Biography
Daniel Robert Elfman (born May 29, 1953) is an American film composer, singer, songwriter, and musician. He came to prominence as the lead vocalist and primary songwriter for the new wave band Oingo Boingo in the early 1980s. Since scoring his first studio film in 1985, Elfman has garnered international recognition for composing over 100 feature film scores, as well as compositions for television, stage productions, and the concert hall. Elfman has frequently worked with directors Tim Burton, Sam Raimi, and Gus Van Sant, contributing music to nearly 20 Burton projects, including Pee-Wee's Big Adventure, Beetlejuice, Batman, Edward Scissorhands, Batman Returns, Mars Attacks!, Sleepy Hollow, Big Fish, and Alice in Wonderland, as well as scoring Raimi's Darkman, A Simple Plan, Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2, Oz the Great and Powerful, and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and Van Sant's Academy Award-winning films Good Will Hunting and Milk. He wrote music for all of the Men in Black and Fifty Shades of Grey franchise films, the songs and score for Henry Selick's animated musical The Nightmare Before Christmas, and the themes for the popular television series Desperate Housewive…
Movies & TV Shows
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Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) — Oompa Loompa (voice) (uncredited)
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The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) — Jack Skellington (singing) / Barrel / Clown with the Tear away Face (voice)
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Corpse Bride (2005) — Bonejangles (voice)
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Annie Hall (1977) — Lacey Party Guest (uncredited)
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The Gift (2000) — Tommy Lee Ballard
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Saturday Night Live (1975) — Self - Cameo (uncredited)
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Back to School (1986) — Oingo Boingo Band Member
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78/52 (2017) — Self
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Score: A Film Music Documentary (2017) — Self
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Forbidden Zone (1982) — Satan
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Spider-Man 2: Making the Amazing (2004) — Self
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Sleepy Hollow: Behind the Legend (2000) — Self
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The Holiday Movies That Made Us (2020) — Self
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Urgh! A Music War (1981) — Self
- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: Sweet Sounds (2005) — Himself
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The Making of 'The Frighteners' (1998) — Self
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Live From Lincoln Center: Danny Elfman's Music from the Films of Tim Burton (2015)
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How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Special Edition (1994) — Self
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Prisoners of Gravity (1989) — Self
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Good Morning, Mr. Orwell (1984) — Self
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Psycho Path (1999) — Self - Arranger
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Oingo Boingo: Farewell (Live from the Universal Amphitheatre) (1996) — Self
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The Magical World of Chuck Jones (1992) — Self
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Hot Tomorrows (1977) — Singer
- A Look Into 'The Forbidden Zone' — Himself
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DemiUrge Emesis (2010) — Narrator (voice)
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Oingo Boingo: Skeletons in the Closet (1989) — Himself, Waiter
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Oingo Boingo: Halloween '87 (1987) — Himself
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Oingo Boingo: Live at the Ritz (1985) — Self - Lead Vocals, Guitar
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Cosmic Symphonies: Elfman in Space (2002) — Self
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A Danny Elfman Christmas Story (2025) — Narrator
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Hollywood in Vienna (2011) — Self
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Tim Burton: Life in the Line (2025) — Self
- Oingo Boingo: October 25th, 1990 (1990)
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Oingo Boingo: 1983 US Festival (2011)
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Hollywood in Vienna 2017 - Fairytales (2017) — Self
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Proud Iza (2008) — Narrator
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Fantasporto – Carnaval no Porto (2000)
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A Conversation with Danny Elfman & Tim Burton (2011)
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Shadows of the Bat: The Cinematic Saga of the Dark Knight (2008) — Self