Richard Edson (born January 1, 1954, in New Rochelle, New York) is an American actor, musician, and photographer who has moved between independent film and the underground music scene since the early 1980s. He is best known for roles in cult films by Jim Jarmusch, Spike Lee, and Oliver Stone, and holds a place in rock history as Sonic Youth's original drummer. Alongside acting, he pursues photography - with four solo exhibitions in Los Angeles - and in 2023 published Year Zero Lockdown Journal, a photo-text diary of the 2020-21 pandemic year.
Edson composed the soundtrack to the noir-thriller The Projectionist directed by Alexander Rockwell, which had its premiere as the opening film of the Slamdance festival on February 19, 2026.
Critics praised Edson's music for The Projectionist as a blend of jazz noir and modern elements that underscores the film's dark atmosphere.
Edson appeared in the film The Code (2024) directed by Evgeny Kotlyarenko in the role of Jay's father.
The publishing house Artvoices Books released Edson's photo-text journal Year Zero Lockdown Journal documenting the pandemic year 2020-21 in Los Angeles.
Edson appeared as a guest on the podcast The Lydian Spin, where he talked about his acting and music career; at that time he was performing live with Tim and Matt Nelson.
Spike Lee's landmark film about racial tension in a Brooklyn pizzeria on one sweltering day. A dynamic and formally innovative work that became a milestone of American cinema.
A documentary film about traveling through Vietnam and meeting local people.