Paul Shaffer

Paul Shaffer

Birth : 1949-11-28, Fort William, Ontario, Canada

History

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.

Profile

Paul Shaffer

Movies

My Next Guest with David Letterman and Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Original Music Composer
David Letterman journeys to Kyiv, Ukraine for a stirring, personal and in-depth conversation with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Finding Sandler
Self
Years after a missed opportunity with his hero (Adam Sandler), a determined young filmmaker (David Seth Cohen) goes on a quest to re-capture what could have been.
Chuck Leavell: The Tree Man
Self
It took his whole life to live and three full years to film Chuck Leavell: The Tree Man. Filmed in four countries with more than 80 interviews from artists with a combined 58 Grammy Awards by the artist included, “Chuck Leavell: The Tree Man,” an Allen Farst film, is the cinematic documentary that shines a light on one of the greatest rock’n roll pianists and keyboardists over the last 40 years. Not just known for his musical influence, Leavell is also one of the biggest names in environmental forestry and was selected the National Tree Farmer of the Year in the United States. -His commitment to the planet and his strong family ties are refreshing reminders to be kind and treat your neighbor with respect. As Leavell puts it, “if you cut a tree down, plant two for the next guy.”
My Next Guest with David Letterman and Shah Rukh Khan
Original Music Composer
"King of Bollywood" Shah Rukh Khan opens up about his rise to fame, his family and his billions of fans as he and Dave meet up in Mumbai and New York.
Always at The Carlyle
Self
The iconic Carlyle hotel has been an international destination for a particular jet set as well as a favorite haunt of the most discernible New Yorkers.
Bachman
Self
Documentary follows the award-winning Canadian musician Randy Bachman as he creates his next hit song, featuring rarely seen footage, pictures and archived documents that had been stored in Ottawa for decades.
Love, Gilda
Self
Diaries, audiotapes, videotapes and testimonies from friends and colleagues offer insight into the life and career of Gilda Radner -- the beloved comic and actress who became an icon on Saturday Night Live.
Night of Too Many Stars: America Unites for Autism Programs
Self
Jon Stewart returns to television to host a live show presented from The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York. Benefiting NEXT for Autism, the special features stand-up performances, sketches and short films.
David Letterman: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize
Music Director
Emmy Award-winning comic and talk show host David Letterman accepts the 2017 Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. An outstanding lineup of entertainers gathers in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall to salute David Letterman, recipient of the 20th annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.
David Letterman: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize
Himself
Emmy Award-winning comic and talk show host David Letterman accepts the 2017 Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. An outstanding lineup of entertainers gathers in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall to salute David Letterman, recipient of the 20th annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.
Bill Murray: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize
Self
Celebrate the work of actor and comedian Bill Murray at the Kennedy Center, as the recipient of the 19th annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.
Sharknado 4: The 4th Awakens
Paul Shaffer
The new installment of the Sharknado franchise takes place 5 years after Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! There have been no Sharknados in the intervening years, but now they’re appearing again in unexpected ways.
Todd Who?
Himself
Todd Who? is a passionate, quirky 'rockumentary' that chronicles a fan’s 30 year obsession with criminally underrated rock musician Todd Rundgren.
A Very Murray Christmas
Paul Schaffer
Bill Murray worries no one will show up to his TV show due to a massive snowstorm in New York City. Through luck and perseverance, guests arrive at Gotham’s Carlyle Hotel to help him — dancing and singing in holiday spirit.
Being Canadian
Self
What does it actually mean to be Canadian? This humorous documentary, featuring interviews with a who's-who of famous Canadians, hopes to find the answer.
Bachman & Turner - Live at the Roseland Ballroom
Keyboards
Over the course of a four-year run, Bachman-Turner Overdrive sold in excess of 30 million records, earning a staggering 120 platinum, gold and silver discs, and notching up hits in more than 20 countries. The iconic duo shared duties on the lead vocals, with Bachman contributing lead guitar and Turner the bass. Reuniting at the end of 2009 they released an eponymous album in 2010, and in November of that year they performed at the famous Roseland Ballroom in New York City, as part of their North American tour.
