Paul Shaffer

Biography

Paul Shaffer, a Canadian musician and comedian, spent more than thirty years as David Letterman's bandleader and musical sidekick, first on NBC's Late Night and later on the CBS Late Show. Raised in Thunder Bay, Ontario, he began his music career in 1972 leading the Toronto production of Godspell. He played piano for The Magic Show in 1974, then joined the Saturday Night Live house band from 1975 to 1980 and also appeared in sketches. Starting in 1982, he led Letterman's bands and composed the Late Night theme. He voiced Hermes in Disney's Hercules (1997), was musical director for A Very Murray Christmas (2015), and acted in This Is Spinal Tap, Scrooged, and Blues Brothers 2000. He has also served as musical director for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's induction shows and was made a member of the Order of Canada in 2007.

76years old

Turns 77 on November 28in 18 days

Born November 28, 1949Thunder Bay
Star sign: SagittariusThe sign runs November 22 to December 21
Paul Allen Wood Shaffer (birth name)Also credited as Paul A. W. Shaffer

Movie Career

Films: 8
Career span: 45 years1981 to 2026

Genres

Comedy63%, 5 films
Documentary38%, 3 films
Music38%, 3 films
Adventure13%, 1 film
Animation13%, 1 film

First and latest

Did you know?!

A first
In the 1979-80 season, Shaffer was named a cast member as a featured player. That made him the only band member ever to join the cast.
A role that slipped away
Shaffer was offered the role of George Costanza on Seinfeld but never returned Jerry Seinfeld's call, so he lost the part.
First role
In 1972 Stephen Schwartz invited Shaffer to serve as musical director for Godspell's Toronto production, which starred Victor Garber and Gilda Radner. That invitation marked the start of Shaffer's music career.
A role that slipped away
Shaffer was dropped by John Belushi from the 1980 Blues Brothers film after Belushi grew unhappy that Shaffer was spending time on a studio record for Gilda Radner.
A role that slipped away
Shaffer said that Jean Doumanian, who was becoming producer the next season, asked him to take over as musical director after Howard Shore left, but he declined. He did not want to restart the show with a brand new cast.
Behind the camera
In 1982, Shaffer and Paul Jabara co-wrote "It's Raining Men." The song reached number one on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play charts, and Geri Halliwell's cover topped the UK chart in 2001.

Paul Shaffer movies on Netflix

Marty, Life Is Short2026IMDb rating 7.7as Himself
I'm Chevy Chase and You're Not2025IMDb rating 6.8as Himself
Spinal Tap II: The End Continues2025IMDb rating 6.4as Artie Fufkin
Love, Gilda2018IMDb rating 7.4as Himself
A Very Murray Christmas2015IMDb rating 5.5as Paul Shaffer
Hercules1997IMDb rating 7.3as Hermes; the Messenger God (voice)
A Spinal Tap Reunion: The 25th Anniversary London Sell-Out1992IMDb rating 6.4as Artie Fufkin
Steve Martin's Best Show Ever1981IMDb rating 6.9as Self / Jo Jo the Dog-Faced Boy

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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A Very Murray Christmas2015 Comedy, Music, Musicalas Paul Shaffer
IMDb rating 5.517K votes
Hercules1997 Adventure, Animation, Comedyas Hermes; the Messenger Godvoice
IMDb rating 7.3284K votes
Spinal Tap II: The End Continues2025as Artie Fufkin
IMDb rating 6.410K votes
A Spinal Tap Reunion: The 25th Anniversary London Sell-Out1992as Artie Fufkin
IMDb rating 6.4823 votes
Marty, Life Is Short2026as Himself
IMDb rating 7.73.5K votes
Love, Gilda2018as Himself
IMDb rating 7.42.0K votes
I'm Chevy Chase and You're Not2025as Himself
IMDb rating 6.82.7K votes
Steve Martin's Best Show Ever1981as Self / Jo Jo the Dog-Faced Boy
IMDb rating 6.9183 votes

