Elvis Costello
Acting Born Aug 25, 1954 Paddington, London, England, UK 147 credits
Biography
Elvis Costello is a singer-songwriter and actor. Born Declan MacManus on August 25, 1954, in Paddington, London, England, he adopted the stage name Elvis Costello in 1977. His debut album My Aim Is True was released in 1977, drawing connections to the new wave and punk movement. Costello's band The Attractions was formed in 1977. As an actor, he has appeared in known credits, including films and TV shows. His songs have been recorded by various artists, including Linda Ronstadt, George Jones, and Alison Krauss. He has also been involved in projects such as Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary Celebration, Spectacle: Elvis Costello with..., and Treme.
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Career overview
Elvis Costello is a singer-songwriter who has maintained a career in the music industry for over four decades. He was born Declan MacManus in London, England, on August 25, 1954. Costello adopted the stage name Elvis Costello in 1977, taking his first name from Elvis Presley and the last part from his mother's maiden name.
In addition to his music career, Elvis Costello has also appeared in various films and television shows. He has acted in a total of 144 known credits. Some of his notable acting roles include appearances in Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary Celebration and Spectacle: Elvis Costello with... Treme.
Costello's work has been recognized and recorded by various artists, including Linda Ronstadt, George Jones, and Alison Krauss. His songs have also been used as inspiration for other works, such as the character Veronica Costello, which was based on his song "Veronica" co-written with Paul McCartney.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
McCartney: The Hunt for the Lost Bass
Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL MusicWords + MusicAlma Naidu @ Levekusener Jazztage 2025Elvis Costello & WDR Big Band @ Leverkusener Jazztage 2025
Record On: The Specials - A Message to You
Sounds of Liverpool at the BBC
Roy Orbison Forever
This Is PopLindisfarne's Geordie Genius: The Alan Hull Story
Ringo Starr’s Big Birthday ShowJohnny Cash: The Man in Black in Britain
Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary Celebration
Tower of Song: A Memorial Tribute to Leonard Cohen
Pete the CatEx Libris: The New York Public LibraryRoy Orbison: Black and White Night 30
The Beatles: Eight Days a Week - The Touring Years
The Late Show with Stephen ColbertThe Late Show with Stephen ColbertElvis Costello - Detour Live at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy FallonLost Songs: The Basement Tapes Continued
Experience MontreuxElvis Costello: Mystery Dance
Elvis Costello & The Imposters: The Return Of The Spectacular Spinning Songbook
Hamburg JournalA MusiCares Tribute to Neil YoungI Was There: When the Beatles Played the Cavern
TremeLove ShinesHard Rock Calling 2010A Prairie Home Companion Live in HD!
Live from the Artists DenLive From Bonnaroo 2009
Memento MoriSpectacle: Elvis Costello with...Spectacle: Elvis Costello with... · Executive ProducerA Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!
The Graham Norton ShowDeliriousElvis Costello: Live: A Case for SongTony Bennett: Duets - The Making of an American ClassicIf It Ain't Stiff: The Stiff Records Story
30 RockLegendsTalladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky BobbyBefore the Music DiesElvis Costello & Friends
The Colbert ReportJohnny Vegas: 18 Stone of Idiot - Unseen and UncutLive Aid: 20 Years Ago TodayOff The Beaten Path: A Road Trip With Elvis & PeteElvis Costello: The Right Spectacle - The Very Best of Elvis Costello
De-LovelyBeautiful Dreamer: Brian Wilson and the Story of SmileLive AidJohnny Cash: The Last Great AmericanElvis Costello & The Imposters: Club Date - Live in Memphis
Real Time with Bill MaherTwo and a Half MenJimmy Kimmel Live!Cold Mountain · SongsThe Shape of Things · Original Music Composer
CMT CrossroadsOne Million Stars Falling from the Sky · Theme Song PerformanceThere's Only One Paul McCartney
Prison SongA Tribute To Burt Bacharach & Hal David
UnleadedUnleaded · Songs
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me200 CigarettesBehind the Scenes of 'Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me'In Dreams: The Roy Orbison StoryClassic Albums: U2 - The Joshua Tree
Burt Bacharach: One Amazing NightBrian Wilson’s ImaginationElvis Costello and Burt Bacharach: Sessions at West 54th
Classic AlbumsSpice World
Full Filmography
147 titles- McCartney: The Hunt for the Lost Bass (2026) as Self
- Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music (2025) as Self
- Words + Music (2025) as Self
- Alma Naidu @ Levekusener Jazztage 2025 (2025)
- Elvis Costello & WDR Big Band @ Leverkusener Jazztage 2025 (2025)
- Record On: The Specials - A Message to You (2024) as Self
- Sounds of Liverpool at the BBC (2023) as Self (archive footage)
- Roy Orbison Forever (2022) as Self
- This Is Pop (2021) as Self (archive footage)
- Lindisfarne's Geordie Genius: The Alan Hull Story (2021) as Self
- Ringo Starr’s Big Birthday Show (2020) as Self - Performer
- Johnny Cash: The Man in Black in Britain (2020) as Self
- Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary Celebration (2019) as Self
- Tower of Song: A Memorial Tribute to Leonard Cohen (2018) as Self - Performer
- Pete the Cat (2017) as Pete's Dad (voice)
- Ex Libris: The New York Public Library (2017) as Self
- Roy Orbison: Black and White Night 30 (2017) as Self
- The Beatles: Eight Days a Week - The Touring Years (2016) as Self
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (2015) as Self
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (2015) as Self - Musical Guest
- Elvis Costello - Detour Live at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall (2015) as Self
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (2014) as Self - Musical Guest
- Lost Songs: The Basement Tapes Continued (2014) as Self
- Experience Montreux (2013) as Self
- Elvis Costello: Mystery Dance (2013) as Self
- Elvis Costello & The Imposters: The Return Of The Spectacular Spinning Songbook (2012) as Self - Performer
- Hamburg Journal (2011) as self
- A MusiCares Tribute to Neil Young (2011) as Self
- I Was There: When the Beatles Played the Cavern (2011) as Self (archive footage)
- Treme (2010) as Elvis Costello
- Love Shines (2010) as Self
- Hard Rock Calling 2010 (2010) as Self
- A Prairie Home Companion Live in HD! (2010) as Self - Singer
- Live from the Artists Den (2009) as Self
- Live From Bonnaroo 2009 (2009) as Self
- Memento Mori (2008) as Self
- Spectacle: Elvis Costello with... (2008) as Self
- Spectacle: Elvis Costello with... (2008) Executive Producer
- A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All! (2008) as Self
- The Graham Norton Show (2007) as Self
- Delirious (2007) as Elvis Costello
- Elvis Costello: Live: A Case for Song (2007) as Self - Vocals, Guitar
- Tony Bennett: Duets - The Making of an American Classic (2007) as Self
- If It Ain't Stiff: The Stiff Records Story (2007) as Self
- The Old, Weird America: Harry Smith's Anthology of American Folk Music (2007) as Self
- 30 Rock (2006) as Elvis Costello
- Legends (2006) as Self
- Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006) as Elvis Costello
- Before the Music Dies (2006) as Self - Musician
- Elvis Costello & Friends (2006) as Self (archive footage)
- The Harry Smith Project Live (2006) as Self
- From the Big Apple to the Big Easy: The Concert for New Orleans (2006) as Self
- The Tomorrow Show with Tom Snyder: Punk & New Wave (2006) as Self
- Grand Ole Opry Live (2006) as Self
- Elvis Costello & Allen Toussaint: Hot as a Pistol, Keen as a Blade (2006) as Self
- Putting the River in Reverse (2006) as Self
- The Colbert Report (2005) as Self
- Johnny Vegas: 18 Stone of Idiot - Unseen and Uncut (2005) as Guest
- Live Aid: 20 Years Ago Today (2005) as Self
- Off The Beaten Path: A Road Trip With Elvis & Pete (2005) as Self
- Elvis Costello: The Right Spectacle - The Very Best of Elvis Costello (2005) as Self - Performer
- The Pretenders: No Turn Left Unstoned (2005) as Self
- De-Lovely (2004) as Musical Performer - "Let's Misbehave"
- Beautiful Dreamer: Brian Wilson and the Story of Smile (2004) as Self
- Live Aid (2004) as Self
- Johnny Cash: The Last Great American (2004) as Self
- Elvis Costello & The Imposters: Club Date - Live in Memphis (2004) as Self
- Real Time with Bill Maher (2003) as Self
- Two and a Half Men (2003) as Elvis Costello
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2003) as Self
- Cold Mountain (2003) Songs
- The Shape of Things (2003) Original Music Composer
- I Love Your Work (2003) as Self
- Emmylou Harris: From a Deeper Well (2003) as Self
- Willie Nelson & Friends: Live and Kickin' (2003) as Self
- Freedom Beat (2003) as Self
- Elvis Costello: North (2003) as Self
- CMT Crossroads (2002) as Self
- One Million Stars Falling from the Sky (2002) Theme Song Performance
- There's Only One Paul McCartney (2002) as Self
- Prison Song (2001) as Public Defender / Teacher
- A Tribute To Burt Bacharach & Hal David (2001) as Self
- Unleaded (2000) as Elvis Costello
- Unleaded (2000) Songs
- Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999) as Elvis Costello
