Elvis Costello

Biography

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.

Known For

The Simpsons

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

The Daily Show

Two and a Half Men

The Graham Norton Show

Real Time with Bill Maher

All Movies (97)

• McCartney: The Hunt for the Lost Bass2026 · as Self
• Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music2025 · as Self
• Elvis Costello & WDR Big Band @ Leverkusener Jazztage 20252025
• Alma Naidu @ Levekusener Jazztage 20252025
• Record On: The Specials - A Message to You2024 · as Self
• Sounds of Liverpool at the BBC2023 · as Self (archive footage)
• Roy Orbison Forever2022 · as Self
• Lindisfarne's Geordie Genius: The Alan Hull Story2021 · as Self
• Johnny Cash: The Man in Black in Britain2020 · as Self
• Ringo Starr’s Big Birthday Show2020 · as Self - Performer
• Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary Celebration2019 · as Self
• Tower of Song: A Memorial Tribute to Leonard Cohen2018 · as Self - Performer
• Ex Libris: The New York Public Library2017 · as Self
• Roy Orbison: Black and White Night 302017 · as Self
• The Beatles: Eight Days a Week - The Touring Years2016 · as Self
• Elvis Costello - Detour Live at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall2015 · as Self
• Lost Songs: The Basement Tapes Continued2014 · as Self
• Elvis Costello: Mystery Dance2013 · as Self
• Experience Montreux2013 · as Self
• Elvis Costello & The Imposters: The Return Of The Spectacular Spinning Songbook2012 · as Self - Performer
• A MusiCares Tribute to Neil Young2011 · as Self
• I Was There: When the Beatles Played the Cavern2011 · as Self (archive footage)
• Love Shines2010 · as Self
• Hard Rock Calling 20102010 · as Self
• A Prairie Home Companion Live in HD!2010 · as Self - Singer
• Live From Bonnaroo 20092009 · as Self
• A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!2008 · as Self
• Memento Mori2008 · as Self
• If It Ain't Stiff: The Stiff Records Story2007 · as Self
• Delirious2007 · as Elvis Costello
• Elvis Costello: Live: A Case for Song2007 · as Self - Vocals, Guitar
• Tony Bennett: Duets - The Making of an American Classic2007 · as Self
• The Old, Weird America: Harry Smith's Anthology of American Folk Music2007 · as Self
• Elvis Costello & Allen Toussaint: Hot as a Pistol, Keen as a Blade2006 · as Self
• The Harry Smith Project Live2006 · as Self
• Before the Music Dies2006 · as Self - Musician
• Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby2006 · as Elvis Costello
• Elvis Costello & Friends2006 · as Self (archive footage)
• Putting the River in Reverse2006 · as Self
• Grand Ole Opry Live2006 · as Self
• The Tomorrow Show with Tom Snyder: Punk & New Wave2006 · as Self
• From the Big Apple to the Big Easy: The Concert for New Orleans2006 · as Self
• Johnny Vegas: 18 Stone of Idiot - Unseen and Uncut2005 · as Guest
• The Pretenders: No Turn Left Unstoned2005 · as Self
• Elvis Costello: The Right Spectacle - The Very Best of Elvis Costello2005 · as Self - Performer
• Live Aid: 20 Years Ago Today2005 · as Self
• Off The Beaten Path: A Road Trip With Elvis & Pete2005 · as Self
• Live Aid2004 · as Self
• Beautiful Dreamer: Brian Wilson and the Story of Smile2004 · as Self
• De-Lovely2004 · as Musical Performer - "Let's Misbehave"
• Johnny Cash: The Last Great American2004 · as Self
• Elvis Costello & The Imposters: Club Date - Live in Memphis2004 · as Self
• Emmylou Harris: From a Deeper Well2003 · as Self
• I Love Your Work2003 · as Self
• Elvis Costello: North2003 · as Self
• Willie Nelson & Friends: Live and Kickin'2003 · as Self
• Freedom Beat2003 · as Self
• There's Only One Paul McCartney2002 · as Self
• A Tribute To Burt Bacharach & Hal David2001 · as Self
• Prison Song2001 · as Public Defender / Teacher
• Unleaded2000 · as Elvis Costello
• Behind the Scenes of 'Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me'1999 · as Self
• In Dreams: The Roy Orbison Story1999 · as Self
• Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me1999 · as Elvis Costello
• Here, There and Everywhere: A Concert for Linda1999 · as Self
• 200 Cigarettes1999 · as Self
• Classic Albums: U2 - The Joshua Tree1999 · as Self
• Elvis Costello and Burt Bacharach: Sessions at West 54th1998 · as Self
• Brian Wilson’s Imagination1998 · as Self
• Burt Bacharach: One Amazing Night1998 · as Self
• Spice World1997 · as Elvis Costello
• Tony Bennett's New York1996 · as Self
• Tony Bennett: MTV Unplugged1994 · as Self
• Dusty1994 · as Self - Interviewee
• Philip K Dick: A Day in the Afterlife1994 · as Self - Interviewee
• September Songs: The Music of Kurt Weill1994 · as Self
• Weird Nightmare1993 · as Self
• Elvis Costello and the Brodsky Quartet - The Juliet Letters1991 · as Self
• Paul McCartney: Put It There1989 · as Self
• Elvis Costello & Friends Live at Sweetwater1989
• Roy Orbison and Friends: A Black and White Night1988 · as Self - Guitar/Electric Organ/Harmonica
• Red Shoes In the Land of the Midnight Sun: Elvis Costello & The Confederates Live in Tokyo1987 · as Self - Performer
• Straight to Hell1987 · as Hives The Butler
• Chet Baker Live at Ronnie Scott's1986 · as Self
• The Way They Were: Punk and the New Wave 1976-19781986 · as Self
• No Surrender1985 · as Rosco De Ville
• Live Aid1985 · as Self
• The Bullshitters: Roll Out the Gunbarrel1984 · as Stone Deaf A & R Man
• George Jones: With a Little Help from His Friends1981 · as Self
• Concerts for the People of Kampuchea1981 · as Self
• Elvis Costello & The Attractions Live in Montreaux1980 · as Self - Performer
• Americathon1979 · as The Earl of Manchester
• Elvis Costello and The Attractions: Live on Rockpalast1978 · as Self
• Elvis Costello and The Attractions: Live at The Capitol Theatre1978 · as Self
• If It Ain't Stiff, It Ain't Worth a Fuck1978 · as Self
• Life Is a Carnival: A Musical Celebration of Robbie Robertson— · as Self
• Little Red Robin Hood— · as Self

