most Dangerous Band
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
2014
as Self - Musical Guest
12-12-12 | The Concert for Sandy Relief
2012
as Self
Bachman & Turner - Live at the Roseland Ballroom
2012
as Keyboards
Running Wilde
2010
as Self
Celebrity Ghost Stories
2009
as Self
Ray Charles: The Legend Lives On
2008
as Self
Bob & Doug McKenzie's Two-Four Anniversary
2007
as Self
Fats and Friends
2007
as Self
Second City: First Family of Comedy
2006
as Self
The Blues Brothers: Transposing The Music
2005
as Self
Saturday Night Live: The Best of Dan Aykroyd
2005
as Blues Brothers Band (archive footage)
Disney Heroes Volume 1
2005
as Hermes (voice)
How I Met Your Mother
2005
as Paul Shaffer
Rockin' Pianos
2004
as Self
Hope & Faith
2003
as Himself
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
2003
as Self
The N.Y. Friars Club Roast of Chevy Chase
2002
as Self - Host
The Concert for New York City
2001
as Self
America | A Tribute to Heroes
2001
as Self
50 Years of NBC Late Night
2001
as Self (archive footage)
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
2001
as Paul Shaffer
Primetime Glick
2001
Ed
2000
as Irv Nadler
Man on the Moon
1999
as Letterman Band (uncredited)
Hercules: Zero to Hero
1999
as Hermes (voice) (archive sound)
Where Are They Now?
1999
as Self
The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn
1999
as Self
Mark Twain Prize
1999
as Self
Blues Brothers 2000
1998
as Marco
The Stories Behind the Making of 'The Blues Brothers'
1998
as Self
Hercules
1998
as Hermes (voice)
Hollywood Squares
1998
as Self - Panelist
Hercules
1997
as Hermes (voice)
The View
1997
as Self
Flash Gordon: Marooned on Mongo
1996
as Dr. Hans Zarkov (voice)
Flash Gordon
1996
as Dr. Zarkov (voice)
The Weinerville New Year's Special: Lost in the Big Apple
1995
as Self
The Show Formerly Known as the Martin Short Show
1995
as Self
The Best of the Blues Brothers
1993
as Self (archive footage)
Friends of Gilda
1993
as Self
Late Show with David Letterman
1993
as Self - Musical Director
A Spinal Tap Reunion: The 25th Anniversary London Sell-Out
1992
as Artie Fufkin
Night of 100 Stars III
1990
as Self
Seriously... Phil Collins
1990
as Self
Look Who's Talking Too
1990
as Taxi Businessman
Scrooged
1988
as Street Musician
The Beach Boys: 25 Years Together - A Celebration In Waikiki
1987
as Self
Heartbeat
1987
as Filmmaker's Assistant
Tears Are Not Enough
1985
as Self
Martin Short: Concert for the North Americas
1985
as Self
This Is Spinal Tap
1984
as Artie Fufkin
Jeopardy!
1984
as Self
Steve Martin's Best Show Ever
1981
as Self / Jo Jo the Dog-Faced Boy
Gilda Live
1980
as Don Kirshner / Arnie Schnachtman / Student Body President / The Candy Slice Group
Mr. Mike's Mondo Video
1979
as Church of Jack Lord Organist
CBS News Sunday Morning
1979
as Self
The Blues Brothers Live at Winterland
1978
A Year at the Top
1977
Saturday Night Live
1975
as Self - Host
Saturday Night Live
1975
as Self - Cameo (uncredited)
Saturday Night Live
1975
as Igor (uncredited)
Saturday Night Live
1975
as Self (uncredited)
Saturday Night Live
1975
as Crowd Member (uncredited)
Saturday Night Live
1975
as Self - Pianist (uncredited)
Saturday Night Live
1975
as Musician at Plato’s Cave (uncredited)
Saturday Night Live
1975
as Don Kirshner / Paul (uncredited)
Saturday Night Live
1975
as Self - The Blues Brothers Band / Don Kirshner (uncredited)
Saturday Night Live
1975
as Don Kirshner (uncredited)
Saturday Night Live
1975
as Paul (uncredited)
Saturday Night Live
1975
as Self - The Blues Brothers Band (uncredited)
Saturday Night Live
1975
as Don Kirshner / Self (uncredited)
Saturday Night Live
1975
as Danny Kreutzman (uncredited)
Saturday Night Live
1975
as Various (uncredited)
Saturday Night Live
1975
as Self - Musician
Saturday Night Live
1975
as Self - Various Characters
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
as Self
Tony Awards
1956
as Self - Performer