Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

Gender

Male

Birthday

1949-11-28 (75 years old)

Place of Birth

Fort William, Ontario, Canada

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

7.5%

Hercules

Jun 13, 1997

8.1%

How I Met Your Mother

Sep 19, 2005

7.2%

Man on the Moon

Dec 22, 1999

6.8%

Scrooged

Nov 22, 1988

7.4%

This Is Spinal Tap

Mar 2, 1984

5.3%

Blues Brothers 2000

Feb 5, 1998

7.7%

Schitt's Creek

Jan 13, 2015

6.9%

Saturday Night Live

Oct 11, 1975

6.9%

Saturday Night Live

Oct 11, 1975

6.9%

Saturday Night Live

Oct 11, 1975

6.9%

Saturday Night Live

Oct 11, 1975

5.2%

A Very Murray Christmas

Dec 4, 2015

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Acting

—

Godspell 2025

2025		SNL50: The Homecoming Concert as Self
2025		Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music as Self

2023

The Voice That Rocked America: The Dick Biondi Story as Self

2022		Finding Sandler as Self
2022		Spector as Self

2020

Chuck Leavell: The Tree Man as Self

2019		Paul Shaffer Plus One as self
2019		The Kelly Clarkson Show as Self
2019		Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice as Self (archive footage)
2019		The Masked Singer as Self - Video Message
2019		The Masked Singer as Skeleton (archive footage)
2019		The Masked Singer as Skeleton

2018		Always at The Carlyle as Self
2018		Bachman as Self
2018		Love, Gilda as Self

2017		Night of Too Many Stars: America Unites for Autism Programs as Self
2017		David Letterman: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize as Self

2016		Bill Murray: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize as Self
2016		Sharknado 4: The 4th Awakens as Paul Shaffer
2016		Todd Who? as Himself

2015		A Very Murray Christmas as Paul Schaffer
2015		Being Canadian as Self
2015		Schitt's Creek as Paul Shaffer

2014

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon as Paul Shaffer and the World's Most Dangerous Band

2012		12-12-12 \| The Concert for Sandy Relief as Self
2012		Bachman & Turner - Live at the Roseland Ballroom as Keyboards

2010

Running Wilde as Self

2009

Celebrity Ghost Stories as Self

2008

Ray Charles: The Legend Lives On as Self

2007

Bob & Doug McKenzie's Two-Four Anniversary as Self

2006

Second City: First Family of Comedy as Self

2005		How I Met Your Mother as Paul Shaffer
2005		Saturday Night Live: The Best of Dan Aykroyd as Blues Brothers Band (archive footage)
2005		The Blues Brothers: Transposing The Music as Self
2005		Disney Heroes Volume 1 as Hermes (voice)

2004

Rockin' Pianos as Self

2003

Hope & Faith as Himself

2002

The N.Y. Friars Club Roast of Chevy Chase as Self - Host

2001		The Concert for New York City as Self
2001		Law & Order: Criminal Intent as Paul Shaffer
2001		America \| A Tribute to Heroes as Self
2001		Primetime Glick

2000

Ed as Irv Nadler

1999		Man on the Moon as Letterman Band (uncredited)
1999		Hercules: Zero to Hero as Hermes (voice) (archive sound)
1999		Where Are They Now? as Self
1999		The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn as Self
1999		Mark Twain Prize as Self

1998		Hollywood Squares as Self - Panelist
1998		The Stories Behind the Making of 'The Blues Brothers' as Self
1998		Hercules as Hermes (voice)
1998		Blues Brothers 2000 as Marco

1997		The View as Self
1997		Hercules as Hermes (voice)

1996		Flash Gordon as Dr. Zarkov (voice)
1996		Flash Gordon: Marooned on Mongo as Dr. Hans Zarkov (voice)

1995		The Weinerville New Year's Special: Lost in the Big Apple as Self
1995		The Show Formerly Known as the Martin Short Show as Self

1994

The Best of the Blues Brothers as Himself (archive footage)

1993

Late Show with David Letterman as Self -Musical Director

1992

The Return of Spinal Tap as Artie Fufkin

1990		Seriously... Phil Collins as Self
1990		Night of 100 Stars III as Self

1988

Scrooged as Street Musician

1987		Heartbeat as Filmmaker's Assistant
1987		The Beach Boys: 25 Years Together - A Celebration In Waikiki as Self

1985		Tears Are Not Enough as Self
1985		Martin Short: Concert for the North Americas

1984		Jeopardy!
1984		This Is Spinal Tap as Artie Fufkin

1981

Steve Martin's Best Show Ever as Self / Jo Jo the Dog-Faced Boy

1980

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

1979		Mr. Mike's Mondo Video as Church of Jack Lord Organist
1979		CBS News Sunday Morning as Self

1978

The Blues Brothers Live at Winterland

1977

A Year at the Top

1975		Saturday Night Live as Self - Host
1975		Saturday Night Live as Self - Cameo (uncredited)
1975		Saturday Night Live as Self / Various
1975		Saturday Night Live as Self