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IMDbPro

Danny Elfman

  • Music Department
  • Composer
  • Actor
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,0002468
Danny Elfman
Theatrical Trailer from Paramount
Play trailer2:23
Charlotte's Web (2006)
16 Videos
58 Photos
As Danny Elfman was growing up in the Los Angeles area, he was largely unaware of his talent for composing. It wasn't until the early 1970s that Danny and his older brother Richard Elfman started a musical troupe while in Paris; the group "Mystic Knights of Oingo-Boingo" was created for Richard's directorial debut, Forbidden Zone (1980) (now considered a cult classic by Elfman fans). The group's name went through many incarnations over the years, beginning with "The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo" and eventually just Oingo Boingo. While continuing to compose eclectic, intelligent rock music for his L.A.-based band (some of which had been used in various film soundtracks, e.g. Weird Science (1985)), Danny formed a friendship with young director Tim Burton, who was then a fan of Oingo Boingo. Danny went on to score the soundtrack of Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985), Danny's first orchestral film score. The Elfman-Burton partnership continued (most notably through the hugely-successful "Batman" flicks) and opened doors of opportunity for Danny, who has been referred to as "Hollywood's hottest film composer".
BornMay 29, 1953
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornMay 29, 1953
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,0002468
  • Unlock contact info on IMDbPro
  • Nominated for 4 Oscars
    • 83 wins & 113 nominations total

Photos58

Danny Elfman and Oingo Boingo in Forbidden Zone (1980)
Danny Elfman at an event for Wednesday (2022)
Danny Elfman at an event for Edward Scissorhands (1990)
Johnny Depp, Winona Ryder, Tim Burton, and Danny Elfman at an event for Edward Scissorhands (1990)
Danny Elfman at an event for Predator 2 (1990)
Danny Elfman and Jack Black at an event for Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot (2018)
Danny Elfman, Gus Van Sant, and Logan Hill
Danny Elfman and Gus Van Sant
Danny Elfman
Danny Elfman at an event for Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot (2018)
Danny Elfman, Joaquin Phoenix, Gus Van Sant, Jack Black, Paul Blair, Jonah Hill, and Beth Ditto at an event for Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot (2018)
Danny Elfman

Known for

Danny Elfman and Chris Sarandon in The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
The Nightmare Before Christmas
7.9
  • Music Department
  • 1993
Johnny Depp, Freddie Highmore, AnnaSophia Robb, Julia Winter, Jordan Fry, and Philip Wiegratz in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
6.7
  • Composer(music by)
  • 2005
Corpse Bride (2005)
Corpse Bride
7.3
  • Music Department(songs)
  • 2005
Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith in Men in Black (1997)
Men in Black
7.3
  • Composer(music by)
  • 1997

Credits

Edit
IMDbPro

Music Department

  • Growing Up Kylee
    • stock music
    • Completed
    • Short
    • 2017
  • Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Dan Castellaneta, and Yeardley Smith in The Simpsons (1989)
    The Simpsons
    • composer: Theme by
    • TV Series
    • 1989–2023
  • Jenna Ortega in Wednesday (2022)
    Wednesday
    • theme music composer
    • TV Series
    • 2022
  • Next Exit (2022)
    Next Exit
    • additional music and themes
    • 2022
  • Yeardley Smith and Billie Eilish in When Billie Met Lisa (2022)
    When Billie Met Lisa
    • composer: The Simpsons Theme by
    • Short
    • 2022
  • Willem Dafoe, Jamie Foxx, Rhys Ifans, Benedict Cumberbatch, Zendaya, and Tom Holland in Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
    Spider-Man: No Way Home
    • theme music composer: Doc Ock Is Born and Enter The Goblin and Spider-Man Main Title
    • 2021
  • The Simpsons in Plusaversary (2021)
    The Simpsons in Plusaversary
    • composer: The Simpsons Theme by
    • Short
    • 2021
  • The Force Awakens from Its Nap (2021)
    The Force Awakens from Its Nap
    • composer: The Simpsons Theme
    • Short
    • 2021
  • The Nightmare Before Christmas in Concert (2020)
    The Nightmare Before Christmas in Concert
    • Music and Lyrics By
    • Video
    • 2020
  • Playdate with Destiny (2020)
    Playdate with Destiny
    • composer: The Simpsons Theme
    • Short
    • 2020
  • Tobias Bastian Them Burø, Bastian Lars Andreasen, Vigga Rohweder, and Morgan Batchelor in BaseBoys (2018)
    BaseBoys
    • music
    • TV Series
    • 2018
  • Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot (2018)
    Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot
    • score producer
    • 2018
  • Tom Hanks and Emma Watson in The Circle (2017)
    The Circle
    • score producer
    • 2017
  • Austin P. McKenzie in When We Rise (2017)
    When We Rise
    • themes by
    • TV Mini Series
    • 2017
  • Kevin Conroy, Chris Diamantopoulos, Rachel Kimsey, Jason J. Lewis, and Dana Snyder in Justice League Action (2016)
    Justice League Action
    • composer: theme music
    • TV Series
    • 2017
  • Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan in Fifty Shades Darker (2017)
    Fifty Shades Darker
    • score producer
    • 2017

