Person

Paul Shaffer

Acting · Born 1949-11-28 · Fort William, Ontario, Canada

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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  The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

  Paul Shaffer and the World's Most Dangerous Band

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  The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

  Self - Musical Guest

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  The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

  Self

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  The Kelly Clarkson Show

  Self

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  How I Met Your Mother

  Paul Shaffer

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  Late Show with David Letterman

  Self -Musical Director

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  Law & Order: Criminal Intent

  Paul Shaffer

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  Saturday Night Live

  Self - Host

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  Jeopardy!

  Self

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  The View

  Self

• 2026You Had to Be There: How the Toronto Godspell Ignited the Comedy Revolution...Self
• 2026Peter Asher: Everywhere ManSelf
• 2026Marty, Life Is ShortSelf
• 2025I'm Chevy Chase and You're NotSelf
• 2025Spinal Tap II: The End ContinuesArtie Fufkin
• 2025SNL50: The Homecoming ConcertSelf
• 2025Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL MusicSelf - SNL Band Member 1975 - 1980
• 2023The Voice That Rocked America: The Dick Biondi StorySelf
• 2022My Next Guest with David Letterman and Volodymyr ZelenskyyOriginal Music Composer
• 2022Finding SandlerSelf
• 2022SpectorSelf
• 2020Chuck Leavell: The Tree ManSelf
• 2019My Next Guest with David Letterman and Shah Rukh KhanOriginal Music Composer
• 2019Paul Shaffer Plus Oneself
• 2019The Kelly Clarkson ShowSelf
• 2019Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My VoiceSelf (archive footage)
• 2019The Masked SingerSelf - Video Message
• 2018Always at The CarlyleSelf
• 2018BachmanSelf
• 2018Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame: In Concert 2014-2017Self
• 2018Love, GildaSelf
• 2017Night of Too Many Stars: America Unites for Autism ProgramsSelf
• 2016Sharknado 4: The 4th AwakensPaul Shaffer
• 2016Todd Who?Himself
• 2015A Very Murray ChristmasPaul Schaffer
• 2015Being CanadianSelf
• 2015The Late Show with Stephen ColbertSelf - Musical Guest
• 2014The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy FallonPaul Shaffer and the World's Most Dangerous Band
• 201212-12-12 | The Concert for Sandy ReliefSelf
• 2012Bachman & Turner - Live at the Roseland BallroomKeyboards
• 2010Running WildeSelf
• 2009Celebrity Ghost StoriesSelf
• 2008Ray Charles: The Legend Lives OnSelf
• 2007Bob & Doug McKenzie's Two-Four AnniversarySelf
• 2007Fats and FriendsSelf
• 2006Second City: First Family of ComedySelf
• 2005How I Met Your MotherPaul Shaffer
• 2005Saturday Night Live: The Best of Dan AykroydBlues Brothers Band (archive footage)
• 2005The Blues Brothers: Transposing The MusicSelf
• 2005Disney Heroes Volume 1Hermes (voice)
• 2004Rockin' PianosSelf
• 2003Hope & FaithHimself
• 2003Jimmy Kimmel Live!Self
• 2002The N.Y. Friars Club Roast of Chevy ChaseSelf - Host
• 2001The Concert for New York CitySelf
• 2001Law & Order: Criminal IntentPaul Shaffer
• 200150 Years of NBC Late NightSelf (archive footage)
• 2001America | A Tribute to HeroesSelf
• 2001Primetime Glick
• 2000EdIrv Nadler
• 1999Man on the MoonLetterman Band (uncredited)
• 1999Saturday Night Live: 25th Anniversary SpecialWriter
• 1999Hercules: Zero to HeroHermes (voice) (archive sound)
• 1999Where Are They Now?Self
• 1999The Late Late Show with Craig KilbornSelf
• 1999Mark Twain PrizeSelf
• 1998Hollywood SquaresSelf - Panelist
• 1998The Stories Behind the Making of 'The Blues Brothers'Self
• 1998HerculesHermes (voice)
• 1998Blues Brothers 2000Marco
• 1997The ViewSelf
• 1997HerculesHermes (voice)
• 1996Flash GordonDr. Zarkov (voice)
• 1996Flash Gordon: Marooned on MongoDr. Hans Zarkov (voice)
• 1995The Weinerville New Year's Special: Lost in the Big AppleSelf
• 1995The Show Formerly Known as the Martin Short ShowSelf
• 1993Friends of GildaSelf
• 1993Late Show with David LettermanSelf -Musical Director
• 1993The Best of the Blues BrothersSelf (archive footage)
• 1992A Spinal Tap Reunion: The 25th Anniversary London Sell-OutArtie Fufkin
• 1990Look Who's Talking TooTaxi Businessman
• 1990Seriously... Phil CollinsSelf
• 1990Night of 100 Stars IIISelf
• 1988ScroogedStreet Musician
• 1987HeartbeatFilmmaker's Assistant
• 1987The Beach Boys: 25 Years Together - A Celebration In WaikikiSelf
• 1985Tears Are Not EnoughSelf
• 1985Martin Short: Concert for the North Americas
• 1985NightwatchStunts
• 1984Jeopardy!Self
• 1984This Is Spinal TapArtie Fufkin
• 1981Steve Martin's Best Show EverSelf / Jo Jo the Dog-Faced Boy
• 1980Gilda LiveDon Kirshner / Arnie Schnachtman / Student Body President / The Candy Slice Group
• 1979Mr. Mike's Mondo VideoChurch of Jack Lord Organist
• 1979CBS News Sunday MorningSelf
• 1978The Blues Brothers Live at Winterland
• 1977A Year at the Top
• 1975Saturday Night LiveSelf - Host
• 1962The Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonSelf
• 1956Tony AwardsSelf - Performer
• —Say Hello to Our Good Friend Paul ShafferSelf
• —Darlene Love: I Know Where I've BeenSelf