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.
134 acting credits
Acting · 134
The Simpsons
1989
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
2014
The Daily Show
1996
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
2015
Two and a Half Men
2003
The Graham Norton Show
2007
Late Show with David Letterman
1993
Saturday Night Live
1975
Real Time with Bill Maher
2003
Frasier
1993
The Colbert Report
2005
Top of the Pops
1964
30 Rock
2006
Have I Got News for You
1990
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
2003
Die Harald Schmidt Show
1995
3rd Rock from the Sun
1996
Champs-Elysées
1982
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
1993
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
1992
The Larry Sanders Show
1992
The Oscars
1953
The Comic Strip Presents...
1982
Austin City Limits
1975
MTV Unplugged
1989
Classic Albums
1997
Treme
2010
Legends
2006
CMT Crossroads
2002
Pete the Cat
2017
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
1999
The Frank Skinner Show
1995
This Is Pop
2021
Lo + plus
1995
Hamburg Journal
2011
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
2006
Live from the Artists Den
2009
Scully
1984
The Kenny Everett Video Show
1978
Spice World
1997
Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music
2025
Spectacle: Elvis Costello with...
2008
Live Aid
1985
De-Lovely
2004
200 Cigarettes
1999
Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary Celebration
2019
The Beatles: Eight Days a Week - The Touring Years
2016
Roy Orbison and Friends: A Black and White Night
1988
Delirious
2007
I Love Your Work
2003
Live Aid: 20 Years Ago Today
2005
Prison Song
2001
Americathon
1979
In Dreams: The Roy Orbison Story
1999
Live Aid
2004
Ex Libris: The New York Public Library
2017
The Bullshitters: Roll Out the Gunbarrel
1984
Straight to Hell
1987
Beautiful Dreamer: Brian Wilson and the Story of Smile
2004
Tower of Song: A Memorial Tribute to Leonard Cohen
2018
No Surrender
1985
I Was There: When the Beatles Played the Cavern
2011
Roy Orbison: Black and White Night 30
2017
Lindisfarne's Geordie Genius: The Alan Hull Story
2021
Tony Bennett: Duets - The Making of an American Classic
2007
Life Is a Carnival: A Musical Celebration of Robbie Robertson
2024
Words + Music
2025
Concerts for the People of Kampuchea
1981
Philip K Dick: A Day in the Afterlife
1994
Live From Bonnaroo 2009
2009
Ringo Starr’s Big Birthday Show
2020
A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!
2008
A MusiCares Tribute to Neil Young
2011
The Tomorrow Show with Tom Snyder: Punk & New Wave
2006
Love Shines
2010
The Old, Weird America: Harry Smith's Anthology of American Folk Music
2007
Behind the Scenes of 'Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me'
1999
Willie Nelson & Friends: Live and Kickin'
2003
If It Ain't Stiff: The Stiff Records Story
2007
Classic Albums: U2 - The Joshua Tree
1999
The Pretenders: No Turn Left Unstoned
2005
There's Only One Paul McCartney
2002
If It Ain't Stiff, It Ain't Worth a Fuck
1978
Johnny Cash: The Man in Black in Britain
2020
From the Big Apple to the Big Easy: The Concert for New Orleans
2006
Lost Songs: The Basement Tapes Continued
2014
Burt Bacharach: One Amazing Night
1998
Johnny Cash: The Last Great American
2004
A Prairie Home Companion Live in HD!
2010
Elvis Costello: Mystery Dance
2013
Before the Music Dies
2006
Record On: The Specials - A Message to You
2024
The Harry Smith Project Live
2006
Sounds of Liverpool at the BBC
2023
Paul McCartney: Put It There
1989
Emmylou Harris: From a Deeper Well
2003
McCartney: The Hunt for the Lost Bass
2026
Elvis Costello & Friends
2006
Here, There and Everywhere: A Concert for Linda
1999
Dusty
1994
Brian Wilson’s Imagination
1998
A Tribute To Burt Bacharach & Hal David
2001
Tony Bennett's New York
1996
George Jones: With a Little Help from His Friends
1981
September Songs: The Music of Kurt Weill
1994
Roy Orbison Forever
2022
Freedom Beat
2003
Putting the River in Reverse
2006
Memento Mori
2008
Tony Bennett: MTV Unplugged
1994
Weird Nightmare
1993
Unleaded
2000
Elvis Costello: The Right Spectacle - The Very Best of Elvis Costello
2005
Elvis Costello and Burt Bacharach: Sessions at West 54th
1998
Hard Rock Calling 2010
2010
Grand Ole Opry Live
2006
Elvis Costello & Friends Live at Sweetwater
1989
The Way They Were: Punk and the New Wave 1976-1978
1986
Elvis Costello: Live: A Case for Song
2007
Elvis Costello & The Attractions Live in Montreaux
1980
Experience Montreux
2013
Elvis Costello & Allen Toussaint: Hot as a Pistol, Keen as a Blade
2006
Elvis Costello - Detour Live at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
2015
Elvis Costello & The Imposters: The Return Of The Spectacular Spinning Songbook
2012
Elvis Costello & The Imposters: Club Date - Live in Memphis
2004
Chet Baker Live at Ronnie Scott's
1986
Off The Beaten Path: A Road Trip With Elvis & Pete
2005
Elvis Costello and The Attractions: Live at The Capitol Theatre
1978
Alma Naidu @ Levekusener Jazztage 2025
2025
Red Shoes In the Land of the Midnight Sun: Elvis Costello & The Confederates Live in Tokyo
1987
Elvis Costello & WDR Big Band @ Leverkusener Jazztage 2025
2025
Elvis Costello and the Brodsky Quartet - The Juliet Letters
1991
Elvis Costello and The Attractions: Live on Rockpalast
1978
Elvis Costello: North
2003