- 200 Cigarettes (1999) as Self
- Behind the Scenes of 'Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me' (1999) as Self
- In Dreams: The Roy Orbison Story (1999) as Self
- Classic Albums: U2 - The Joshua Tree (1999) as Self
- Here, There and Everywhere: A Concert for Linda (1999) as Self
- Burt Bacharach: One Amazing Night (1998) as Self
- Brian Wilson’s Imagination (1998) as Self
- Elvis Costello and Burt Bacharach: Sessions at West 54th (1998) as Self
- Classic Albums (1997) as Self
- Spice World (1997) as Elvis Costello
- The Daily Show (1996) as Self
- 3rd Rock from the Sun (1996) as Elvis Costello
- Tony Bennett's New York (1996) as Self
- Die Harald Schmidt Show (1995) as Self
- Lo + plus (1995) as Self
- The Frank Skinner Show (1995) as Self
- Dusty (1994) as Self - Interviewee
- Philip K Dick: A Day in the Afterlife (1994) as Self - Interviewee
- September Songs: The Music of Kurt Weill (1994) as Self
- Tony Bennett: MTV Unplugged (1994) as Self
- Late Show with David Letterman (1993) as Self - Musical Guest
- Frasier (1993) as Ben
- Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993) as Self - Guest
- Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993) as Self - Musical Guest
- Weird Nightmare (1993) as Self
- The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (1992) as Self - Musical Guest
- The Larry Sanders Show (1992) as Elvis Costello
- G.B.H. (1991) Music
- Rabbit Ears - Tom Thumb (1991) Music
- Elvis Costello and the Brodsky Quartet - The Juliet Letters (1991) as Self
- Have I Got News for You (1990) as Self
- The Simpsons (1989) as Elvis Costello (voice)
- MTV Unplugged (1989) as Self
- Paul McCartney: Put It There (1989) as Self
- Elvis Costello & Friends Live at Sweetwater (1989)
- Roy Orbison and Friends: A Black and White Night (1988) as Self - Guitar/Electric Organ/Harmonica
- Straight to Hell (1987) as Hives The Butler
- Red Shoes In the Land of the Midnight Sun: Elvis Costello & The Confederates Live in Tokyo (1987) as Self - Performer
- Club Paradise (1986) Theme Song Performance
- Chet Baker Live at Ronnie Scott's (1986) as Self
- The Way They Were: Punk and the New Wave 1976-1978 (1986) as Self
- Live Aid (1985) as Self
- No Surrender (1985) as Rosco De Ville
- Scully (1984) as Henry Scully
- The Last Chance Dance (1984) Songs
- The Bullshitters: Roll Out the Gunbarrel (1984) as Stone Deaf A & R Man
- Champs-Elysées (1982) as Self
- The Comic Strip Presents... (1982) as Stone Deaf A & R Man
- Concerts for the People of Kampuchea (1981) as Self
- George Jones: With a Little Help from His Friends (1981) as Self
- Elvis Costello & The Attractions Live in Montreaux (1980) as Self - Performer
- Americathon (1979) as The Earl of Manchester
- The Kenny Everett Video Show (1978) as Self
- Elvis Costello and The Attractions: Live at The Capitol Theatre (1978) as Self
- If It Ain't Stiff, It Ain't Worth a Fuck (1978) as Self
- Saturday Night Live (1975) as Self - Musical Guest
- Austin City Limits (1975) as Self
- Top of the Pops (1964) as Self (archive footage)
- The Oscars (1953) as Self
- Little Red Robin Hood as Self
- Little Red Robin Hood Music
- Life Is a Carnival: A Musical Celebration of Robbie Robertson as Self
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Elvis Costello best known for?
Elvis Costello is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (2015), The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (2015), The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (2014), A Quiet Place to Kill (1970).
When and where was Elvis Costello born?
Elvis Costello was born on August 25, 1954 in Paddington, London, England, UK.
How many credits does Elvis Costello have?
Elvis Costello has accumulated over 147 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1953 to 2026.
What is Elvis Costello's background in cinema and television?
Elvis Costello is a singer-songwriter and actor. Born Declan MacManus on August 25, 1954, in Paddington, London, England, he adopted the stage name Elvis Costello in 1977. His debut album My Aim Is True was released in 1977, drawing connections to the new wave and punk movement. Costello's band The Attractions was form...
Elvis Costello by the numbers
147credits
103films
44TV series
1953–2026active years
Age in their best-rated roles
- CMT Crossroads (2002) as Self — aged about 47
- The Simpsons (1989) as Elvis Costello (voice) — aged about 34
- Live Aid (1985) as Self — aged about 30
- The Kenny Everett Video Show (1978) as Self — aged about 23
- Classic Albums (1997) as Self — aged about 42
- Frasier (1993) as Ben — aged about 38
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