Elvis Costello
Acting
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.
TV Shows(39)
Words + Music
Self
2025
This Is Pop
Self (archive footage)
2021
Pete the Cat
Pete's Dad (voice)
2017
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Self
2015
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Self - Musical Guest
2014
Hamburg Journal
self
2011
Treme
Elvis Costello
2010
Live from the Artists Den
Self
2009
Spectacle: Elvis Costello with...
Self
2008
The Graham Norton Show
Self
2007
Legends
Self
2006
30 Rock
Elvis Costello
2006
The Colbert Report
Self
2005
Two and a Half Men
Elvis Costello
2003
Real Time with Bill Maher
Self
2003
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Self
2003
CMT Crossroads
Self
2002
Classic Albums
Self
1997
The Daily Show
Self
1996
3rd Rock from the Sun
Elvis Costello
1996
Die Harald Schmidt Show
Self
1995
The Frank Skinner Show
Self
1995
Lo + plus
Self
1995
Frasier
Ben
1993
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Self - Guest
1993
Late Show with David Letterman
Self - Musical Guest
1993
The Larry Sanders Show
Elvis Costello
1992
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
Self - Musical Guest
1992
Have I Got News for You
Self
1990
The Simpsons
Elvis Costello (voice)
1989
MTV Unplugged
Self
1989
Scully
Henry Scully
1984
The Comic Strip Presents...
Stone Deaf A & R Man
1982
Champs-Elysées
Self
1982
The Kenny Everett Video Show
Self
1978
Saturday Night Live
Self - Musical Guest
1975
Austin City Limits
Self
1975
Top of the Pops
Self (archive footage)
1964
The Oscars
Self
1953
Movies(95)
McCartney: The Hunt for the Lost Bass
Self
2026
Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music
Self
2025
Elvis Costello & WDR Big Band @ Leverkusener Jazztage 2025
2025
Alma Naidu @ Levekusener Jazztage 2025
2025
Record On: The Specials - A Message to You
Self
2024
Sounds of Liverpool at the BBC
Self (archive footage)
2023
Roy Orbison Forever
Self
2022
Lindisfarne's Geordie Genius: The Alan Hull Story
Self
2021
Johnny Cash: The Man in Black in Britain
Self
2020
Ringo Starr’s Big Birthday Show
Self - Performer
2020
Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary Celebration
Self
2019
Tower of Song: A Memorial Tribute to Leonard Cohen
Self - Performer
2018
Ex Libris: The New York Public Library
Self
2017
Roy Orbison: Black and White Night 30
Self
2017
The Beatles: Eight Days a Week - The Touring Years
Self
2016
Elvis Costello - Detour Live at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
Self
2015
Lost Songs: The Basement Tapes Continued
Self
2014
Elvis Costello: Mystery Dance
Self
2013
Experience Montreux
Self
2013
Elvis Costello & The Imposters: The Return Of The Spectacular Spinning Songbook
Self - Performer
2012
A MusiCares Tribute to Neil Young
Self
2011
I Was There: When the Beatles Played the Cavern
Self (archive footage)
2011
Love Shines
Self
2010
Hard Rock Calling 2010
Self
2010
A Prairie Home Companion Live in HD!
Self - Singer
2010
Live From Bonnaroo 2009
Self
2009
A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!
Self
2008
Memento Mori
Self
2008
If It Ain't Stiff: The Stiff Records Story
Self
2007
Delirious
Elvis Costello
2007
Elvis Costello: Live: A Case for Song
Self - Vocals, Guitar
2007
Tony Bennett: Duets - The Making of an American Classic
Self
2007
The Old, Weird America: Harry Smith's Anthology of American Folk Music
Self
2007
Elvis Costello & Allen Toussaint: Hot as a Pistol, Keen as a Blade
Self
2006
The Harry Smith Project Live
Self
2006
Before the Music Dies
Self - Musician
2006
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
Elvis Costello
2006
Elvis Costello & Friends
Self (archive footage)
2006
Putting the River in Reverse
Self
2006
Grand Ole Opry Live
Self
2006
The Tomorrow Show with Tom Snyder: Punk & New Wave
Self
2006
From the Big Apple to the Big Easy: The Concert for New Orleans
Self
2006
The Pretenders: No Turn Left Unstoned
Self
2005
Elvis Costello: The Right Spectacle - The Very Best of Elvis Costello
Self - Performer
2005
Live Aid: 20 Years Ago Today
Self
2005
Off The Beaten Path: A Road Trip With Elvis & Pete
Self
2005
Live Aid
Self
2004
Beautiful Dreamer: Brian Wilson and the Story of Smile
Self
2004
De-Lovely
Musical Performer - "Let's Misbehave"
2004
Johnny Cash: The Last Great American
Self
2004
Elvis Costello & The Imposters: Club Date - Live in Memphis
Self
2004
Emmylou Harris: From a Deeper Well
Self
2003
I Love Your Work
Self
2003
Elvis Costello: North
Self
2003
Willie Nelson & Friends: Live and Kickin'
Self
2003
Freedom Beat
Self
2003
There's Only One Paul McCartney
Self
2002
A Tribute To Burt Bacharach & Hal David
Self
2001
Prison Song
Public Defender / Teacher
2001
Unleaded
Elvis Costello
2000
Behind the Scenes of 'Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me'
Self
1999
In Dreams: The Roy Orbison Story
Self
1999
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
Elvis Costello
1999
Here, There and Everywhere: A Concert for Linda
Self
1999
200 Cigarettes
Self
1999
Classic Albums: U2 - The Joshua Tree
Self
1999
Elvis Costello and Burt Bacharach: Sessions at West 54th
Self
1998
Brian Wilson’s Imagination
Self
1998
Burt Bacharach: One Amazing Night
Self
1998
Spice World
Elvis Costello
1997
Tony Bennett's New York
Self
1996
Tony Bennett: MTV Unplugged
Self
1994
Dusty
Self - Interviewee
1994
Philip K Dick: A Day in the Afterlife
Self - Interviewee
1994
September Songs: The Music of Kurt Weill
Self
1994
Weird Nightmare
Self
1993
Elvis Costello and the Brodsky Quartet - The Juliet Letters
Self
1991
Paul McCartney: Put It There
Self
1989
Elvis Costello & Friends Live at Sweetwater
1989
Roy Orbison and Friends: A Black and White Night
Self - Guitar/Electric Organ/Harmonica
1988
Red Shoes In the Land of the Midnight Sun: Elvis Costello & The Confederates Live in Tokyo
Self - Performer
1987
Straight to Hell
Hives The Butler
1987
Chet Baker Live at Ronnie Scott's
Self
1986
The Way They Were: Punk and the New Wave 1976-1978
Self
1986
No Surrender
Rosco De Ville
1985
Live Aid
Self
1985
The Bullshitters: Roll Out the Gunbarrel
Stone Deaf A & R Man
1984
George Jones: With a Little Help from His Friends
Self
1981
Concerts for the People of Kampuchea
Self
1981
Elvis Costello & The Attractions Live in Montreaux
Self - Performer
1980
Americathon
The Earl of Manchester
1979
Elvis Costello and The Attractions: Live on Rockpalast
Self
1978
Elvis Costello and The Attractions: Live at The Capitol Theatre
Self
1978
If It Ain't Stiff, It Ain't Worth a Fuck
Self
1978
Life Is a Carnival: A Musical Celebration of Robbie Robertson
Self