Composer

  • Rhona Who Lives by the River
    • Composer
    • Post-production
    • TV Series
    • 2023
  • Bloody Bridget
    • Composer
    • Post-production
  • Forbidden Zone 2:
    • Composer
    • Pre-production
  • Bloody Bridget 2
    • Composer
    • Pre-production
  • Beetlejuice 2
    • Composer
    • In Production
  • Carnage Collection: Vicious Violence & Vengeance (2023)
    Carnage Collection: Vicious Violence & Vengeance
    • Composer
    • 2023
  • Adam Driver in 65 (2023)
    65
    • co composer
    • 2023
  • Jenna Ortega in Wednesday (2022)
    Wednesday
    • Composer (music by)
    • TV Series
    • 2022
  • Don Cheadle, May Nivola, Greta Gerwig, Adam Driver, and Raffey Cassidy in White Noise (2022)
    White Noise
    • Composer (music by)
    • 2022
  • Chiwetel Ejiofor, Elizabeth Olsen, Benedict Wong, Rachel McAdams, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Xochitl Gomez in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)
    Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
    • Composer (music by)
    • 2022
  • Parker: A Spider Man Origin Story (2021)
    Parker: A Spider Man Origin Story
    • Composer
    • 2021
  • The Nightmare Before Christmas in Concert (2020)
    The Nightmare Before Christmas in Concert
    • Composer
    • Video
    • 2020
  • Joe Biden Biography (Biden Convention Film)
    • Composer
    • Short
    • 2020
  • Amy Adams in The Woman in the Window (2020)
    The Woman in the Window
    • Composer
    • 2020
  • Robert Downey Jr., Emma Thompson, Marion Cotillard, Octavia Spencer, John Cena, Selena Gomez, Rami Malek, Kumail Nanjiani, and Tom Holland in Dolittle (2020)
    Dolittle
    • Composer
    • 2020
  • Thierry Genovese in Cine Chalom (2019)
    Cine Chalom
    • Composer (music by)
    • TV Mini Series
    • 2019
  • Aliens, Clowns & Geeks (2019)
    Aliens, Clowns & Geeks
    • Composer
    • 2019
  • Liam Neeson, Emma Thompson, Tim Blaney, Chris Hemsworth, Tessa Thompson, and Kumail Nanjiani in Men in Black: International (2019)
    Men in Black: International
    • Composer
    • 2019
  • Danny DeVito, Danny Elfman, Michael Keaton, Colin Farrell, Derek Frey, Rick Heinrichs, Ehren Kruger, Deobia Oparei, Roshan Seth, Ben Davis, Eva Green, Joseph Gatt, Frank Bourke, Sharon Rooney, Ragevan Vasan, Finley Hobbins, Nico Parker, and Zenaida Alcalde in Dumbo (2019)
    Dumbo
    • Composer
    • 2019
  • Benedict Cumberbatch in The Grinch (2018)
    The Grinch
    • Composer (music by)
    • 2018

