Actor
· Acting
Elvis Costello
Born 1954-08-25
📍 Paddington, London, England, UK
Referencing prodigies of rock lyricism may not bring Elvis Costello to mind for some, but he does deserve consideration. Through the course of over four decades, the former computer programmer has maintained a career as a singer-songwriter, giving the likes of Bob Dylan himself a reckoning. He was born Declan MacManus in London, England, on August 25, 1954. He took the moniker Elvis Costello in 1977, adopting his first name from Elvis Presley and the last part from the maiden name of his mother. Also in '77, Costello's debut album My Aim Is True was released, drawing connections to the new wave and punk movement while showing musical variance. That year, Costello's band The Attractions was assembled. The group released a number of albums, including This Year's Model, Armed Forces, and Trust. 1986's Blood and Chocolate produced memorable, literate gems, such as "Tokyo Storm Warning" and "I Want You."
After the Attractions' final show in 1996, caused by conflict between Costello and the band's bassist Bruce Thomas, two of the group's other members would become part of his new backing band, The Imposters. Costello has released over 30 albums.
Filmography 129
McCartney: The Hunt for the Lost Bass
as Self
2026
Words + Music
as Self
2025
Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music
as Self
2025
Elvis Costello & WDR Big Band @ Leverkusener Jazztage 2025
2025
Life Is a Carnival: A Musical Celebration of Robbie Robertson
as Self
2024
Record On: The Specials - A Message to You
as Self
2024
Sounds of Liverpool at the BBC
as Self (archive footage)
2023
Roy Orbison Forever
as Self
2022
Lindisfarne's Geordie Genius: The Alan Hull Story
as Self
2021
This Is Pop
as Self (archive footage)
2021
Johnny Cash: The Man in Black in Britain
as Self
2020
Ringo Starr’s Big Birthday Show
as Self - Performer
2020
Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary Celebration
as Self
2019
Tower of Song: A Memorial Tribute to Leonard Cohen
as Self - Performer
2018
Pete the Cat
as Pete's Dad (voice)
2017
Ex Libris: The New York Public Library
as Self
2017
Roy Orbison: Black and White Night 30
as Self
2017
The Beatles: Eight Days a Week - The Touring Years
as Self
2016
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
as Self
2015
Elvis Costello - Detour Live at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
as Self
2015
Lost Songs: The Basement Tapes Continued
as Self
2014
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
as Self - Musical Guest
2014
Elvis Costello: Mystery Dance
as Self
2013
Experience Montreux
as Self
2013
Elvis Costello & The Imposters: The Return Of The Spectacular Spinning Songbook
as Self - Performer
2012
A MusiCares Tribute to Neil Young
as Self
2011
I Was There: When the Beatles Played the Cavern
as Self (archive footage)
2011
Love Shines
as Self
2010
Treme
as Elvis Costello
2010
A Prairie Home Companion Live in HD!
as Self - Singer
2010
Live From Bonnaroo 2009
as Self
2009
Live from the Artists Den
as Self
2009
Spectacle: Elvis Costello with...
as Self
2008
A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!