Ray Charles: The Legend Lives On
Himself
American R&B icon Ray Charles lets loose on this collection of electrifying live performances from throughout his legendary career.
Bob & Doug McKenzie's Two-Four Anniversary
Self
In 1980, the SCTV crew had a request from their broadcaster, the CBC, for distinctively Canadian content. What players Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas created was a satire of it, but Bob and Doug became so much more. This documentary tells the special tale of how the McKenzie Brothers became a sensation that would become a cherished part of Canada's self identity.
Saturday Night Live: The Best of Dan Aykroyd
Blues Brothers Band
A collection of classic Saturday Night Live sketches featuring Dan Aykroyd.
The Blues Brothers: Transposing the Music
Self
Short documentary about the music of The Blues Brothers.
Disney Heroes Volume 1
Hermes (voice)
Rockin' Pianos
Himself
1. Introduction 2. The Fat Man - Fats Domino 3. Walking To New Orleans - Fats Domino 4. Blueberry Hill - Fats Domino 5. Shake, Rattle And Roll - Fats Domino 6. C.C. Rider - Fats Domino 7. Sentimental Journey - Fats Domino 8. I Was Raised On Rock - Jerry Lee Lewis feat. Ron Wood 9. Great Balls Of Fire - Jerry Lee Lewis feat. Ron Wood 10. Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On - Jerry Lee Lewis feat. Ron Wood 11. A Certain Girl - Ron Wood & Paul Shaffer 12. I Got A Woman - Ray Charles feat. Ron Wood 13. Since You've Been Gone - Ray Charles feat. Ron Wood 14. Lewis Boogie - Ray Charles, Jerry Lee Lewis & Fats Domino feat. Ron Wood 15. Jambalaya (On The Bayou) - Ray Charles, Jerry Lee Lewis & Fats Domino feat. Ron Wood 16. Swanee River Rock - Ray Charles, Jerry Lee Lewis & Fats Domino feat. Ron Wood 17. The Rockin' Piano - Instrumental
The N.Y. Friars Club Roast of Chevy Chase
Self - Host
Chevy Chase bitterly takes in his roast.
The Concert for New York City
Self
The Concert for New York City took place on October 20, 2001 at Madison Square Garden. It was a celebration of the strength of New York and a thank-you to the heroic firefighters, police officers and rescue workers who saved tens of thousands of lives on September 11th. More than 6000 firefighters, police officers and rescue workers attended as guests.
The Concert for New York City
Music Director
The Concert for New York City took place on October 20, 2001 at Madison Square Garden. It was a celebration of the strength of New York and a thank-you to the heroic firefighters, police officers and rescue workers who saved tens of thousands of lives on September 11th. More than 6000 firefighters, police officers and rescue workers attended as guests.
America: A Tribute to Heroes
A benefit concert and telethon organized by George Clooney and broadcast uninterrupted and commercial-free by the four major television networks just 10 days after the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and The Pentagon to raise money for the victims and their families,
Man on the Moon
Letterman Band (uncredited)
The story of the life and career of eccentric avant-garde comedian, Andy Kaufman.
Saturday Night Live: 25th Anniversary Special
Writer
A TV special celebrating the 25th anniversary of Saturday Night Live. Before a celebrity audience, many of the former cast members and guest hosts return to perform their signature monologues and present a look back at some of the best comedy skits and musical numbers of the past two and a half decades.
Hercules: Zero to Hero
Hermes (voice) (archive sound)
The film briefly gives Hercules' history after defeating Hades for good, in which he marries Meg and revisits his teenage years. In particular, it shows an adolescent Hercules's enrollment and the beginning of his adventures at the Prometheus Academy, a school for gods and mortals, which Hercules supposedly attended during the time when he was training to be a hero with his mentor, the satyr Philoctetes.
The Stories Behind the Making of 'The Blues Brothers'
Himself
The Stories Behind the Making of The Blues Brothers is an hour- long documentary featuring every participant from the film. Star and co-writer Dan Aykroyd explains how a joke that he and best friend John Belushi shared with friends evolved from a Saturday Night Live skit to a best-selling album and then to a film. Director John Landis covers the difficult production, from the outrageous stunts to Belushi's disappearances from the set.
Blues Brothers 2000
Marco
Finally released from prison, Elwood Blues is once again enlisted by Sister Mary Stigmata in her latest crusade to raise funds for a children's hospital. Hitting the road to re-unite the band and win the big prize at the New Orleans Battle of the Bands, Elwood is pursued cross-country by the cops.
Blues Brothers 2000
Music
Finally released from prison, Elwood Blues is once again enlisted by Sister Mary Stigmata in her latest crusade to raise funds for a children's hospital. Hitting the road to re-unite the band and win the big prize at the New Orleans Battle of the Bands, Elwood is pursued cross-country by the cops.
Hercules
Hermes (voice)
