Paul Shaffer

AKA:

0.2158

1949-11-28

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.

Crew Roles

Blues Brothers 2000

Music

Saturday Night Live: 25th Anniversary Special

Writer

My Next Guest with David Letterman and Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Original Music Composer

My Next Guest with David Letterman and Shah Rukh Khan

Original Music Composer

The Concert for New York City

Music Director

Gilda Live

Writer

Gilda Live

Music

Gilda Live

Musician

Music Director

Cast RolesCast Roles Played = {88}

Marco

1998-02-06 5.277

Blues Brothers 2000

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 ...

Genre :Music, Action, Comedy, Crime

Hermes (voice)

1997-06-13 7.495

Hercules

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 Phi ...

Genre :Animation, Family, Fantasy, Adventure, Comedy, Romance

Self

2023-05-21 0

The Voice That Rocked America: The Dick Biondi Story

THE VOICE THAT ROCKED AMERICA is an one-hour documentary about Top 40 radio personality Dick Biondi. Dick's powerful connection with his audience has endured for decades, and the bands he promoted hav ...

Genre :Documentary

Self (archive footage)

2019-09-06 7.6

Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice

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. ...

Genre :Documentary

Self

1987-03-13 0

The Beach Boys: 25 Years Together - A Celebration In Waikiki

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 ...

Genre :Music

Self

2022-12-07 8

Finding Sandler

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. ...

Genre :Documentary, Comedy

Church of Jack Lord Organist

1979-09-20 5

Mr. Mike's Mondo Video

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 t ...

Genre :Comedy

Dr. Hans Zarkov (voice)

1996-05-20 3

Flash Gordon: Marooned on Mongo

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 M ...

Genre :Animation, Science Fiction, Action, Adventure

1978-12-31 6.4

The Blues Brothers Live at Winterland

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. ...

Genre :Music, TV Movie, Documentary

Self

1990-05-21 4

Night of 100 Stars III

A celebrity benefit for The Actors' Fund of America, featuring music, songs, dance and comedy. ...

Genre :Comedy, Music, TV Movie, Documentary

Self

2005-08-30 0

The Blues Brothers: Transposing The Music

A look at Dan and John's partnership and the music ...

Genre :Documentary

Filmmaker's Assistant

1987-05-10 5.5

Heartbeat

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 s ...

Genre :War, Music, Drama

Self / Jo Jo the Dog-Faced Boy

1981-11-25 7.5

Steve Martin's Best Show Ever

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 ca ...

Genre :Comedy, TV Movie, Documentary

Blues Brothers Band (archive footage)

2005-09-06 8.2

Saturday Night Live: The Best of Dan Aykroyd

A collection of classic Saturday Night Live sketches featuring Dan Aykroyd. ...

Genre :Comedy

Self

2015-09-18 5.5

Being Canadian

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. ...

Genre :Comedy, Documentary

Self

2004-03-29 0

Rockin' Pianos

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. Sentim ...

Genre :Music

Letterman Band (uncredited)

1999-12-22 7.246

Man on the Moon

The story of the life and career of eccentric avant-garde comedian, Andy Kaufman. ...

Genre :Comedy, Drama

Street Musician

1988-11-22 6.79

Scrooged

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 vis ...

Genre :Fantasy, Comedy, Drama

Self

1990-09-08 8

Seriously... Phil Collins

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. ...

Genre :Comedy, TV Movie

Paul Schaffer

2015-12-04 5.23

A Very Murray Christmas

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 sin ...

Genre :Comedy, Music, TV Movie

Himself (archive footage)

1994-07-26 5.8

The Best of the Blues Brothers

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 Nig ...

Genre :Music, TV Movie, Documentary

Himself

2016-07-09 0

Todd Who?

Todd Who? is a passionate, quirky 'rockumentary' that chronicles a fan’s 30 year obsession with criminally underrated rock musician Todd Rundgren. ...

Genre :Documentary, Music

Self

2012-12-12 6.8

12-12-12 | The Concert for Sandy Relief

“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 ...

Genre :Music, Documentary

Paul Shaffer

2016-07-31 4.518

Sharknado 4: The 4th Awakens

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 ...

Genre :Comedy, Science Fiction

Artie Fufkin

1984-03-02 7.4

This Is Spinal Tap

"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 ...

Genre :Comedy, Music

Self

1995-12-31 0

The Weinerville New Year's Special: Lost in the Big Apple

It's December 31st 6:00 Am at Weinerville, by midnight it'll be New Year's Day. The way for the Weinerville gang to celebrate it is by going to New York City to throw a party for all of the kids that ...