Most often with

Martin Short appears in four of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Martin Short

Bill Murray

Dan Aykroyd

Michael McKean

Steve Martin

Chevy Chase

Films together

Martin Short4 films together, 1992 to 2026
Martin Short's page
- Marty, Life Is Short2026IMDb rating 7.7Shaffer as HimselfShort as Himself
- I'm Chevy Chase and You're Not2025IMDb rating 6.8Shaffer as HimselfShort as Himself
- Love, Gilda2018IMDb rating 7.4Shaffer as HimselfShort as Himself
- A Spinal Tap Reunion: The 25th Anniversary London Sell-Out1992IMDb rating 6.4Shaffer as Artie FufkinShort as Himself
Bill Murray3 films together, 1981 to 2018
Bill Murray's page
- Love, Gilda2018IMDb rating 7.4Shaffer as HimselfMurray as Himself
- A Very Murray Christmas2015IMDb rating 5.5Shaffer as Paul ShafferMurray as Bill Murray
- Steve Martin's Best Show Ever1981IMDb rating 6.9Shaffer as Self / Jo Jo the Dog-Faced BoyMurray as Bytes
Dan Aykroyd2 films together, 1981 to 2025
Dan Aykroyd's page
- I'm Chevy Chase and You're Not2025IMDb rating 6.8Shaffer as HimselfAykroyd as Himself
- Steve Martin's Best Show Ever1981IMDb rating 6.9Shaffer as Self / Jo Jo the Dog-Faced BoyAykroyd as Yortuk Festrunk / Irwin Mainway / Alexander Haig / Dr. Treves
Michael McKean2 films together, 1992 to 2025
Michael McKean's page
- Spinal Tap II: The End Continues2025IMDb rating 6.4Shaffer as Artie FufkinMcKean as David St. Hubbins
- A Spinal Tap Reunion: The 25th Anniversary London Sell-Out1992IMDb rating 6.4Shaffer as Artie FufkinMcKean as David St. Hubbins (Spinal Tap) / Jerry Palter (The Folksmen)
Steve Martin2 films together, 1981 to 2026
Steve Martin's page
- Marty, Life Is Short2026IMDb rating 7.7Shaffer as HimselfMartin as Himself
- Steve Martin's Best Show Ever1981IMDb rating 6.9Shaffer as Self / Jo Jo the Dog-Faced BoyMartin as Self / Various
Chevy Chase2 films together, 2018 to 2025
Chevy Chase's page
- I'm Chevy Chase and You're Not2025IMDb rating 6.8Shaffer as HimselfChase as Himself
- Love, Gilda2018IMDb rating 7.4Shaffer as HimselfChase as Himself
Also two films together8 more actors
- Maya RudolphLove, Gilda (2018) and A Very Murray Christmas (2015)
- Amy PoehlerLove, Gilda (2018) and A Very Murray Christmas (2015)
- Rob ReinerSpinal Tap II: The End Continues (2025) and A Spinal Tap Reunion: The 25th Anniversary London Sell-Out (1992)
- Laraine NewmanLove, Gilda (2018) and Steve Martin's Best Show Ever (1981)
- Christopher GuestSpinal Tap II: The End Continues (2025) and A Spinal Tap Reunion: The 25th Anniversary London Sell-Out (1992)
- Harry ShearerSpinal Tap II: The End Continues (2025) and A Spinal Tap Reunion: The 25th Anniversary London Sell-Out (1992)
- Lorne MichaelsI'm Chevy Chase and You're Not (2025) and Love, Gilda (2018)
- June ChadwickSpinal Tap II: The End Continues (2025) and A Spinal Tap Reunion: The 25th Anniversary London Sell-Out (1992)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Awards

Two awards and honors.

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Paul Shaffer's awards and nominations, grouped by award
Year	Award	Result
Other honors
2006	Canada's Walk of Fame	Honored
	Member of the Order of Canada	Won

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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