About

Known credits:
97
Birthday:
1954-08-25
Place of birth:
Paddington, London, England, UK
Website:
Click here

Elvis Costello

Overview

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.

Known for

Acting
2025 Ladies & Gentlemen… 50 Years of SNL Music Actor Himself N/A
N/A
2024 The Specials – A Message to You Actor Self 58
Average
2023 Sounds of Liverpool at the BBC Actor Self (archive footage) 59
Average
2022 Roy Orbison Forever Actor Self 59
Average
2021 Lindisfarne’s Geordie Genius: The Alan Hull Story Actor Self 59
Average
2020 Johnny Cash: The Man in Black in Britain Actor Self 59
Average
2020 Ringo Starr’s Big Birthday Show Actor Self - Performer N/A
N/A
2019 Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary Celebration Actor Self 59
Average
2018 Tower of Song: A Memorial Tribute to Leonard Cohen Actor Self - Performer 59
Average
2017 Pete the Cat Actor Pete's Dad (voice) 70
Good
2017 Ex Libris: The New York Public Library Actor Self 59
Average
2016 The Beatles: Eight Days a Week - The Touring Years Actor Self 66
Fair
2015 Elvis Costello - Detour Live at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall Actor Self 59
Average
2014 Lost Songs: The Basement Tapes Continued Actor Self 59
Average
2013 Elvis Costello: Mystery Dance Actor Self 59
Average
2013 Experience Montreux Actor Self N/A
N/A
2012 Elvis Costello & The Imposters: The Return Of The Spectacular Spinning Songbook Actor Self - Performer N/A
N/A
2011 A MusiCares Tribute to Neil Young Actor Self 58
Average
2011 I Was There: When the Beatles Played the Cavern Actor Self (archive footage) 59
Average
2010 Love Shines Actor Self 59
Average
2010 Hard Rock Calling 2010 Actor Self N/A
N/A
2010 A Prairie Home Companion Live in HD! Actor Self - Singer 59
Average
2008 Spectacle: Elvis Costello with... Actor Self 70
Good
2008 A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All! Actor Self 59
Average
2008 Memento Mori Actor Self N/A
N/A
2007 If It Ain't Stiff: The Stiff Records Story Actor Self 59
Average
2007 Delirious Actor Elvis Costello 59
Average
2007 Elvis Costello: Live: A Case for Song Actor Self - Vocals, Guitar N/A
N/A
2007 Tony Bennett: Duets - The Making of an American Classic Actor Self N/A
N/A
2007 The Old, Weird America: Harry Smith's Anthology of American Folk Music Actor Self N/A
N/A
2006 Elvis Costello & Allen Toussaint: Hot as a Pistol, Keen as a Blade Actor Self 59
Average
2006 The Harry Smith Project Live Actor Self N/A
N/A
2006 Before the Music Dies Actor Self - Musician 59
Average
2006 Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby Actor Elvis Costello 62
Fair
2006 Elvis Costello & Friends Actor N/A
N/A
2006 Putting the River in Reverse Actor Self N/A
N/A
2006 Grand Ole Opry Live Actor Self N/A
N/A
2006 The Tomorrow Show with Tom Snyder: Punk & New Wave Actor Self N/A
N/A
2006 From the Big Apple to the Big Easy: The Concert for New Orleans Actor Self N/A
N/A
2005 The Pretenders: No Turn Left Unstoned Actor Self N/A
N/A
2005 Elvis Costello: The Right Spectacle - The Very Best of Elvis Costello Actor Self - Performer N/A
N/A
2005 Live Aid: 20 Years Ago Today Actor Self N/A
N/A
2005 Elvis Costello & The Imposters: Glastonbury Festival 2005 Actor Self N/A
N/A
2004 Live Aid Actor Self 59
Average
2004 Beautiful Dreamer: Brian Wilson and the Story of Smile Actor Self 59
Average