Actor

  • Danny Elfman, Catherine O'Hara, and Ken Page in The Nightmare Before Christmas in Concert at the Hollywood Bowl (2018)
    The Nightmare Before Christmas in Concert at the Hollywood Bowl
    • Jack Skellington
    • Singing Voice
    • Barrel ...
    • Video
    • 2018
  • DemiUrge Emesis (2010)
    DemiUrge Emesis
    • Narrator (voice)
    • Short
    • 2010
  • Proud Iza (2008)
    Proud Iza
    • Cat (voice)
    • Short
    • 2008
  • Corpse Bride (2005)
    Corpse Bride
    • Bonejangles (voice)
    • 2005
  • Johnny Depp, Freddie Highmore, AnnaSophia Robb, Julia Winter, Jordan Fry, and Philip Wiegratz in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)
    Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
    • Oompa Loompa (voice, uncredited)
    • 2005
  • Cate Blanchett in The Gift (2000)
    The Gift
    • Tommy Lee Ballard
    • 2000
  • Danny Elfman and Chris Sarandon in The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
    The Nightmare Before Christmas
    • Jack Skellington - Singing Voice
    • Barrel
    • Clown with the Tear Away Face (voice)
    • 1993
  • Oingo Boingo: Skeletons in the Closet (1989)
    Oingo Boingo: Skeletons in the Closet
    • Danny Elfman
    • Music Video
    • 1989
  • Oingo Boingo: Stay (1986)
    Oingo Boingo: Stay
    • Danny Elfman
    • Music Video
    • 1986
  • Back to School (1986)
    Back to School
    • Oingo Boingo Band Member
    • 1986
  • Danny Elfman in Oingo Boingo: Weird Science (1985)
    Oingo Boingo: Weird Science
    • Performer
    • Short
    • 1985
  • Longshot (1981)
    Longshot
    • Member - Oingo Boingo (as Daniel Elfman)
    • 1981
  • Danny Elfman, Jan Stuart Schwartz, and Susan Tyrrell in Forbidden Zone (1980)
    Forbidden Zone
    • Satan
    • 1980
  • Kathleen Quinlan in I Never Promised You a Rose Garden (1977)
    I Never Promised You a Rose Garden
    • Drumming Demon (as Dan Elfman)
    • 1977
  • Hot Tomorrows
    Hot Tomorrows
    • Singer
    • 1977

Videos16

The Nightmare Before Christmas: 3D
Clip 1:48
The Nightmare Before Christmas: 3D
The Nightmare Before Christmas: 3D
Clip 1:09
The Nightmare Before Christmas: 3D
The Nightmare Before Christmas: 3D
Clip 1:59
The Nightmare Before Christmas: 3D
The Nightmare Before Christmas: 3D
Clip 1:42
The Nightmare Before Christmas: 3D
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Clip 1:38
The Nightmare Before Christmas
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Clip 1:59
The Nightmare Before Christmas
American Hustle TV Spot "Imposter"
Clip 0:32
American Hustle TV Spot "Imposter"
The Nightmare Before Christmas: 2018 Edition
Trailer 1:14
The Nightmare Before Christmas: 2018 Edition
Forbidden Zone
Trailer 0:48
Forbidden Zone
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Trailer 2:00
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Charlotte's Web
Trailer 2:23
Charlotte's Web
Charlotte's Web
Trailer 1:36
Charlotte's Web

Personal details

Edit
  • Official sites
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
  • Alternative names
    • Danny 'Hell'fman
  • Height
    • 5′ 10″ (1.78 m)
  • Born
    • May 29, 1953
    • Los Angeles, California, USA
  • Spouses
      Bridget FondaNovember 29, 2003 - present (1 child)
  • Children
      Oliver Elfman
  • Parents
      Clare Elfman
  • Relatives
      Richard Elfman(Sibling)
  • Other works
    Danny continues as composer and lead singer of his eclectic rock band, known as Oingo Boingo. The group has released 11 albums as of 1994's recording (titled simply "Boingo"). The band retired after its farewell tour around Halloween 1995.
  • Publicity listings
    • 1 Print Biography
    • 1 Portrayal
    • 5 Interviews
    • 3 Articles

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    Sang all the vocals for the five songs in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005). He recorded singing it in different ways and played with the audio to make it sound like various high- and low-pitched vocals.
  • Quotes
    I get drawn to things that don't make any sense, and I learned early on not to resist that.
  • Trademarks
      Frequently combines orchestral sounds with digital sounds. Most noticeable in the opening sequence of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005).
  • Salary
    • Spider-Man 2
      (2004)
      $2,000,000

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