Danny Elfman
Sound

Danny Elfman

May 29, 1953 (72 years old) Los Angeles, California, USA

Also known as: Daniel Robert Elfman

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 Housewives and The Simpsons.

Among his honours are four Oscar nominations, three Emmy Awards, a Grammy, seven Saturn Awards for Best Music, the 2002 Richard Kirk Award, the 2015 Disney Legend Award, the Max Steiner Film Music Achievement Award in 2017, and the Society of Composers & Lyricists Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022.

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Known For

Corpse Bride

Corpse Bride

2005 • Movie

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

2005 • Movie

The Nightmare Before Christmas

The Nightmare Before Christmas

1993 • Movie

The Gift

The Gift

2000 • Movie

Prisoners of Gravity

Prisoners of Gravity

1989 • TV

The Holiday Movies That Made Us

The Holiday Movies That Made Us

2020 • TV

Movie Credits (38)

Acting

2005

Corpse Bride

as Bonejangles (voice)

2005

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

as Oompa Loompa (voice) (uncredited)

1993

The Nightmare Before Christmas

as Jack Skellington (singing) / Barrel / Clown with the Tear away Face (voice)

2000

The Gift

as Tommy Lee Ballard

1980

Forbidden Zone

as Satan

2010

DemiUrge Emesis

as Narrator (voice)

1977

Hot Tomorrows

as Singer

1986

Back to School

as Oingo Boingo Band Member

2015

Live From Lincoln Center: Danny Elfman's Music from the Films of Tim Burton

A Look Into 'The Forbidden Zone'

as Himself

2024

Tim Burton: Life in the Line

as Self

1992

The Magical World of Chuck Jones

as Self

2017

78/52

as Self

2008

Proud Iza

as Narrator

2017

Score: A Film Music Documentary

as Self

2000

Fantasporto – Carnaval no Porto

1994

How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Special Edition

as Self

1984

Good Morning, Mr. Orwell

as Self

2011

Oingo Boingo: 1983 US Festival

1987

Oingo Boingo: Halloween '87

as Himself

Crew

2011

A Conversation with Danny Elfman & Tim Burton

Producer

2025

A Danny Elfman Christmas Story

Writer

TV Credits (5)

Acting

1989

Prisoners of Gravity

as Self

1 episodes

2020

The Holiday Movies That Made Us

as Self

1 episodes

2025

Tim Burton: Life in the Line

as Himself

4 episodes

2011

Hollywood in Vienna

as Self

1 episodes

Crew

Rhona Who Lives by the River

Executive Producer

Personal Info

Known For
Sound
Gender
Male
Birthday
May 29, 1953 (72 years old)
Place of Birth
Los Angeles, California, USA
Popularity
1.9

Career Stats

38
Movies
5
TV Shows