- 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.
- Learned how to breathe fire as a street performer in Paris after he graduated from high school.
- Signed a non-exclusive contract with Disney to write, produce, and direct films, while continuing to compose for Disney and other studios. (1997)
- The only two Tim Burton films, Elfman did not compose the score for, are Ed Wood (1994) and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007).
- He was so impressed by Heavenly Creatures (1994) 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 (1996), was indeed scored by Elfman.
- 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).
- His mother is Clare Elfman, an author of children's books.
- His scores for Batman (1989) and Edward Scissorhands (1990) were nominated for AFI's 100 Years of Film Scores. But neither of them made the list.
- Wrote the score for Black Beauty (1994) 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.
- Father of daughters Lola Elfman (born in 1979) and Mali Elfman (born in 1984).
- He and Howard Shore have both formed hit bands (Oingo Boingo and The Blues Brothers), both scored films for Peter Jackson (The Frighteners (1996) and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) and others), both scored films for Tim Burton (Elfman has scored everything but Ed Wood (1994), which Shore scored), and both scored a Hannibal Lecter film (Red Dragon (2002) and The Silence of the Lambs (1991)).
- Uncle of Jenna Elfman (by marriage).
- Did not return to provide the musical score for Spider-Man 3 (2007), citing creative differences with director Sam Raimi over the previous film. He instead, provided the score for Charlotte's Web (2006), which, as it happens, is about a spider who uses her talents to do good.
- Received an honorary doctorate from the North Carolina School of the Arts (June 2007).
- 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.
- Engaged to Bridget Fonda (March 2003)
- Was in the theater band Mystic Knights Of The Oingo Boingo, which later morphed into Oingo Boingo.
- Was awarded Film Composer of the Year in 2008 by the International Film Music Critics Association.
- Claims Bernard Herrmann as a heavy influence on many of his scores.
- His father is Milton Elfman, who made an uncredited appearance in the film, Forbidden Zone (1980).
- Kevin Smith wanted him to score Dogma (1999), but he was unavailable.
- Son Oliver Elfman, was born on January 21, 2005 in Los Angeles, California. Mother is his wife Bridget Fonda.
- Son-in-law of Peter Fonda and Susan Brewer.
- His older brother is director Richard Elfman.
- Admires Peter Lorre.
- Uncle of Bodhi Elfman
- Brother-in-law of Justin Fonda.
- Father was a school teacher who retired five years early due to hearing loss.
- Owns a dachshund.
- The past, present and future of Elfman and the other members of Oingo Boingo are also discussed at alt.fan.oingo-boingo.
- First cousin of actor and producer Mark Damon. Danny's father and Mark's mother were siblings.
- Member of the 'Official Competition' jury at the 67th Venice International Film Festival in 2010.
- Elfman fans discuss his current and past work in the usenet group rec.music.artists.danny-elfman.
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