Composer
Danny Elfman
Born 29 May 1953 · Los Angeles, California, USA
Danny Elfman is an American composer who first came to prominence as the singer and songwriter of the new wave band Oingo Boingo. He has scored more than 100 films and is best known for his long collaboration with Tim Burton. He also wrote the theme for The Simpsons.
Key films
Beetlejuice (1988)
An early Tim Burton collaboration that showcased his playful, gothic orchestral style.
Batman (1989)
His heroic, dark score helped define the sound of modern superhero films.
Edward Scissorhands (1990)
A tender, fairy-tale score regarded as one of the high points of his work with Burton.
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
He wrote the songs and score, and also supplied the singing voice of Jack Skellington.
Good Will Hunting (1997)
An Oscar-nominated, understated score for Gus Van Sant that showed his range beyond fantasy.
Key awards
- Four Academy Award nominations for Best Original Score, including Good Will Hunting and Men in Black (both 1997 films)
- 2015: Disney Legend Award
- 2017: Max Steiner Film Music Achievement Award
On Cinespective
Full filmography · 154
- 1977Annie Hall · as Lacey Party Guest (uncredited)Actor
- 1977Hot Tomorrows · as SingerActor
- 1981Urgh! A Music War · as SelfActor
- 1982Forbidden ZoneComposer
- 1982Forbidden Zone · as SatanActor
- 1984Good Morning, Mr. Orwell · as SelfActor
- 1985Pee-wee's Big AdventureComposer
- 1985Oingo Boingo: Live at the Ritz · as Self - Lead Vocals, GuitarActor
- 1986Back to School · as Oingo Boingo Band MemberActor
- 1986Back to SchoolComposer
- 1986WisdomComposer
- 1986Amazing StoriesComposer
- 1987Summer SchoolComposer
- 1987Oingo Boingo: Halloween '87 · as HimselfActor
- 1988BeetlejuiceComposer
- 1988ScroogedComposer
- 1988Midnight RunComposer
- 1988Big Top Pee-weeComposer
- 1988Hot to TrotComposer
- 1988Face Like a FrogComposer
- 1989BatmanComposer
- 1989Oingo Boingo: Skeletons in the Closet · as Himself, WaiterActor
- 1990Edward ScissorhandsComposer
- 1990DarkmanComposer
- 1990Dick TracyComposer
- 1990NightbreedComposer
- 1990The FlashComposer
- 1990Oingo Boingo: October 25th, 1990Actor
- 1992Batman ReturnsComposer
- 1992Article 99Composer
- 1992The Magical World of Chuck Jones · as SelfActor
- 1993The Nightmare Before ChristmasComposer
- 1993The Nightmare Before Christmas · as Jack Skellington (singing) / Barrel / Clown with the Tear away Face (voice)Actor
- 1993SommersbyComposer
- 1993The Making of Tim Burton's 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' · as Self - ComposerActor
- 1994Black BeautyComposer
- 1994How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Special Edition · as SelfActor
- 1995To Die ForComposer
- 1995Dolores ClaiborneComposer
- 1995Dead PresidentsComposer
- 1995The Hollywood Soundtrack Story · as SelfActor
- 1996Mission: ImpossibleComposer
- 1996Mars Attacks!Composer
- 1996The FrightenersComposer
- 1996FreewayComposer
- 1996Extreme MeasuresComposer
- 1996Darkman III: Die Darkman DieComposer
- 1996Oingo Boingo: Farewell (Live from the Universal Amphitheatre) · as SelfActor
- 1997Men in BlackComposer
- 1997Good Will HuntingComposer
- 1997FlubberComposer
- 1998A Simple PlanComposer
- 1998A Civil ActionComposer
- 1998Modern VampiresComposer
- 1998The Making of 'The Frighteners' · as SelfActor
- 1999Sleepy HollowComposer
- 1999InstinctComposer
- 1999Anywhere but HereComposer
- 1999Psycho Path · as Self - ArrangerActor
- 2000The Family ManComposer
- 2000The Gift · as Tommy Lee BallardActor
