Elvis Costello
Acting • Born 1954-08-25
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
134 credits
There's Only One Paul McCartney
Movie • 2002
Self
Spice World
Movie • 1997
Elvis Costello
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
Movie • 2006
Elvis Costello
Straight to Hell
Movie • 1987
Hives The Butler
The Pretenders: No Turn Left Unstoned
Movie • 2005
Self
Delirious
Movie • 2007
Elvis Costello
Lindisfarne’s Geordie Genius: The Alan Hull Story
Movie • 2021
Self
Elvis Costello and Burt Bacharach: Sessions at West 54th
Movie • 1998
Self
Elvis Costello and the Brodsky Quartet - The Juliet Letters
Movie • 1991
Self
Live Aid
Movie • 1985
Self
A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!
Movie • 2008
Self
Tony Bennett: MTV Unplugged
Movie • 1994
Self
Chet Baker Live at Ronnie Scott's
Movie • 1986
Self
Roy Orbison and Friends: A Black and White Night
Movie • 1988
Self - Guitar/Electric Organ/Harmonica
Americathon
Movie • 1979
The Earl of Manchester
Sounds of Liverpool at the BBC
Movie • 2023
Self (archive footage)
In Dreams: The Roy Orbison Story
Movie • 1999
Self
September Songs: The Music of Kurt Weill
Movie • 1994
Self
George Jones: With a Little Help from His Friends
Movie • 1981
Self
Here, There and Everywhere: A Concert for Linda
Movie • 1999
Self
No Surrender
Movie • 1985
Rosco De Ville
Paul McCartney: Put It There
Movie • 1989
Self
Elvis Costello & The Imposters: Club Date - Live in Memphis
Movie • 2004
Self
Memento Mori
Movie • 2008
Self
Putting the River in Reverse
Movie • 2006
Self
Elvis Costello & Allen Toussaint: Hot as a Pistol, Keen as a Blade
Movie • 2006
Self
Willie Nelson & Friends: Live and Kickin'
Movie • 2003
Self
A Tribute To Burt Bacharach & Hal David
Movie • 2001
Self
Love Shines
Movie • 2010
Self
Tony Bennett's New York
Movie • 1996
Self
200 Cigarettes
Movie • 1999
Self
Roy Orbison Forever
Movie • 2022
Self
The Bullshitters: Roll Out the Gunbarrel
Movie • 1984
Stone Deaf A & R Man
Elvis Costello: Mystery Dance
Movie • 2013
Self
Lost Songs: The Basement Tapes Continued
Movie • 2014
Self
Elvis Costello: Live: A Case for Song
Movie • 2007
Self - Vocals, Guitar
Classic Albums: U2 - The Joshua Tree
Movie • 1999
Self
Hard Rock Calling 2010
Movie • 2010
Self
Experience Montreux
Movie • 2013
Self
Elvis Costello: North
Movie • 2003
Self
A MusiCares Tribute to Neil Young
Movie • 2011
Self
Freedom Beat
Movie • 2003
Self
Brian Wilson’s Imagination
Movie • 1998
Self
Record On: The Specials - A Message to You
Movie • 2024
Self
Beautiful Dreamer: Brian Wilson and the Story of Smile
Movie • 2004
Self
If It Ain't Stiff: The Stiff Records Story
Movie • 2007
Self
Unleaded
Movie • 2000
Elvis Costello
Tony Bennett: Duets - The Making of an American Classic
Movie • 2007
Self
Elvis Costello - Detour Live at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
Movie • 2015
Self
Philip K Dick: A Day in the Afterlife
Movie • 1994
Self - Interviewee
The Beatles: Eight Days a Week - The Touring Years
Movie • 2016
Self
The Old, Weird America: Harry Smith's Anthology of American Folk Music
Movie • 2007
Self
From the Big Apple to the Big Easy: The Concert for New Orleans
Movie • 2006
Self
De-Lovely
Movie • 2004
Musical Performer - "Let's Misbehave"
Tower of Song: A Memorial Tribute to Leonard Cohen
Movie • 2018
Self - Performer
I Was There: When the Beatles Played the Cavern
Movie • 2011
Self (archive footage)
Elvis Costello & The Attractions Live in Montreaux
Movie • 1980
Self - Performer
Elvis Costello: The Right Spectacle - The Very Best of Elvis Costello
Movie • 2005
Self - Performer
Elvis Costello & The Imposters: The Return Of The Spectacular Spinning Songbook
Movie • 2012
Self - Performer
Dusty
Movie • 1994
Self - Interviewee
Red Shoes In the Land of the Midnight Sun: Elvis Costello & The Confederates Live in Tokyo
Movie • 1987
Self - Performer
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
Movie • 1999
Elvis Costello
Live Aid
Movie • 2004
Self
Weird Nightmare
Movie • 1993
Self
Ex Libris: The New York Public Library
Movie • 2017
Self
If It Ain't Stiff, It Ain't Worth a Fuck
Movie • 1978
Self
Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary Celebration
Movie • 2019
Self
Grand Ole Opry Live
Movie • 2006
Self
Burt Bacharach: One Amazing Night
Movie • 1998
Self
Live Aid: 20 Years Ago Today
Movie • 2005
Self
Before the Music Dies
Movie • 2006
Self - Musician
The Harry Smith Project Live
Movie • 2006
Self
A Prairie Home Companion Live in HD!
