Danny Elfman

Height:	178 cm
Birth Notes:	Los Angeles, California, USA
Birth Name:	Elfman, Daniel Robert
Birth Date:	29 May 1953

Danny Elfman Trivia

The two only Tim Burton films Elfman did not compose the score for are Ed Wood and Sweeney Todd.
Daughter: Lola Elfman (born 1979).
Often composes scores for 'Tim Burton (I)''s films
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.
Admires 'Peter Lorre (I)'.

Danny Elfman Mini Biography

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 (1982) (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 (I)', 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".

Danny Elfman Quotes

I get drawn to things that don't make any sense, and I learned early on not to resist that.
I've known Sam [Raimi] for almost 15 years. Spider-Man 2 was my fifth movie with him and all I can say is that the person who was there at the end of Spider-Man 2 was not Sam. I don't know who it was, but it wasn't Sam. It was as close to living out Invasion of the Body Snatchers as I've ever experienced. To see such a profound negative change in a human being was almost enough to make me feel like I didn't want to make films anymore. It was really disheartening and sad to see the way it ended up.
It all depends on the directors. Working closely with a director is the main job of a film composer. Interpreting what he perceives as a color, an emotion or mood is very abstract. A director tells you something he wants and then you have to run back to your music and respond with, "I think he meant something like this."
I don't think there's a trademark Danny Elfman element that has been consistent in my work. I don't hear many similarities in what I do and I don't think it's necessary that I have a particular style. Having a particular style is not bad, but I prefer to push myself in the direction of being a composer who you never know what he's doing next.
The Oingo is still there. It just got lost off of our current album cover. Since then, however, it was found by my daughter in between the cushions of our couch. Although it's a bit sticky it will undoubtedly find its way back on our next album. The horn section I'm sorry to say succumbed to the terrible flesh-eating bacteria that I'm sure you read so much about. I wish I could say that they died quietly in their sleep, as opposed to screaming in agony as was the case. However who am I to question such things in the great cosmic scheme...

Danny Elfman Movies

The Family Man (2000) as ...
Finding Kraftland (2007) as Himself
Standard Operating Procedure (2008) as ...
Men in Black II (2002) as ...
A Civil Action (1998) as ...
Super Secret Movie Rules: Slashers (2004) as Himself
Planet of the Apes (2001) as ...
Farewell: Live from the Universal Amphitheatre Halloween 1995 (1996) as Himself
Cosmic Symphonies: Elfman in Space (2002) as Himself
Chicago (2002) as ...
Extreme Measures (1996) as ...
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) as Himself
Oingo Boingo: Skeletons in the Closet (1989) as Himself (Vocalist, Rhythm Gutiarist, etc), Various
The Last Laugh (1992) as ...
Batman Returns (1992) as ...
The 81st Annual Academy Awards (2009) as Himself - Nominee: Best Original Score
Farewell: Live from the Universal Amphitheatre Halloween 1995 (1996) as Himself
Farewell: Live from the Universal Amphitheatre Halloween 1995 (1996) as Himself
Back to School (1986) as Oingo Boingo Band Member
Making the Amazing (2004) as Himself