Paul Shaffer

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 Jimmy Fallon

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

The Kelly Clarkson Show

Law & Order: Criminal Intent

Saturday Night Live

All Movies (58)

You Had to Be There: How the Toronto Godspell Ignited the Comedy Revolution...2026 · as Self
Peter Asher: Everywhere Man2026 · as Self
Marty, Life Is Short2026 · as Self
I'm Chevy Chase and You're Not2025 · as Self
Spinal Tap II: The End Continues2025 · as Artie Fufkin
SNL50: The Homecoming Concert2025 · as Self
Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music2025 · as Self - SNL Band Member 1975 - 1980
The Voice That Rocked America: The Dick Biondi Story2023 · as Self
Finding Sandler2022 · as Self
Chuck Leavell: The Tree Man2020 · as Self
Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice2019 · as Self (archive footage)
Always at The Carlyle2018 · as Self
Bachman2018 · as Self
Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame: In Concert 2014-20172018 · as Self
Love, Gilda2018 · as Self
Night of Too Many Stars: America Unites for Autism Programs2017 · as Self
Sharknado 4: The 4th Awakens2016 · as Paul Shaffer
Todd Who?2016 · as Himself
A Very Murray Christmas2015 · as Paul Schaffer
Being Canadian2015 · as Self
12-12-12 | The Concert for Sandy Relief2012 · as Self
Bachman & Turner - Live at the Roseland Ballroom2012 · as Keyboards
Ray Charles: The Legend Lives On2008 · as Self
Bob & Doug McKenzie's Two-Four Anniversary2007 · as Self
Fats and Friends2007 · as Self
Saturday Night Live: The Best of Dan Aykroyd2005 · as Blues Brothers Band (archive footage)
The Blues Brothers: Transposing The Music2005 · as Self
Disney Heroes Volume 12005 · as Hermes (voice)
Rockin' Pianos2004 · as Self
The N.Y. Friars Club Roast of Chevy Chase2002 · as Self - Host
The Concert for New York City2001 · as Self
America | A Tribute to Heroes2001 · as Self
Man on the Moon1999 · as Letterman Band (uncredited)
Hercules: Zero to Hero1999 · as Hermes (voice) (archive sound)
The Stories Behind the Making of 'The Blues Brothers'1998 · as Self
Blues Brothers 20001998 · as Marco
Hercules1997 · as Hermes (voice)
Flash Gordon: Marooned on Mongo1996 · as Dr. Hans Zarkov (voice)
The Weinerville New Year's Special: Lost in the Big Apple1995 · as Self
The Show Formerly Known as the Martin Short Show1995 · as Self
Friends of Gilda1993 · as Self
The Best of the Blues Brothers1993 · as Self (archive footage)
A Spinal Tap Reunion: The 25th Anniversary London Sell-Out1992 · as Artie Fufkin
Look Who's Talking Too1990 · as Taxi Businessman
Seriously... Phil Collins1990 · as Self
Night of 100 Stars III1990 · as Self
Scrooged1988 · as Street Musician
Heartbeat1987 · as Filmmaker's Assistant
The Beach Boys: 25 Years Together - A Celebration In Waikiki1987 · as Self
Tears Are Not Enough1985 · as Self
Martin Short: Concert for the North Americas1985
This Is Spinal Tap1984 · as Artie Fufkin
Steve Martin's Best Show Ever1981 · as Self / Jo Jo the Dog-Faced Boy
Gilda Live1980 · as Don Kirshner / Arnie Schnachtman / Student Body President / The Candy Slice Group
Mr. Mike's Mondo Video1979 · as Church of Jack Lord Organist
The Blues Brothers Live at Winterland1978
Say Hello to Our Good Friend Paul Shaffer— · as Self
Darlene Love: I Know Where I've Been— · as Self

All TV Shows (48)

Spector2022 · as Self
Paul Shaffer Plus One2019 · as self
The Kelly Clarkson Show2019 · as Self
The Masked Singer2019 · as Self - Video Message
The Masked Singer2019 · as Skeleton (archive footage)
The Masked Singer2019 · as Skeleton
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert2015 · as Self - Musical Guest
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon2014 · as Paul Shaffer and the World's Most Dangerous Band
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon2014 · as Self - Musical Guest
Running Wilde2010 · as Self
Celebrity Ghost Stories2009 · as Self
Second City: First Family of Comedy2006 · as Self
How I Met Your Mother2005 · as Paul Shaffer
Hope & Faith2003 · as Himself
Jimmy Kimmel Live!2003 · as Self
Law & Order: Criminal Intent2001 · as Paul Shaffer
Primetime Glick2001
Ed2000 · as Irv Nadler
Where Are They Now?1999 · as Self
The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn1999 · as Self
Mark Twain Prize1999 · as Self
Hollywood Squares1998 · as Self - Panelist
Hercules1998 · as Hermes (voice)
The View1997 · as Self
Flash Gordon1996 · as Dr. Zarkov (voice)
Late Show with David Letterman1993 · as Self -Musical Director
Jeopardy!1984 · as Self
CBS News Sunday Morning1979 · as Self
A Year at the Top1977
Saturday Night Live1975 · as Self - Host
Saturday Night Live1975 · as Self - Cameo (uncredited)
Saturday Night Live1975 · as Igor (uncredited)
Saturday Night Live1975 · as Self (uncredited)
Saturday Night Live1975 · as Crowd Member (uncredited)
Saturday Night Live1975 · as Self - Pianist (uncredited)
Saturday Night Live1975 · as Musician at Plato’s Cave (uncredited)
Saturday Night Live1975 · as Don Kirshner / Paul (uncredited)
Saturday Night Live1975 · as Self - The Blues Brothers Band / Don Kirshner (uncredited)
Saturday Night Live1975 · as Don Kirshner (uncredited)
Saturday Night Live1975 · as Paul (uncredited)
Saturday Night Live1975 · as Self - The Blues Brothers Band (uncredited)
Saturday Night Live1975 · as Don Kirshner / Self (uncredited)
Saturday Night Live1975 · as Danny Kreutzman (uncredited)
Saturday Night Live1975 · as Various (uncredited)
Saturday Night Live1975 · as Self - Musician
Saturday Night Live1975 · as Self - Various Characters
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson1962 · as Self
Tony Awards1956 · as Self - Performer