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

Acting

2025

Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music as Self

SNL50: The Homecoming Concert as Self

2023

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

2022

Finding Sandler as Self

Spector as Self

2020

Chuck Leavell: The Tree Man as Self

2019

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

The Masked Singer as Self - Video Message

The Masked Singer as Skeleton (archive footage)

Paul Shaffer Plus One as self

The Kelly Clarkson Show as Self

The Masked Singer as Skeleton

2018

Love, Gilda as Self

Always at The Carlyle as Self

Bachman as Self

2017

David Letterman: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize as Self

Night of Too Many Stars: America Unites for Autism Programs as Self

2016

Bill Murray: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize as Self

Todd Who? as Himself

Sharknado 4: The 4th Awakens as Paul Shaffer

2015

Being Canadian as Self

A Very Murray Christmas as Paul Schaffer

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

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

The Blues Brothers: Transposing The Music as Self

Saturday Night Live: The Best of Dan Aykroyd as Blues Brothers Band (archive footage)

Disney Heroes Volume 1 as Hermes (voice)

How I Met Your Mother as Paul Shaffer

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

America | A Tribute to Heroes as Self

Law & Order: Criminal Intent as Paul Shaffer

Primetime Glick

2000

Ed as Irv Nadler

1999

Man on the Moon as Letterman Band (uncredited)

Hercules: Zero to Hero as Hermes (voice) (archive sound)

Where Are They Now? as Self

The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn as Self

Mark Twain Prize as Self

1998

Blues Brothers 2000 as Marco

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

Hercules as Hermes (voice)

Hollywood Squares as Self - Panelist

1997

Hercules as Hermes (voice)

The View as Self

1996

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

Flash Gordon as Dr. Zarkov (voice)

1995

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

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

Night of 100 Stars III as Self

Seriously... Phil Collins as Self

1988

Scrooged as Street Musician

1987

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

Heartbeat as Filmmaker's Assistant

1985

Tears Are Not Enough as Self

Martin Short: Concert for the North Americas

1984

This Is Spinal Tap as Artie Fufkin

Jeopardy!

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

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

Saturday Night Live as Self - Cameo (uncredited)

Saturday Night Live as Self / Various

Saturday Night Live as Self

1956

Tony Awards as Self - Performer

Godspell 2025

Sound

2022

My Next Guest with David Letterman and Volodymyr Zelenskyy as Original Music Composer

2019

My Next Guest with David Letterman and Shah Rukh Khan as Original Music Composer

2017

David Letterman: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize as Music Director

2014

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon as Music Director

2001

The Concert for New York City as Music Director

1998

Blues Brothers 2000 as Music

1980

Gilda Live as Music

Gilda Live as Musician

Writing

1999

Saturday Night Live: 25th Anniversary Special as Writer

1980

Gilda Live as Writer

Personal Info

Gender

Birthday

Place of Birth

Paul Shaffer

Biography:

Known For

Acting

Sound

Writing