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' and opened doors of opportunity for Danny, who has been referred to as "Hollywood's hottest film composer".
Uncle of Bodhi Elfman
His older brother is director Richard Elfman.
His mother is Clare Elfman , an author of childrens books.
Elfman fans discuss his current and past work in the usenet group rec.music.artists.danny-elfman.
The past, present and future of Elfman and the other members of Oingo Boingo are also discussed at alt.fan.oingo-boingo.
Wrote the score for Black Beauty for his two daughters from a collapsed marriage. Released a solo album in 1984, So-Lo, which happened to feature most of the band members from Oingo Boingo.
Signed a non-exclusive contract with Disney to write, produce, and direct films, while continuing to compose for Disney and other studios.
Engaged to Bridget Fonda (March 2003)
Claims Bernard Herrmann as a heavy influence on many of his scores.
Owns a dachshund.
He and Howard Shore have both formed hit bands (Oingo Boingo and The Blues Brothers), both scored films for Peter Jackson ( The Frighteners and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring and others), both scored films for Tim Burton (Elfman has scored everything but Ed Wood , which Shore scored), and both scored a Hannibal Lecter film ( Red Dragon and The Silence of the Lambs ).
Composed comic book scores from Dick Tracy , Darkman , Batman , Batman Returns , Men in Black , Men in Black II , Spider-Man , Spider-Man 2 , and Hulk .
Admires Peter Lorre.
Was in the theater band Mystic Knights Of The Oingo Boingo, which later morphed into Oingo Boingo.
Son Oliver Elfman was born mid January 2005
Son-in-law of Peter Fonda and Susan Brewer.
Brother-in-law of Justin Fonda.
It is sometimes believed that Elfman may have been born in Amarillo, Texas, but that is, apparently, due to a joke that he once made. He was actually born in Los Angeles County, California.
Father of daughters Lola Elfman (born in 1979) and Mali Elfman (born in 1984).
Did not return to provide the musical score for Spider-Man 3 , citing creative differences with director Sam Raimi over the previous film. He instead, provided the score for Charlottes Web , which, as it happens, is about a spider who uses her talents to do good.
The only two Tim Burton films, Elfman did not compose the score for, are Ed Wood and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street .
Learned how to breathe fire as a street performer in Paris after he graduated from high school.
Sang all the vocals for the five songs in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory . He recorded singing it in different ways and played with the audio to make it sound like various high- and low-pitched vocals.
Received an honorary doctorate from the North Carolina School of the Arts (June 2007).
Daughter: Lola Elfman (born 1979).
Daughter: Mali Elfman.
Was awarded Film Composer of the Year in 2008 by the International Film Music Critics Association.
His father is Milton Elfman , who made an uncredited appearance in the film, Forbidden Zone .
His scores for Batman and Edward Scissorhands were nominated for AFIs 100 Years of Film Scores. But neither of them made the list.
Uncle of Jenna Elfman (by marriage).
He was so impressed by Heavenly Creatures that he offered to do the musical score for the next movie of whoever directed it. That director turned out to be Peter Jackson , and his next movie, The Frighteners , was indeed scored by Elfman.
Member of the Official Competition jury at the 67th Venice International Film Festival in 2010.