as Self
2008
Memento Mori
as Self
2008
If It Ain't Stiff: The Stiff Records Story
as Self
2007
Delirious
as Elvis Costello
2007
Elvis Costello: Live: A Case for Song
as Self - Vocals, Guitar
2007
Tony Bennett: Duets - The Making of an American Classic
as Self
2007
The Graham Norton Show
as Self
2007
The Old, Weird America: Harry Smith's Anthology of American Folk Music
as Self
2007
Elvis Costello & Allen Toussaint: Hot as a Pistol, Keen as a Blade
as Self
2006
Legends
as Self
2006
The Harry Smith Project Live
as Self
2006
Before the Music Dies
as Self - Musician
2006
30 Rock
as Elvis Costello
2006
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
as Elvis Costello
2006
Elvis Costello & Friends
as Self (archive footage)
2006
Putting the River in Reverse
as Self
2006
Grand Ole Opry Live
as Self
2006
The Tomorrow Show with Tom Snyder: Punk & New Wave
as Self
2006
From the Big Apple to the Big Easy: The Concert for New Orleans
as Self
2006
The Colbert Report
as Self
2005
Elvis Costello: The Right Spectacle - The Very Best of Elvis Costello
as Self - Performer
2005
Live Aid: 20 Years Ago Today
as Self
2005
Off The Beaten Path: A Road Trip With Elvis & Pete
as Self
2005
Live Aid
as Self
2004
Beautiful Dreamer: Brian Wilson and the Story of Smile
as Self
2004
De-Lovely
as Musical Performer - "Let's Misbehave"
2004
Johnny Cash: The Last Great American
as Self
2004
Elvis Costello & The Imposters: Club Date - Live in Memphis
as Self
2004
Emmylou Harris: From a Deeper Well
as Self
2003
I Love Your Work
as Self
2003
Two and a Half Men
as Elvis Costello
2003
Elvis Costello: North
as Self
2003
Willie Nelson & Friends: Live and Kickin'
as Self
2003
Real Time with Bill Maher
as Self
2003
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
as Self
2003
Freedom Beat
as Self
2003
There's Only One Paul McCartney
as Self
2002
CMT Crossroads
as Self
2002
A Tribute To Burt Bacharach & Hal David
as Self
2001
Prison Song
as Public Defender / Teacher
2001
Unleaded
as Elvis Costello
2000
Behind the Scenes of 'Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me'
as Self
1999
In Dreams: The Roy Orbison Story
as Self
1999
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
as Elvis Costello
1999
Here, There and Everywhere: A Concert for Linda
as Self
1999
200 Cigarettes
as Self
1999
Classic Albums: U2 - The Joshua Tree
as Self
1999
Brian Wilson’s Imagination
as Self
1998
Burt Bacharach: One Amazing Night
as Self
1998
Spice World
as Elvis Costello
1997
Classic Albums
as Self
1997
Tony Bennett's New York
as Self
1996
The Daily Show
as Self
1996
3rd Rock from the Sun
as Elvis Costello
1996
Die Harald Schmidt Show
as Self
1995
The Frank Skinner Show
as Self
1995
Lo + plus
as Self
1995
Tony Bennett: MTV Unplugged
as Self
1994
Dusty
as Self - Interviewee
1994
Philip K Dick: A Day in the Afterlife
as Self - Interviewee
1994
September Songs: The Music of Kurt Weill
as Self
1994
Frasier
as Ben
1993
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
as Self - Guest
1993
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
as Self - Musical Guest
1993
Late Show with David Letterman
as Self - Musical Guest
1993
Weird Nightmare
as Self
1993
The Larry Sanders Show
as Elvis Costello
1992
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
as Self - Musical Guest
1992
Elvis Costello and the Brodsky Quartet - The Juliet Letters
as Self
1991
Have I Got News for You
as Self
1990
The Simpsons
as Elvis Costello (voice)
1989
MTV Unplugged
as Self
1989
Paul McCartney: Put It There
as Self
1989
Elvis Costello & Friends Live at Sweetwater
1989
Roy Orbison and Friends: A Black and White Night
as Self - Guitar/Electric Organ/Harmonica
1988
Red Shoes In the Land of the Midnight Sun: Elvis Costello & The Confederates Live in Tokyo
as Self - Performer
1987
Straight to Hell
as Hives The Butler
1987
Chet Baker Live at Ronnie Scott's
as Self
1986
No Surrender
as Rosco De Ville
1985
Live Aid
as Self
1985
The Bullshitters: Roll Out the Gunbarrel
as Stone Deaf A & R Man
1984
Scully
as Henry Scully
1984
The Comic Strip Presents...
as Stone Deaf A & R Man
1982
Champs-Elysées
as Self
1982
George Jones: With a Little Help from His Friends
as Self
1981
Concerts for the People of Kampuchea
as Self
1981
Elvis Costello & The Attractions Live in Montreaux
as Self - Performer
1980
Americathon
as The Earl of Manchester
1979
The Kenny Everett Video Show
as Self
1978
Elvis Costello and The Attractions: Live on Rockpalast
as Self
1978
Elvis Costello and The Attractions: Live at The Capitol Theatre
as Self
1978
If It Ain't Stiff, It Ain't Worth a Fuck
as Self
1978
Saturday Night Live
as Self - Musical Guest
1975
Austin City Limits
as Self
1975
Top of the Pops
as Self (archive footage)
1964
The Oscars
as Self
1953