Bestowed with superhuman strength, a young mortal named Hercules sets out to prove himself a hero in the eyes of his father, the great god Zeus. Along with his friends Pegasus, a flying horse, and Phil, a personal trainer, Hercules is tricked by the hilarious, hotheaded villain Hades, who's plotting to take over Mount Olympus!
The Show Formerly Known as the Martin Short Show
The Best of the Blues Brothers
Himself (archive footage)
Writer Tom Davis hosts a Blues Brothers retrospective that tells the whole truth about the legendary band's early days and righteous ways. The Blues Brothers were an unforgettable part of Saturday Night Live's golden era, making their musical debut in bee costumes singing "I'm a King Bee," and becoming an overnight sensation. Switching to hats and shades inspired by John Lee Hooker, they combined classic Chicago Blues with Stax-Volt R&B to create a sound all their own. Their first album, Briefcase Full of Blues, went double-platinum and led quickly to their hit movie and milestone soundtrack album. The rest is history, and it's all here in a music-filled, memory-blasting account of a band that will always be on a mission from God.
The Return of Spinal Tap
Artie Fufkin
Spinal Tap is back in a whole new feature-length rockumentary. Go behind the scenes and find out where the somewhat-less-than-fab three (Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer) are now -- and where it all began in Squatney, England. Also, catch up with director Marty DiBergi (Rob Reiner), ex-Polymer marketing whiz Artie Fufkin (Paul Shaffer), and Jeanine (June Chadwick), who now owns a shop specializing in itchy Irish clothing.
Night Of 100 Stars III
Self
A celebrity benefit for The Actors' Fund of America, featuring music, songs, dance and comedy.
Scrooged
Street Musician
Frank Cross is a wildly successful television executive whose cold ambition and curmudgeonly nature has driven away the love of his life. But after firing staff member Eliot Loudermilk on Christmas Eve, Frank is visited by a series of ghosts who give him a chance to re-evaluate his actions and right the wrongs of his past.
Heartbeat
Filmmaker's Assistant
A surrealistic journey into the experiences and reflections of a documentary filmmaker as he evaluates the people and places that have made up his life. Alternatively, a 65 minute feature made up of songs from Don Johnson's record of the same name.
Tears Are Not Enough
Himself
On 10 February 1985, fifty-three of Canada's top performers gathered together to record the song Tears Are Not Enough in an effort to generate aid to famine victims in Africa. This is a behind-the-scenes look at that historic session, filled with moments of excitement, pathos, humor and magic.
Martin Short: Concert for the North Americas
A made for Showtime network comedy special with numerous skits and music starring Martin Short and featuring a number of his fellow SCTV cast members. The special has skits with characters such as Ed Grimley, Jackie Rogers Jr., Jerry Lewis, and many more.
This Is Spinal Tap
Artie Fufkin
"This Is Spinal Tap" shines a light on the self-contained universe of a metal band struggling to get back on the charts, including everything from its complicated history of ups and downs, gold albums, name changes and undersold concert dates, along with the full host of requisite groupies, promoters, hangers-on and historians, sessions, release events and those special behind-the-scenes moments that keep it all real.
Steve Martin's Best Show Ever
Steve Martin's fourth NBC special was in the spirit of his previous association with Saturday Night Live. It was broadcast live from Studio 8H, produced by Lorne Michaels and featured some original cast members of the show.
Gilda Live
Don Kirschner
A filmed version of the Broadway show starring comedienne Gilda Radner, complete with the characters she made famous on the TV show "Saturday Night Live."
Gilda Live
Writer
A filmed version of the Broadway show starring comedienne Gilda Radner, complete with the characters she made famous on the TV show "Saturday Night Live."
Mr. Mike's Mondo Video
Jack Lord Organist
Mike O'Donoghue's parody of "Mondo Cane" showcases curious performers, strange musicians, celebrity mutations and unusual short films, including Thomas Alva Edison's "Elephant Electrocution". In the tradition of films like Groove Tube (1974), The Kentucky Fried Movie (1977), and Saturday Night Live.
The Blues Brothers Live at Winterland
The full unedited performance recorded on December 31, 1978, when the Blues Brothers opened for the Grateful Dead on the monumental closing night of Winterland.
The Voice That Rocked America: The Dick Biondi Story
Self
THE VOICE THAT ROCKED AMERICA is an one-hour documentary about Top 40 radio personality Dick Biondi. Dick's powerful connection with his audience has endured for decades, and the bands he promoted have never forgotten his generosity. Dick's story will be told through archival photos and footage, recreations, and interviews with recording artists, broadcasters, fans, friends and Dick Biondi himself. The film is narrated by Pam, whose life was changed when she met her teenage idol.