Paul Shaffer
Known for Acting · 86 credits
- Born
- 1949-11-28 (age 76)
- Place of birth
- Fort William, Ontario, Canada
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
1962
as Self
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
2014
as Paul Shaffer and the World's Most Dangerous Band / Self - Musical Guest
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
2015
as Self - Musical Guest
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
2001
as Paul Shaffer
Late Show with David Letterman
1993
as Self -Musical Director
The Kelly Clarkson Show
2019
as Self
TV Shows (29)
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
as Self
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
2014
as Paul Shaffer and the World's Most Dangerous Band / Self - Musical Guest
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
2015
as Self - Musical Guest
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
2001
as Paul Shaffer
Late Show with David Letterman
1993
as Self -Musical Director
The Kelly Clarkson Show
2019
as Self
Saturday Night Live
1975
as Self - Host / Self - Cameo (uncredited) / Igor (uncredited) / Self (uncredited) / Crowd Member (uncredited) / Self - Pianist (uncredited) / Musician at Plato’s Cave (uncredited) / Don Kirshner / Paul (uncredited) / Self - The Blues Brothers Band / Don Kirshner (uncredited) / Self - The Blues Brothers Band (uncredited) / Don Kirshner / Self (uncredited) / Danny Kreutzman (uncredited) / Various (uncredited) / Self - Musician / Self - Various Characters
How I Met Your Mother
2005
as Paul Shaffer
The View
1997
as Self
Hollywood Squares
1998
as Self - Panelist
Jeopardy!
1984
as Self
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
2003
as Self
CBS News Sunday Morning
1979
as Self
Tony Awards
1956
as Self - Performer
The Masked Singer
2019
as Self - Video Message / Skeleton (archive footage)
Hercules
1998
as Hermes (voice)
Celebrity Ghost Stories
2009
as Self
Ed
2000
as Irv Nadler
Hope & Faith
2003
as Himself
The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn
1999
as Self
Where Are They Now?
1999
as Self
Primetime Glick
2001
Running Wilde
2010
as Self
Mark Twain Prize
1999
as Self
Flash Gordon
1996
as Dr. Zarkov (voice)
Second City: First Family of Comedy
2006
as Self
Spector
2022
as Self
A Year at the Top
1977
Paul Shaffer Plus One
2019
as self
Movies (57)
Hercules
1997
as Hermes (voice)
Scrooged
1988
as Street Musician
Marty, Life Is Short
2026
as Self
This Is Spinal Tap
1984
as Artie Fufkin
Man on the Moon
1999
as Letterman Band (uncredited)
Look Who's Talking Too
1990
as Taxi Businessman
America | A Tribute to Heroes
2001
as Self
Night of Too Many Stars: America Unites for Autism Programs
2017
as Self
SNL50: The Homecoming Concert
2025
as Self
Blues Brothers 2000
1998
as Marco
Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music
2025
as Self - SNL Band Member 1975 - 1980
Spinal Tap II: The End Continues
2025
as Artie Fufkin
The Concert for New York City
2001
as Self
Always at The Carlyle
2018
as Self
Sharknado 4: The 4th Awakens
2016
as Paul Shaffer
Saturday Night Live: The Best of Dan Aykroyd
2005
as Blues Brothers Band (archive footage)
12-12-12 | The Concert for Sandy Relief
2012
as Self
Night of 100 Stars III
1990
as Self
Being Canadian
2015
as Self
A Very Murray Christmas
2015
as Paul Schaffer
I'm Chevy Chase and You're Not
2025
as Self
Hercules: Zero to Hero
1999
as Hermes (voice) (archive sound)
Seriously... Phil Collins
1990
as Self
Finding Sandler
2022
as Self
The Stories Behind the Making of 'The Blues Brothers'
1998
as Self
Love, Gilda
2018
as Self
Martin Short: Concert for the North Americas
1985
Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice
2019
as Self (archive footage)
Bob & Doug McKenzie's Two-Four Anniversary
2007
as Self
A Spinal Tap Reunion: The 25th Anniversary London Sell-Out
1992
as Artie Fufkin
Mr. Mike's Mondo Video
1979
as Church of Jack Lord Organist
Steve Martin's Best Show Ever
1981
as Self / Jo Jo the Dog-Faced Boy
Disney Heroes Volume 1
2005
as Hermes (voice)
The Blues Brothers: Transposing The Music
2005
as Self
Heartbeat
1987
as Filmmaker's Assistant
Gilda Live
1980
as Don Kirshner / Arnie Schnachtman / Student Body President / The Candy Slice Group
You Had to Be There: How the Toronto Godspell Ignited the Comedy Revolution...
2025
as Self
The Show Formerly Known as the Martin Short Show
1995
as Self
The Weinerville New Year's Special: Lost in the Big Apple
1995
as Self
Flash Gordon: Marooned on Mongo
1996
as Dr. Hans Zarkov (voice)
Chuck Leavell: The Tree Man
2020
as Self
The Blues Brothers Live at Winterland
1978
The N.Y. Friars Club Roast of Chevy Chase
2002
as Self - Host
The Beach Boys: 25 Years Together - A Celebration In Waikiki
1987
as Self
The Voice That Rocked America: The Dick Biondi Story
2023
as Self
The Best of the Blues Brothers
1994
as Self (archive footage)
Friends of Gilda
1993
as Self
Tears Are Not Enough
1985
as Self
Fats and Friends
2007
as Self
Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame: In Concert 2014-2017
2018
as Self
Ray Charles: The Legend Lives On
2008
as Self
Darlene Love: I Know Where I've Been
as Self
Bachman
2018
as Self
Bachman & Turner - Live at the Roseland Ballroom
2012
as Keyboards
Todd Who?
2016
as Himself
Rockin' Pianos
2004
as Self
Say Hello to Our Good Friend Paul Shaffer
as Self
About Paul Shaffer
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. With 86 credits spanning from 1956 to 2026, Paul Shaffer has appeared in 57 films and 29 TV shows.
Fans searching for Paul Shaffer movies, Paul Shaffer filmography, or the latest projects starring Paul Shaffer can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Paul Shaffer Movies
- Hercules (1997) — as Hermes (voice)
- Scrooged (1988) — as Street Musician
- Marty, Life Is Short (2026) — as Self
- This Is Spinal Tap (1984) — as Artie Fufkin
- Man on the Moon (1999) — as Letterman Band (uncredited)
Where to Watch Paul Shaffer Films
Most Paul Shaffer movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Paul Shaffer, check our movies catalogue and browse page.