Movie • 2010
Self - Singer
Ringo Starr’s Big Birthday Show
Movie • 2020
Self - Performer
Prison Song
Movie • 2001
Public Defender / Teacher
Elvis Costello and The Attractions: Live at The Capitol Theatre
Movie • 1978
Self
Elvis Costello and The Attractions: Live on Rockpalast
Movie • 1978
Self
Johnny Cash: The Last Great American
Movie • 2004
Self
I Love Your Work
Movie • 2003
Self
Johnny Cash: The Man in Black in Britain
Movie • 2020
Self
Concerts for the People of Kampuchea
Movie • 1981
Self
The Tomorrow Show with Tom Snyder: Punk & New Wave
Movie • 2006
Self
Emmylou Harris: From a Deeper Well
Movie • 2003
Self
Elvis Costello & Friends
Movie • 2006
Self (archive footage)
Life Is a Carnival: A Musical Celebration of Robbie Robertson
Movie
Self
Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music
Movie • 2025
Self
Live From Bonnaroo 2009
Movie • 2009
Self
The Beatle and the Bass
Movie • 2026
Self
The Way They Were: Punk and the New Wave 1976-1978
Movie • 1986
Self
Roy Orbison: Black and White Night 30
Movie • 2017
Self
Elvis Costello & WDR Big Band @ Leverkusener Jazztage 2025
Movie • 2025
Alma Naidu @ Levekusener Jazztage 2025
Movie • 2025
Behind the Scenes of 'Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me'
Movie • 1999
Self
Elvis Costello & Friends Live at Sweetwater
Movie • 1989
Off The Beaten Path: A Road Trip With Elvis & Pete
Movie • 2005
Self
Scully
TV • 1984
Henry Scully
The Simpsons
TV • 1989
Elvis Costello (voice)
The Daily Show
TV • 1996
Self
The Kenny Everett Video Show
TV • 1978
Self
Two and a Half Men
TV • 2003
Elvis Costello
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
TV • 1992
Self - Musical Guest
30 Rock
TV • 2006
Elvis Costello
The Colbert Report
TV • 2005
Self
MTV Unplugged
TV • 1989
Self
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
TV • 1993
Self - Guest
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
TV • 2015
Self
Austin City Limits
TV • 1975
Self
Spectacle: Elvis Costello with...
TV • 2008
Self
The Frank Skinner Show
TV • 1995
Self
The Oscars
TV • 1953
Self
Treme
TV • 2010
Self
This Is Pop
TV • 2021
Self (archive footage)
The Larry Sanders Show
TV • 1992
Elvis Costello
Classic Albums
TV • 1997
Self
Die Harald Schmidt Show
TV • 1995
Self
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
TV • 1993
Self - Musical Guest
The Graham Norton Show
TV • 2007
Self
Frasier
TV • 1993
Ben
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
TV • 2003
Self
3rd Rock from the Sun
TV • 1996
Elvis Costello
Live from the Artists Den
TV • 2009
Self
CMT Crossroads
TV • 2002
Self
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
TV • 2014
Self - Musical Guest
Pete the Cat
TV • 2017
Pete's Dad (voice)
Legends
TV • 2006
Self
Champs-Elysées
TV • 1982
Self
Saturday Night Live
TV • 1975
Self - Musical Guest
Real Time with Bill Maher
TV • 2003
Self
Lo + plus
TV • 1995
Self
The Comic Strip Presents...
TV • 1982
Stone Deaf A & R Man
Hamburg Journal
TV • 2011
self
Have I Got News for You
TV • 1990
Self
Words + Music
TV • 2025
Self
Late Show with David Letterman
TV • 1993
Self - Musical Guest