Paul Shaffer

Characters played by Paul Shaffer

Hermes (voice) — Hercules (1997)

Voice of the messenger god, guides and advises Hercules.

Artie Fufkin — This Is Spinal Tap (1984)

Band's former PR man who now sells inflatable tube men to car dealerships.

Paul Shaffer — Sharknado 4: The 4th Awakens (2016)

Musician and TV personality making a cameo

Taxi Businessman — Look Who's Talking Too (1990)

Corporate figure involved in taxi industry dealings.

Marco — Blues Brothers 2000 (1998)

Associate involved in the brothers' chaotic road trip.

Hermes(archive sound) — Hercules: Zero to Hero (1999)

Archival audio of the messenger god.

Artie Fufkin — Spinal Tap II: The End Continues (2025)

Former PR man for Spinal Tap, now sells inflatable tube men to car dealerships.

Career Overview

Paul Shaffer has 82 screen credits in a career dating back to 1962. Their work spans 5 cinematic universes — most prominently This Is Spinal Tap Collection with 2 titles. Signature works include Late Show with David Letterman, A Very Murray Christmas, Heartbeat. Explore the interactive character relationship maps on each title page to trace how their roles connect across franchises.

Personal Facts

Known For: Acting
Gender: male
Known Credits: 82
Birth Date: 1949-11-28
Birth Place: Fort William, Ontario, Canada

Known For

Associated Universes

Universe traveler — spans 5 universes

This Is Spinal Tap Collection (2 titles)
Hercules (Disney) Collection (2 titles)
Sharknado (1 titles)
The Blues Brothers (1 titles)
Look Who's Talking (1 titles)

Frequent Collaborators

David Letterman (2 collaborations)
Bill Murray (2 collaborations)
Ray Charles (2 collaborations)
Alan Kalter (1 collaborations)
Michael Cera (1 collaborations)
George Clooney (1 collaborations)
Miley Cyrus (1 collaborations)
Dimitri Dimitrov (1 collaborations)
David Johansen (1 collaborations)
Rashida Jones (1 collaborations)

Credits

actors (73 credits)
- Say Hello to Our Good Friend Paul Shaffer
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2026
- You Had to Be There: How the Toronto Godspell Ignited the Comedy Revolution...
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2026
- Darlene Love: I Know Where I've Been
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2026
- Peter Asher: Everywhere Man
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2026
- Marty, Life Is Short
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2026
- I'm Chevy Chase and You're Not
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2025
- Spinal Tap II: The End Continues
  Artie Fufkin
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2025
- SNL50: The Homecoming Concert
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2025
- Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music
  Self - SNL Band Member 1975 - 1980
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2025
- The Voice That Rocked America: The Dick Biondi Story
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2023
- Finding Sandler
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2022
- Chuck Leavell: The Tree Man
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2020
- Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice
  Self (archive footage)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2019
- The Kelly Clarkson Show
  
  - Paul Shaffer, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Enhyphen (2023) ... Self actor actors
  
  2019
- The Masked Singer
  
  - Road to the Finals (2020) ... Self actor actors
  
  - Road to the Finals (2019) ... Self actor actors
  
  - Once Upon a Mask (2019) ... Self actor actors
  
  2019
- Love, Gilda
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2018
- Always at The Carlyle
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2018
- Bachman
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2018
- Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame: In Concert 2014-2017
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2018
- Night of Too Many Stars: America Unites for Autism Programs
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2017
- Sharknado 4: The 4th Awakens
  Paul Shaffer
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2016
- Todd Who?
  Himself
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2016
- A Very Murray Christmas
  Paul Schaffer
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2015
- Being Canadian
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2015
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
  
  - The Worst of "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert" (Not A Clip Show!) (2026) ... Self - Musical Guest actor actors
  
  2015
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
  
  - Caleb McLaughlin, Carmelo Anthony, Darlene Love ft. Paul Shaffer, Little Steven & The Disciples of Soul (2025) ... Self - Musical Guest actor actors
  
  - Jim Gaffigan, Betty Gilpin, Mary Ellen Matthews, Adam Lambert (2025) ... Paul Shaffer and the World's Most Dangerous Band actor actors
  
  2014
- 12-12-12 | The Concert for Sandy Relief
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2012
- Bachman & Turner - Live at the Roseland Ballroom
  Keyboards
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2012
- Ray Charles: The Legend Lives On
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2008
- Bob & Doug McKenzie's Two-Four Anniversary
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2007
- Fats and Friends
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2007
- Saturday Night Live: The Best of Dan Aykroyd
  Blues Brothers Band (archive footage)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2005
- The Blues Brothers: Transposing The Music
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2005
- Disney Heroes Volume 1
  Hermes (voice)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2005
- How I Met Your Mother
  
  - P.S. I Love You (2013) ... Paul Shaffer actor actors
  
  2005
- Rockin' Pianos
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2004
- Jimmy Kimmel Live!
  