Genre :Family, Comedy

Self

2017-11-18 6.4

Night of Too Many Stars: America Unites for Autism Programs

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 ...

Genre :Comedy, Documentary, TV Movie

Self

1995-05-20 8

The Show Formerly Known as the Martin Short Show

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 Nat ...

Genre :Comedy, TV Movie

Keyboards

2012-06-26 8

Bachman & Turner - Live at the Roseland Ballroom

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 countr ...

Genre :Music

Self

2018-04-18 7.2

Love, Gilda

Diaries, audiotapes, videotapes and testimonials 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 Nigh ...

Genre :Documentary

Self

1985-10-04 6

Tears Are Not Enough

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-sce ...

Genre :Documentary, Music

1985-01-01 9

Martin Short: Concert for the North Americas

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 ...

Genre :Comedy

Self

2001-10-20 4.8

The Concert for New York City

The Concert for New York City (2001) captures the star-studded benefit held at Madison Square Garden on October 20, 2001, honoring the city’s resilience and the heroism of first responders after 9/11. ...

Genre :Music, Documentary

Self - Host

2002-12-01 5.1

The N.Y. Friars Club Roast of Chevy Chase

Chevy Chase bitterly takes in his roast. ...

Genre :Comedy, Documentary, TV Movie

Self

2018-05-11 6.7

Always at The Carlyle

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. ...

Genre :Documentary

Artie Fufkin

1992-12-31 6.1

A Spinal Tap Reunion: The 25th Anniversary London Sell-Out

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, ca ...

Genre :Music, Comedy, TV Movie

Self

2008-06-12 0

Ray Charles: The Legend Lives On

American R&B icon Ray Charles lets loose on this collection of electrifying live performances from throughout his legendary career. ...

Genre :

Self

1998-09-08 5

The Stories Behind the Making of 'The Blues Brothers'

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 J ...

Genre :Documentary

Self

2001-09-21 6.2

America | A Tribute to Heroes

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 th ...

Genre :Music, Documentary

Hermes (voice) (archive sound)

1999-08-17 6.533

Hercules: Zero to Hero

After defeating Hades for good, Hercules 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 A ...

Genre :Animation, Family, Action, Adventure

Self

2020-11-06 5

Chuck Leavell: The Tree Man

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 ar ...

Genre :Documentary

Self

2018-05-02 0

Bachman

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 ...

Genre :Documentary

Self

2007-05-20 6

Bob & Doug McKenzie's Two-Four Anniversary

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 ...

Genre :Comedy, Documentary

Hermes (voice)

2005-05-23 7.9

Disney Heroes Volume 1

Genre :Animation, Family

Don Kirshner / Arnie Schnachtman / Student Body President / The Candy Slice Group

1980-03-28 6

Gilda Live

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 cha ...

Genre :Comedy

Self

2025-09-06 0

You Had to Be There: How the Toronto Godspell Ignited the Comedy Revolution...

A documentary about the legendary 1972 Toronto production of the musical about the life of Jesus, which launched many illustrious careers and ignited a comedy revolution. ...

Genre :Documentary

Self

2025-01-27 7.5

Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music

Untold stories behind the culture-defining and newsmaking musical performances, sketches and cameos of the past 50 years. ...

Genre :Music, Documentary, TV Movie

Self

2025-02-14 6.7

SNL50: The Homecoming Concert

Live from Radio City Music Hall, witness the concert of a lifetime with a star-studded lineup bringing together legendary Saturday Night Live hall-of-famers, iconic guests and surprise musical perform ...

Genre :Comedy, Music

Taxi Businessman

1990-12-14 5.469

Look Who's Talking Too

Mollie and James are together and raising a family, which now consists of an older Mikey and his baby sister, Julie. Tension between the siblings arises, and as well with Mollie and James when Mollie' ...

Genre :Romance, Comedy

Self

2007-01-01 9

Fats and Friends

Recorded in 1986 this is a fantastic DVD. Fats Domino, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Ray Charles performing 17 tracks with a back up band led by the Stones' Ron Wood. Fats Domino leads off the DVD with a clut ...

Genre :Music

Artie Fufkin

2025-09-12 6.946

Spinal Tap II: The End Continues

The now estranged bandmates of Spinal Tap are forced to reunite for one final concert, hoping it will solidify their place in the pantheon of rock 'n' roll. ...

