Elvis Costello
Born: 1954-08-25 in Paddington, London, England, UK
Known For: Acting
Biography
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
2025
2024
- The Specials – A Message to You as Self
2023
- Sounds of Liverpool at the BBC as Self (archive footage)
2022
- Roy Orbison Forever as Self
2021
- This Is Pop as Self (archive footage)
- Lindisfarne’s Geordie Genius: The Alan Hull Story as Self
2020
- Ringo Starr’s Big Birthday Show as Self - Performer
- Johnny Cash: The Man in Black in Britain as Self
2019
2018
- Tower of Song: A Memorial Tribute to Leonard Cohen as Self - Performer
2017
- Roy Orbison: Black and White Night 30 as Self
- Pete the Cat as Pete's Dad (voice)
- Ex Libris: The New York Public Library as Self
2016
2015
2014
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon as Self - Musical Guest
- Lost Songs: The Basement Tapes Continued as Self
2013
- Experience Montreux as Self
- Elvis Costello: Mystery Dance as Self
2012
- Elvis Costello & The Imposters: The Return Of The Spectacular Spinning Songbook as Self - Performer
2011
- A MusiCares Tribute to Neil Young as Self
- Hamburg Journal as self
- I Was There: When the Beatles Played the Cavern as Self (archive footage)
2010
- Treme as Self
- Love Shines as Self
- A Prairie Home Companion Live in HD! as Self - Singer
- Hard Rock Calling 2010 as Self
2009
- Live from the Artists Den as Self
- Live From Bonnaroo 2009 as Self
2008
- A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All! as Self
- Spectacle: Elvis Costello with... as Self
- Memento Mori as Self
2007
- The Graham Norton Show as Self
- Delirious as Elvis Costello
- Tony Bennett: Duets - The Making of an American Classic as Self
- If It Ain't Stiff: The Stiff Records Story as Self
- The Old, Weird America: Harry Smith's Anthology of American Folk Music as Self
- Elvis Costello: Live: A Case for Song as Self - Vocals, Guitar
2006
- 30 Rock as Elvis Costello
- Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby as Elvis Costello
- The Harry Smith Project Live as Self
- Legends as Self
- Putting the River in Reverse as Self
- Before the Music Dies as Self - Musician
- Elvis Costello & Friends as Self (archive footage)
- The Tomorrow Show with Tom Snyder: Punk & New Wave as Self
- From the Big Apple to the Big Easy: The Concert for New Orleans as Self
- Elvis Costello & Allen Toussaint: Hot as a Pistol, Keen as a Blade as Self
- Grand Ole Opry Live as Self
2005
- The Colbert Report as Self
- Live Aid: 20 Years Ago Today as Self
- The Pretenders: No Turn Left Unstoned as Self
- Elvis Costello: The Right Spectacle - The Very Best of Elvis Costello as Self - Performer
2004
- De-Lovely as Musical Performer - "Let's Misbehave"
- Live Aid as Self
- Beautiful Dreamer: Brian Wilson and the Story of Smile as Self
- Johnny Cash: The Last Great American as Self
- Elvis Costello & The Imposters: Club Date - Live in Memphis as Self
2003
- Two and a Half Men as Elvis Costello
- Real Time with Bill Maher as Self
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! as Self
- The Shape of Things ... (Original Music Composer)
- Willie Nelson & Friends: Live and Kickin' as Self
- Emmylou Harris: From a Deeper Well as Self
- I Love Your Work as Self
- Freedom Beat as Self
- Elvis Costello: North as Self
2002
- CMT Crossroads as Self
- One Million Stars Falling from the Sky ... (Theme Song Performance)
- There's Only One Paul McCartney as Self
2001
- Prison Song as Public Defender / Teacher
- A Tribute To Burt Bacharach & Hal David as Self
2000
- Unleaded as Elvis Costello
1999
- Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me as Elvis Costello
- 200 Cigarettes as Self
- Classic Albums: U2 - The Joshua Tree as Self
- In Dreams: The Roy Orbison Story as Self
- Here, There and Everywhere: A Concert for Linda as Self
1998
1997
- Classic Albums as Self
- Spice World as Elvis Costello
1996
- The Daily Show as Self
- 3rd Rock from the Sun as Elvis Costello
- Tony Bennett's New York as Self
1995
- Die Harald Schmidt Show as Self
- The Frank Skinner Show as Self
- Lo + plus as Self
1994
- Dusty as Self - Interviewee
- September Songs: The Music of Kurt Weill as Self
- Philip K Dick: A Day in the Afterlife as Self - Interviewee
- Tony Bennett: MTV Unplugged as Self
1993
- Frasier as Ben
- Late Night with Conan O'Brien as Self - Guest
- Weird Nightmare as Self
1992
- The Tonight Show with Jay Leno as Self - Musical Guest
- The Larry Sanders Show as Elvis Costello
1991
- G.B.H. ... (Music)
- Rabbit Ears - Tom Thumb ... (Music)
- Elvis Costello and the Brodsky Quartet - The Juliet Letters as Self
1990
- Have I Got News for You as Self
1989
- The Simpsons as Elvis Costello (voice)
- MTV Unplugged as Self
- Paul McCartney: Put It There as Self
1988
- Roy Orbison and Friends: A Black and White Night as Self - Guitar/Electric Organ/Harmonica
1987
- Straight to Hell as Hives The Butler
- Red Shoes In the Land of the Midnight Sun: Elvis Costello & The Confederates Live in Tokyo as Self - Performer
1986
- Club Paradise ... (Theme Song Performance)
- Chet Baker Live at Ronnie Scott's as Self
- The Way They Were: Punk and the New Wave 1976-1978 as Self
1985
- No Surrender as Rosco De Ville
- Live Aid as Self
1984
- The Bullshitters: Roll Out the Gunbarrel as Stone Deaf A & R Man
- Scully as Henry Scully
1982
- Champs-Elysées as Self
- The Comic Strip Presents... as Stone Deaf A & R Man
1981
1980
- Elvis Costello & The Attractions Live in Montreaux as Self - Performer
1979
- Americathon as The Earl of Manchester
1978
1975
- Saturday Night Live as Self - Musical Guest
- Austin City Limits as Self
1953
- The Oscars as Self