Paul Shaffer

Personal Info

Known For
Acting
Born
November 28, 1949 (75 years old)
Place of Birth
Fort William, Ontario, Canada
Popular Genres
Comedy Documentary TV Movie
Career Span
– Present

Paul Shaffer

3 wins
53 nominations
50 credits

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.

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Personal Info

Born
Nov 28, 1949
From
Fort William, Ontario, Canada
Known For
Acting
Career
– Present

Known For

Hercules
Hercules
1997
as Hermes (voice)
Scrooged
Scrooged
1988
as Street Musician
Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music
Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music
2025
as Self
SNL50: The Homecoming Concert
SNL50: The Homecoming Concert
2025
as Self
Sharknado 4: The 4th Awakens
Sharknado 4: The 4th Awakens
2016
as Paul Shaffer
Always at The Carlyle
Always at The Carlyle
2018
as Self
Night of Too Many Stars: America Unites for Autism Programs
Night of Too Many Stars: America Unites for Autism Programs
2017
as Self
America | A Tribute to Heroes
America | A Tribute to Heroes
2001
as Self
Being Canadian
Being Canadian
2015
as Self
The Concert for New York City
The Concert for New York City
2001
as Self
12-12-12 | The Concert for Sandy Relief
12-12-12 | The Concert for Sandy Relief
2012
as Self
Hercules: Zero to Hero
Hercules: Zero to Hero
1999
as Hermes (voice) (archive sound)

Frequent Collaborators

Bill Murray
Bill Murray
3 shared projects
in "SNL50: The Homecoming Concert"
 View Shared Movies
Bobcat Goldthwait
Bobcat Goldthwait
2 shared projects
in "Scrooged"
 View Shared Movies
Miles Davis
Miles Davis
2 shared projects
in "Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music"
 View Shared Movies
Lorne Michaels
Lorne Michaels
2 shared projects
in "SNL50: The Homecoming Concert"
 View Shared Movies
Kenan Thompson
Kenan Thompson
2 shared projects
in "SNL50: The Homecoming Concert"
 View Shared Movies
Maya Rudolph
Maya Rudolph
2 shared projects
in "SNL50: The Homecoming Concert"
 View Shared Movies
Jimmy Fallon
Jimmy Fallon
2 shared projects
in "SNL50: The Homecoming Concert"
 View Shared Movies
Fred Armisen
Fred Armisen
2 shared projects
in "SNL50: The Homecoming Concert"
 View Shared Movies
Dave Grohl
Dave Grohl
2 shared projects
in "SNL50: The Homecoming Concert"
 View Shared Movies
Bad Bunny
Bad Bunny
2 shared projects
in "SNL50: The Homecoming Concert"
 View Shared Movies
Miley Cyrus
Miley Cyrus
2 shared projects
in "SNL50: The Homecoming Concert"
 View Shared Movies
Andy Samberg
Andy Samberg
2 shared projects
in "SNL50: The Homecoming Concert"
 View Shared Movies

Award Recognition

3
Wins
53
Nominations

Complete Filmography

2025

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

2023

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

2022

Finding Sandler as Self

2020

Chuck Leavell: The Tree Man as Self

2019

Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice as Self (archive footage) Award

2018

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

2017

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

2016

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

2015

Being Canadian as Self Award
A Very Murray Christmas as Paul Schaffer Award

2012

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

2008

Ray Charles: The Legend Lives On as Self

2007

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

2005

Saturday Night Live: The Best of Dan Aykroyd as Blues Brothers Band (archive footage)
Disney Heroes Volume 1 as Hermes (voice)
The Blues Brothers: Transposing The Music as Self

2004

Rockin' Pianos as Self

2002

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

2001

America | A Tribute to Heroes as Self Award
The Concert for New York City as Self Award

1999

Hercules: Zero to Hero as Hermes (voice) (archive sound) Award
Man on the Moon as Letterman Band (uncredited)

1998

Blues Brothers 2000 as Marco
The Stories Behind the Making of 'The Blues Brothers' as Self

1997

Hercules as Hermes (voice) Award

1996

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

1995

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

1994

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

1992

The Return of Spinal Tap as Artie Fufkin

1990

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

1988

Scrooged as Street Musician Award

1987

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

1985

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

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 Award

1979

Mr. Mike's Mondo Video as Church of Jack Lord Organist

1978

The Blues Brothers Live at Winterland

Godspell 2025

Photos & Videos

Featured in Trailers

Hercules
Scrooged
Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music
Sharknado 4: The 4th Awakens
Always at The Carlyle
Night of Too Many Stars: America Unites for Autism Programs
Being Canadian

Career Statistics

Roles by Genre
Genre Evolution