Paul Shaffer

Paul Allan Shaffer is a musician, composer, and actor. He is most often associated with late night talk show host, David Letterman, where he was musical director for 33 years. He began his professional career in 1972 as musical director of a Toronto production of Godspell. He played piano in The Magic Show on Broadway in 1974, then went on to spend the next five years with the original Saturday Night Live for which he played keyboards, composed special musical material, and, in 1980, became a featured performer. He collaborated with Gilda Radner on the songs for her Broadway show, in which he also appeared. He also served as musical director for John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd, performing as the Blues Brothers, for two albums and their national tour. More recently he was musical director for Paul McCartney’s Concert For New York, and he appeared with Faith Hill on the America: A Tribute To Heroes telethon.

Features & TV Movies:
VR indicates Direct-to-Video Release

Credits as a Composer:
Mr. Mike’s Mondo Video (1979)
Gilda Live (1980)
Blues Brothers 2000 (1998)
Duets (2000)

TV Series:
Late Night with David Letterman (1982-2015)

Credits as an Actor:
Mr. Mike’s Mondo Video (1979)

Gilda Live (1980)
This is Spinal Tap (1984)
Scrooged (1988)

Look Who’s Talking Too (1990)
A Spinal Tap Reunion (TV-1992)
Hercules (voice, 1997)
Blues Brothers 2000 (1998)
Man on the Moon (1999)

A Very Murray Christmas (TV-2015)
Sharknado 4: The 4th Awakens (TV-2016)

TV Series:
A Year at the Top (1977)
Saturday Night Live (1975-1981)
Late Night with David Letterman (1982-2015)
Hercules (voice, 1998)
Flash Gordon (voice, (1996-1997)
Hercules: Zero to Hero (voice, VR-1999)

House of Mouse (voice, 2002)
Ed (2002)
Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2008)
Schitt’s Creek (2018)
The Masked Singer (2019)