2004 De-Lovely Actor Musical Performer - "Let's Misbehave" 59
Average
2004 Johnny Cash: The Last Great American Actor Self 59
Average
2004 Elvis Costello & The Imposters: Club Date - Live in Memphis Actor Self 58
Average
2003 Emmylou Harris: From a Deeper Well Actor Self N/A
N/A
2003 I Love Your Work Actor Self 58
Average
2003 Elvis Costello: North Actor Self N/A
N/A
2003 Willie Nelson & Friends: Live and Kickin' Actor Self 59
Average
2003 Freedom Beat Actor Self N/A
N/A
2002 There's Only One Paul McCartney Actor Self N/A
N/A
2001 A Tribute To Burt Bacharach & Hal David Actor Self 59
Average
2001 Prison Song Actor Public Defender / Teacher 58
Average
2000 Unleaded Actor Elvis Costello 59
Average
1999 In Dreams: The Roy Orbison Story Actor Self 59
Average
1999 Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me Actor Elvis Costello 62
Fair
1999 Here, There and Everywhere: A Concert for Linda Actor Self N/A
N/A
1999 200 Cigarettes Actor Self 58
Average
1999 Classic Albums: U2 - The Joshua Tree Actor Self 58
Average
1998 Elvis Costello and Burt Bacharach: Sessions at West 54th Actor Self N/A
N/A
1998 Brian Wilson’s Imagination Actor Self N/A
N/A
1998 Burt Bacharach: One Amazing Night Actor Self N/A
N/A
1997 Spice World Actor Elvis Costello 53
Average
1996 Tony Bennett's New York Actor Self N/A
N/A
1994 Tony Bennett: MTV Unplugged Actor Self N/A
N/A
1994 Dusty Actor Self - Interviewee 59
Average
1994 Philip K Dick: A Day in the Afterlife Actor Self - Interviewee 59
Average
1994 September Songs: The Music of Kurt Weill Actor Self N/A
N/A
1993 Weird Nightmare Actor Self N/A
N/A
1991 Elvis Costello and the Brodsky Quartet - The Juliet Letters Actor Self N/A
N/A
1989 Paul McCartney: Put It There Actor Self 59
Average
1988 Roy Orbison and Friends: A Black and White Night Actor Self - Guitar/Electric Organ/Harmonica 59
Average
1987 Red Shoes In the Land of the Midnight Sun: Elvis Costello & The Confederates Live in Tokyo Actor Self - Performer N/A
N/A
1987 Straight to Hell Actor Hives The Butler 58
Average
1986 Chet Baker Live at Ronnie Scott's Actor Self N/A
N/A
1985 No Surrender Actor Rosco De Ville 59
Average
1985 Live Aid Actor Self 60
Fair
1984 The Bullshitters: Roll Out the Gunbarrel Actor Stone Deaf A & R Man N/A
N/A
1984 Elvis Costello & The Attractions: The Only Flame in Town Actor Elvis Costello N/A
N/A
1984 Scully Actor Henry Scully 68
Fair
1981 George Jones: With a Little Help from His Friends Actor Self N/A
N/A
1981 Concerts for the People of Kampuchea Actor Self N/A
N/A
1980 Elvis Costello & The Attractions Live in Montreaux Actor Self - Performer N/A
N/A
1979 Americathon Actor The Earl of Manchester 58
Average
1978 Elvis Costello and The Attractions: Live on Rockpalast Actor Self N/A
N/A
1978 Elvis Costello and The Attractions: Live at The Capitol Theatre Actor Self N/A
N/A
1978 If It Ain't Stiff, It Ain't Worth a Fuck Actor Self 59
Average
Life Is a Carnival: A Musical Celebration of Robbie Robertson Actor Self N/A
N/A

Production
2008 Spectacle: Elvis Costello with... Production Executive Producer 70
Good

Sound
2003 The Shape of Things Sound Original Music Composer 59
Average
2002 One Million Stars Falling from the Sky Sound Theme Song Performance 70
Good
1991 Rabbit Ears - Tom Thumb Sound Music N/A
N/A
1991 G.B.H. Sound Music 68
Fair
1986 Club Paradise Sound Theme Song Performance 57
Average