  - John Krasinski, Jason Alexander, Tracy Morgan, Paul Shaffer, Kanye West (2019) ... Self actor actors
  
  2003
- The N.Y. Friars Club Roast of Chevy Chase
  Self - Host
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2002
- The Concert for New York City
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2001
- 50 Years of NBC Late Night
  Self (archive footage)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2001
- America: A Tribute to Heroes
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2001
- Law & Order: Criminal Intent
  
  - Vanishing Act (2008) ... Paul Shaffer actor actors
  
  2001
- Man on the Moon
  Letterman Band (uncredited)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1999
- Hercules: Zero to Hero
  Hermes (voice) (archive sound)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1999
- The Stories Behind the Making of 'The Blues Brothers'
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1998
- Blues Brothers 2000
  Marco
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1998
- Hollywood Squares
  
  - Episode 60 (1998) ... Self - Panelist actor actors
  
  - Episode 59 (1998) ... Self - Panelist actor actors
  
  - Episode 58 (1998) ... Self - Panelist actor actors
  
  - Episode 57 (1998) ... Self - Panelist actor actors
  
  - Episode 56 (1998) ... Self - Panelist actor actors
  
  1998
- Hercules
  
  - Hercules and the Drama Festival (1998) ... Hermes (voice) actor actors
  
  - Hercules and the Driving Test (1998) ... Hermes (voice) actor actors
  
  - Hercules and the Underworld Takeover (1998) ... Hermes (voice) actor actors
  
  - Hercules and the Bacchanal (1998) ... Hermes (voice) actor actors
  
  - Hercules and the Visit From Zeus (1998) ... Hermes (voice) actor actors
  
  1998
- Hercules
  Hermes (voice)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1997
- The View
  
  - La La Anthony and Paul Shaffer (2019) ... Self actor actors
  
  - Hugh Jackman & Jason Reitman; Valerie Simpson & Paul Shaffer (2018) ... Self actor actors
  
  1997
- Flash Gordon: Marooned on Mongo
  Dr. Hans Zarkov (voice)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1996
- The Weinerville New Year's Special: Lost in the Big Apple
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1995
- The Show Formerly Known as the Martin Short Show
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1995
- Friends of Gilda
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1993
- Late Show with David Letterman
  Self - Musical Director
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  - Episode 149 (2015) ... Self -Musical Director actor actors
  
  - The Final Late Show with David Letterman (2015) ... Self -Musical Director actor actors
  
  - Bill Murray, Bob Dylan (2015) ... Self -Musical Director actor actors
  
  - Tom Hanks, Eddie Vedder (2015) ... Self -Musical Director actor actors
  
  - Oprah Winfrey, Norm Macdonald (2015) ... Self -Musical Director actor actors
  
  1993
- The Best of the Blues Brothers
  Self (archive footage)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1993
- A Spinal Tap Reunion: The 25th Anniversary London Sell-Out
  Artie Fufkin
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1992
- Look Who's Talking Too
  Taxi Businessman
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1990
- Seriously... Phil Collins
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1990
- Night of 100 Stars III
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1990
- Scrooged
  Street Musician
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1988
- Heartbeat
  Filmmaker's Assistant
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1987
- The Beach Boys: 25 Years Together - A Celebration In Waikiki
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1987
- Tears Are Not Enough
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1985
- Martin Short: Concert for the North Americas
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1985
- This Is Spinal Tap
  Artie Fufkin
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1984
- Jeopardy!
  
  - Show #5106: Celebrity Special 9 (2006) ... Self actor actors
  
  1984
- Steve Martin's Best Show Ever
  Self / Jo Jo the Dog-Faced Boy
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1981
- Gilda Live
  Don Kirshner / Arnie Schnachtman / Student Body President / The Candy Slice Group
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1980
- CBS News Sunday Morning
  
  - Season 16, Episode 32 (1994) ... Self actor actors
  
  1979
- The Blues Brothers Live at Winterland
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1978
- Saturday Night Live
  
  - Martin Short/Paul McCartney (2012) ... Self (uncredited) actor actors
  
  - Candice Bergen/Cher (1987) ... Self (uncredited) actor actors
  
  - Paul Shaffer/Bruce Hornsby & the Range (1987) ... Self - Host actor actors
  
  - Bill Murray/Delbert McClinton (1981) ... Paul (uncredited) actor actors
  
  - Buck Henry/Andrew Gold (1980) ... Self - Various Characters actor actors
  
  1975
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
  
  - Episode 132 (1986) ... Self actor actors
  
  1962
sound (6 credits)
- My Next Guest with David Letterman and Volodymyr Zelenskyy
  original music composer
  
  sound
  
  2022
- My Next Guest with David Letterman and Shah Rukh Khan
  original music composer
  
  sound
  
  2019
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
  
  - Jim Gaffigan, Betty Gilpin, Mary Ellen Matthews, Adam Lambert (2025) ... music director sound
  
  2014
- The Concert for New York City
  music director
  
  sound
  
  2001
- Blues Brothers 2000
  original music composer
  
  sound
  
  1998
- Gilda Live
  music
  
  sound
  
  1980
writing (2 credits)
- Saturday Night Live: 25th Anniversary Special
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1999
- Gilda Live
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1980
crew (1 credits)
- Nightwatch
  stunts
  
  crew
  
  1985

Content sources

Related entry on Wikidata (Q963626), public domain (CC0).