All TV Shows (41)

• Words + Music2025 · as Self
• This Is Pop2021 · as Self (archive footage)
• Pete the Cat2017 · as Pete's Dad (voice)
• The Late Show with Stephen Colbert2015 · as Self
• The Late Show with Stephen Colbert2015 · as Self - Musical Guest
• The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon2014 · as Self - Musical Guest
• Hamburg Journal2011 · as self
• Treme2010 · as Elvis Costello
• Live from the Artists Den2009 · as Self
• Spectacle: Elvis Costello with...2008 · as Self
• The Graham Norton Show2007 · as Self
• Legends2006 · as Self
• 30 Rock2006 · as Elvis Costello
• The Colbert Report2005 · as Self
• Two and a Half Men2003 · as Elvis Costello
• Real Time with Bill Maher2003 · as Self
• Jimmy Kimmel Live!2003 · as Self
• CMT Crossroads2002 · as Self
• Classic Albums1997 · as Self
• The Daily Show1996 · as Self
• 3rd Rock from the Sun1996 · as Elvis Costello
• Die Harald Schmidt Show1995 · as Self
• The Frank Skinner Show1995 · as Self
• Lo + plus1995 · as Self
• Frasier1993 · as Ben
• Late Night with Conan O'Brien1993 · as Self - Guest
• Late Night with Conan O'Brien1993 · as Self - Musical Guest
• Late Show with David Letterman1993 · as Self - Musical Guest
• The Larry Sanders Show1992 · as Elvis Costello
• The Tonight Show with Jay Leno1992 · as Self - Musical Guest
• Have I Got News for You1990 · as Self
• The Simpsons1989 · as Elvis Costello (voice)
• MTV Unplugged1989 · as Self
• Scully1984 · as Henry Scully
• The Comic Strip Presents...1982 · as Stone Deaf A & R Man
• Champs-Elysées1982 · as Self
• The Kenny Everett Video Show1978 · as Self
• Saturday Night Live1975 · as Self - Musical Guest
• Austin City Limits1975 · as Self
• Top of the Pops1964 · as Self (archive footage)
• The Oscars1953 · as Self