Acting
Elvis Costello
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
McCartney: The Hunt for the Lost Bass
Film · 2026
Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music
Film · 2025
Elvis Costello & WDR Big Band @ Leverkusener Jazztage 2025
Film · 2025
Alma Naidu @ Levekusener Jazztage 2025
Film · 2025
Words + Music
Series · 2025
Record On: The Specials - A Message to You
Film · 2024
Sounds of Liverpool at the BBC
Film · 2023
Roy Orbison Forever
Film · 2022
Lindisfarne's Geordie Genius: The Alan Hull Story
Film · 2021
This Is Pop
Series · 2021
Ringo Starr’s Big Birthday Show
Film · 2020
Johnny Cash: The Man in Black in Britain
Film · 2020
Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary Celebration
Film · 2019
Tower of Song: A Memorial Tribute to Leonard Cohen
Film · 2018
Ex Libris: The New York Public Library
Film · 2017
Roy Orbison: Black and White Night 30
Film · 2017
Pete the Cat
Series · 2017
The Beatles: Eight Days a Week - The Touring Years
Film · 2016
Elvis Costello - Detour Live at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
Film · 2015
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Series · 2015
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Series · 2015
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Series · 2015
Lost Songs: The Basement Tapes Continued
Film · 2014
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Series · 2014
Elvis Costello: Mystery Dance
Film · 2013
Experience Montreux
Film · 2013
Elvis Costello & The Imposters: The Return Of The Spectacular Spinning Songbook
Film · 2012
A MusiCares Tribute to Neil Young
Film · 2011
I Was There: When the Beatles Played the Cavern
Film · 2011
Hamburg Journal
Series · 2011
Love Shines
Film · 2010
Hard Rock Calling 2010
Film · 2010
A Prairie Home Companion Live in HD!
Film · 2010
Treme
Series · 2010
Live From Bonnaroo 2009
Film · 2009
Live from the Artists Den
Series · 2009
A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!
Film · 2008
Memento Mori
Film · 2008
Spectacle: Elvis Costello with...
Series · 2008
Delirious
Film · 2007
Elvis Costello: Live: A Case for Song
Film · 2007
If It Ain't Stiff: The Stiff Records Story
Film · 2007
Tony Bennett: Duets - The Making of an American Classic
Film · 2007
The Old, Weird America: Harry Smith's Anthology of American Folk Music
Film · 2007
The Graham Norton Show
Series · 2007
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
Film · 2006
Putting the River in Reverse
Film · 2006
Elvis Costello & Allen Toussaint: Hot as a Pistol, Keen as a Blade
Film · 2006
From the Big Apple to the Big Easy: The Concert for New Orleans
Film · 2006
Grand Ole Opry Live
Film · 2006
Before the Music Dies
Film · 2006
The Harry Smith Project Live
Film · 2006
The Tomorrow Show with Tom Snyder: Punk & New Wave
Film · 2006
Elvis Costello & Friends
Film · 2006
30 Rock
Series · 2006
Legends
Series · 2006
The Pretenders: No Turn Left Unstoned
Film · 2005
Elvis Costello: The Right Spectacle - The Very Best of Elvis Costello
Film · 2005
Live Aid: 20 Years Ago Today
Film · 2005
Off The Beaten Path: A Road Trip With Elvis & Pete
Film · 2005
Johnny Vegas: 18 Stone of Idiot - Unseen and Uncut
Film · 2005
The Colbert Report
Series · 2005
Elvis Costello & The Imposters: Club Date - Live in Memphis
Film · 2004
Beautiful Dreamer: Brian Wilson and the Story of Smile
Film · 2004
De-Lovely
Film · 2004
Live Aid
Film · 2004
Johnny Cash: The Last Great American
Film · 2004
Willie Nelson & Friends: Live and Kickin'
Film · 2003
Elvis Costello: North
Film · 2003
Freedom Beat
Film · 2003
I Love Your Work
Film · 2003
Emmylou Harris: From a Deeper Well
Film · 2003
Two and a Half Men
Series · 2003
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Series · 2003
Real Time with Bill Maher
Series · 2003
There's Only One Paul McCartney
Film · 2002
CMT Crossroads
Series · 2002
A Tribute To Burt Bacharach & Hal David
Film · 2001
Prison Song
Film · 2001
Unleaded
Film · 2000
In Dreams: The Roy Orbison Story
Film · 1999
Here, There and Everywhere: A Concert for Linda
Film · 1999
200 Cigarettes
Film · 1999
Classic Albums: U2 - The Joshua Tree
Film · 1999
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
Film · 1999
Behind the Scenes of 'Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me'
Film · 1999
Saturday Night Live: 25th Anniversary Special
Film · 1999
Elvis Costello and Burt Bacharach: Sessions at West 54th
Film · 1998
Brian Wilson’s Imagination
Film · 1998
Burt Bacharach: One Amazing Night
Film · 1998
Spice World
Film · 1997
Classic Albums
Series · 1997
Tony Bennett's New York
Film · 1996
The Daily Show
Series · 1996
3rd Rock from the Sun
Series · 1996
TFI Friday
Series · 1996
The Frank Skinner Show
Series · 1995
Die Harald Schmidt Show
Series · 1995
Lo + plus
Series · 1995
Tony Bennett: MTV Unplugged
Film · 1994
September Songs: The Music of Kurt Weill
Film · 1994
Philip K Dick: A Day in the Afterlife
Film · 1994
Dusty
Film · 1994
Weird Nightmare
Film · 1993
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Series · 1993
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Series · 1993
Frasier
Series · 1993
Late Show with David Letterman
Series · 1993
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
Series · 1992
The Larry Sanders Show
Series · 1992
Later... with Jools Holland
Series · 1992
Elvis Costello and the Brodsky Quartet - The Juliet Letters
Film · 1991
Have I Got News for You
Series · 1990
Paul McCartney: Put It There
Film · 1989
Elvis Costello & Friends Live at Sweetwater
Film · 1989
The Simpsons
Series · 1989
MTV Unplugged
Series · 1989
Roy Orbison and Friends: A Black and White Night
Film · 1988
Straight to Hell
Film · 1987
Red Shoes In the Land of the Midnight Sun: Elvis Costello & The Confederates Live in Tokyo
Film · 1987
Chet Baker Live at Ronnie Scott's
Film · 1986
The Way They Were: Punk and the New Wave 1976-1978
Film · 1986
Live Aid
Film · 1985
No Surrender
Film · 1985
The Bullshitters: Roll Out the Gunbarrel
Film · 1984
Scully
Series · 1984
Champs-Elysées
Series · 1982
The Comic Strip Presents...
Series · 1982
George Jones: With a Little Help from His Friends
Film · 1981
Concerts for the People of Kampuchea
Film · 1981
Elvis Costello & The Attractions Live in Montreaux
Film · 1980
Americathon
Film · 1979
If It Ain't Stiff, It Ain't Worth a Fuck
Film · 1978
Elvis Costello and The Attractions: Live at The Capitol Theatre
Film · 1978
The Kenny Everett Video Show
Series · 1978
The South Bank Show
Series · 1978
Austin City Limits
Series · 1975
Saturday Night Live
Series · 1975
Top of the Pops
Series · 1964
The Oscars
Series · 1953
Life Is a Carnival: A Musical Celebration of Robbie Robertson
Film
Little Red Robin Hood
Film
Elvis Costello & the Attractions live in Boston & Detroit 1978
Film