Trivia
- 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.
- Danny's salary for Spider-Man 2 was $2,000,000.
- Danny's mother, Blossom Elfman, is an author of children's books.
- Danny is a long time friend of film maker Tim Burton's, and has created the score of all of his movies but one. The score for Ed Wood was made by Howard Shore. Danny will, however, not create the score for Burton's 2007 musical Sweeny Todd.
- Danny created the praised theme of series Point Pleasant.
- Danny Composed comic book scores from Dick Tracy (1990), Darkman (1990), Batman (1989), Batman Returns (1992), Men in Black (1997), Men in Black II (2002), Spider-Man (2002), Spider-Man 2 (2004), and Hulk (2003).
- The first time Danny composed music for a movie was in 1980, with the film Forbidden Zone, directed by his brother Richard Elfman
- The first time Danny worked with Tim Burton, a future colleague and friend, was in 1985 with the film Pwee-wee's Adventures.
- Danny has a son together with Bridget Fonda, Oliver, born in January, 2005.
- Danny has stated that he thinks his most original work was the score of Tim Burton's Edward Scissorhands, which ironaically, Burton thinks is his most original work.
- Danny is a fan and friend of the band Primus.
- One of Danny's trademarks is that during the main titles of a film, when his name appears as the composer, the music gets louder and more noticable, or starts to pick up.
- Danny's musical signature in Tim Burton's movies helps create the fantasy and gothic style typical of Burton's films, using instrumentation such as the pipe organ and boys chorus.
- Danny's compositions are notable for their very operatic and intense style.
- Danny is most notably known for his working alongside Tim Burton, but a lot of people actually know some of his work wiothout thinking about it. He, for example, created the opening themes for both The Simpsons and Desperate Housewives.
- Danny sang all the Oompa Loompa songs in Tim Burton's Charlie and The Chocolate Factory.
- Elfman provided the voice for Bonejangles in the movie Corpse Bride (2005).
- Elfman wrote the music for the film Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and sang all the Oompa Loompa songs.
- Danny did the lyrics and score for "The Nightmare Before Christmas", played the voice of Jack Skellington (singing), the voice of the "Clown with the tear-away face", and the voice of "Barrel".
- Danny is uncle-in-law of Jenna Elfman.
- Danny dated Caroline Thompson (I).
- In March 2003, Danny got engaged to Bridget Fonda.
- Danny has composed the music for all of director Tim Burton's movies, except Ed Wood.
- The past, present and future of Danny Elfman and the other members of Oingo Boingo are also discussed at alt.fan.oingo-boingo.
- Danny's older brother is director Richard Elfman.
- Danny is the uncle of Bodhi Elfman.
Quotes
- Danny: I like creating these rhythmic patterns. These interlocking rhythmic things are really fun.
- Danny: I'm trying to interpret the film through the director's head, but it all comes out through me. So, a composer is kind of like a psychic medium.
- Danny: My education in film music came from watching tons of films.
- Danny: For me, writing something in the spirit of Halloween is like Mother Teresa writing on charity and sacrifice. It's just second nature to me.
- Danny: I get drawn to things that don't make any sense, and I learned early on not to resist that.