- 2000Proof of LifeComposer
- 2000Sleepy Hollow: Behind the Legend · as SelfActor
- 2000Fantasporto – Carnaval no PortoActor
- 2001Planet of the ApesComposer
- 2001Spy KidsComposer
- 2001HeartbreakersComposer
- 2001NovocaineComposer
- 2002Spider-ManComposer
- 2002Men in Black IIComposer
- 2002Red DragonComposer
- 2002ChicagoComposer
- 2002Cosmic Symphonies: Elfman in Space · as SelfActor
- 2003Big FishComposer
- 2003HulkComposer
- 2003The Making of 'Hulk' · as SelfActor
- 2003The Incredible Ang Lee · as SelfActor
- 2004Spider-Man 2Composer
- 2004Spider-Man 2: Making the Amazing · as SelfActor
- 2004Behind the Scenes of 'Spider-Man' · as SelfActor
- 2005Charlie and the Chocolate Factory · as Oompa Loompa (voice) (uncredited)Actor
- 2005Charlie and the Chocolate FactoryComposer
- 2005Corpse BrideComposer
- 2005Corpse Bride · as Bonejangles (voice)Actor
- 2005Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: Sweet Sounds · as HimselfActor
- 2005Becoming Oompa-LoompaActor
- 2006Nacho LibreComposer
- 2006Charlotte's WebComposer
- 2006Deep Sea 3DComposer
- 2007Meet the RobinsonsComposer
- 2007The KingdomComposer
- 2008WantedComposer
- 2008Hellboy II: The Golden ArmyComposer
- 2008MilkComposer
- 2008Standard Operating ProcedureComposer
- 2008Proud Iza · as NarratorActor
- 2008Shadows of the Bat: The Cinematic Saga of the Dark Knight · as SelfActor
- 2009Terminator SalvationComposer
- 20099Composer
- 2009NotoriousComposer
- 2009Taking WoodstockComposer
- 2010Alice in WonderlandComposer
- 2010The Next Three DaysComposer
- 2010The WolfmanComposer
- 2010DemiUrge Emesis · as Narrator (voice)Actor
- 2011Real SteelComposer
- 2011RestlessComposer
- 2011A Conversation with Danny Elfman & Tim BurtonActor
- 2011Oingo Boingo: 1983 US FestivalActor
- 2012Silver Linings PlaybookComposer
- 2012Men in Black 3Composer
- 2012Dark ShadowsComposer
- 2012FrankenweenieComposer
- 2012HitchcockComposer
- 2012Promised LandComposer
- 2013American HustleComposer
- 2013Oz the Great and PowerfulComposer
- 2013EpicComposer
- 2013Captain Sparky vs. The Flying SaucersComposer
- 2014Big EyesComposer
- 2014Mr. Peabody & ShermanComposer
- 2015Avengers: Age of UltronComposer
- 2015Fifty Shades of GreyComposer
- 2015GoosebumpsComposer
- 2015The End of the TourComposer
- 2015Live From Lincoln Center: Danny Elfman's Music from the Films of Tim BurtonActor
- 2016Alice Through the Looking GlassComposer
- 2016The Girl on the TrainComposer
- 2016Before I WakeComposer
- 2017Justice LeagueComposer
- 2017Fifty Shades DarkerComposer
- 2017The CircleComposer
- 2017Tulip FeverComposer
- 201778/52 · as SelfActor
- 2017Score: A Film Music Documentary · as SelfActor
- 2017Hollywood in Vienna 2017 - Fairytales · as SelfActor
- 2018Fifty Shades FreedComposer
- 2018The GrinchComposer
- 2018Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on FootComposer
- 2019Men in Black: InternationalComposer
- 2019DumboComposer
- 2020DolittleComposer
- 2021The Woman in the WindowComposer
- 2021Aliens, Clowns & GeeksComposer
- 2022Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of MadnessComposer
- 2022White NoiseComposer
- 2023Bloody BridgetComposer
- 2024Beetlejuice BeetlejuiceComposer
- 2024May the 12th Be with YouComposer
- 2025DraculaComposer
- 2025A Danny Elfman Christmas Story · as NarratorActor
- 2025Remember To Enjoy The Light Before It’s GoneComposer
- 2026Send HelpComposer
- 2026Dead Man's WireComposer
Filmography data from TMDB. The profile text is a draft written for Cinespective.