Genre :Music, Comedy

2018-04-24 0

Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame: In Concert 2014-2017

Highlights from the 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 induction ceremonies. Bruce Springsteen joining inductees the E Street Band for the deep-cut classic The E Street Shuffle from the Boss’s second album, fr ...

Genre :Music

Self

0

Say Hello to Our Good Friend Paul Shaffer

A feature documentary about Paul Shaffer, best known David Letterman’s longtime sidekick and Late Show bandleader. ...

Genre :Documentary, Comedy

Himself

1993-11-21 0

Friends of Gilda

Friends of Gilda was a 1993 ninety-minute television special made by CBC Television to benefit the Genesis Research Foundation, the research fundraising arm of the University of Toronto’s Department o ...

Genre :Documentary

Irv Nadler

2000-10-08 7.68

Ed

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 at ...

Genre :Drama, Comedy

Hermes (voice)

1998-08-31 6.88

Hercules

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 ...

Genre :Comedy, Kids, Animation, Action & Adventure

Dr. Zarkov (voice)

1996-09-21 5.8

Flash Gordon

Earth teenagers Flash Gordon and Dale Arden, and their reluctant friend Dr. Zarkov, journey to the fantastic planet Mongo where they fight to defeat the evil planetary dictator, Ming the Merciless. ...

Genre :Animation, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Kids

Self

1984-09-10 6.9

Jeopardy!

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. ...

Genre :Reality, Family

1977-08-05 5

A Year at the Top

A Year at the Top is an American sitcom which aired for five episodes on CBS in 1977. Produced by T.A.T. Communications Company, the series was created by Heywood Kling and co-executive produced by Do ...

Genre :Comedy, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Self

1999-06-07 7.5

Where Are They Now?

Where Are They Now? was a television series on VH1 that featured past celebrities and updated on their current professional and personal status. Each episode was dedicated to another genre. Though no ...

Genre :Documentary

Self

1999-03-30 4.6

The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn

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 ...

Genre :Talk

Self - Video Message

2019-01-02 7.662

The Masked Singer

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 si ...

Genre :Reality

Skeleton (archive footage)

2019-01-02 7.662

The Masked Singer

Genre :Reality

Self

1999-01-20 0

Mark Twain Prize

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, ...

Genre :

self

2019-09-15 9

Paul Shaffer Plus One

Paul Shaffer sits down with some of music's finest artists and discusses the stories behind their music and what inspires them. ...

Genre :Talk

Self - Host

1975-10-11 6.944

Saturday Night Live

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 ...

Genre :Comedy, News

Self - Cameo (uncredited)

1975-10-11 6.944

Saturday Night Live

Genre :Comedy, News

Self - Performer

1956-04-01 5.9

Tony Awards

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 Th ...

Genre :

Self -Musical Director

1993-08-30 6.4

Late Show with David Letterman

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 P ...

Genre :Talk, Comedy

Himself

2003-09-23 5.306

Hope & Faith

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 cha ...

Genre :Comedy

Self - Panelist

1998-09-14 7.3

Hollywood Squares

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 ...

Genre :

Self

2006-08-25 0

Second City: First Family of Comedy

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. ...

Genre :Comedy, Documentary

Self

2019-09-09 6.3

The Kelly Clarkson Show

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. ...

Genre :Talk

Self

1997-08-11 4.33

The View

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 top ...

Genre :Talk

Self

2009-10-03 7.3

Celebrity Ghost Stories

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 haunt ...

Genre :Reality, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Mystery, Talk

Skeleton

2019-01-02 7.662

The Masked Singer

Genre :Reality

Paul Shaffer

2005-09-19 8.139

How I Met Your Mother

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. ...

Genre :Comedy

Self

2022-11-06 6.2

Spector

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 ...

Genre :Documentary, Crime

Self

2010-09-21 6.4

Running Wilde

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. T ...

Genre :Comedy

Paul Shaffer

2001-09-30 7.581

Law & Order: Criminal Intent

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 crim ...

Genre :Drama

2001-06-20 6.8

Primetime Glick

Talk-show parody featuring obese host Jiminy Glick, who usually knows nothing about his guests and hurls veiled insults at them during his interviews. ...

Genre :Comedy, Talk

Self

1979-01-28 6.9

CBS News Sunday Morning

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 dutie ...

Genre :News

Paul Shaffer and the World's Most Dangerous Band

2014-02-17 5.9

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

After Jay Leno's second retirement from the program, Jimmy Fallon stepped in as his permanent replacement. After 42 years in Los Angeles the program was brought back to New York. ...