Richard Edson

Biography

Richard Edson is an American actor and musician. Born in New Rochelle, he began as a musician, helping found the art rock group The Alterboys in San Francisco in 1979 and later serving as Sonic Youth's original drummer while also playing drums for Konk. After leaving Sonic Youth he played with Konk full time, and he also played trumpet with The Offs. He has since appeared in more than 35 movies, among them Stranger Than Paradise (1984), Desperately Seeking Susan (1985), Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986), Platoon (1986), Howard the Duck (1986), Good Morning, Vietnam (1987), Eight Men Out (1988), Do the Right Thing (1989), Let It Ride (1989) and Super Mario Bros. (1993), in which he played Spike, King Koopa's cousin. He took the lead in three films by Raphaël Nadjari, and his television work includes Shannon's Deal and Homicide: Life on the Street.

72years old

Turns 73 on January 1in 80 days

Born January 1, 1954New Rochelle
Star sign: CapricornThe sign runs December 22 to January 19

Movie Career

Films: 33
Career span: 35 years1984 to 2019

Genres

Drama58%, 19 films
Comedy45%, 15 films
Action18%, 6 films
Crime18%, 6 films
Thriller15%, 5 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

A change of course
Richard Edson was the original drummer for Sonic Youth, playing with the band from 1981 to 1982, and he left after their self-titled debut EP to play full-time with Konk.
A change of course
Before acting, Edson co-founded the San Francisco art rock band The Alterboys in 1979 with Snuky Tate, Tono Rondone, Richard Kelly and JC Garrett, playing drums and trumpet.
Behind the camera
Richard Edson wrote the music for The Projectionist, a feature film directed by Alexander Rockwell. The movie is scheduled to come out in 2026.
Beyond film
In 1987 at Hallwalls, Edson played a main part live in Not a Door: A Spectacle, a collaboration by Scott B and Joseph Nechvatal that drew on St. John of the Cross, Flaubert's Temptation of St. Anthony, Jean Genet and Georges Bataille.

Richard Edson movies on Netflix

3 from Hell2019IMDb rating 5.4as Carlos Perro
The Smell of Success2011IMDb rating 5.2as Nelly the Nose
Black Dynamite2009IMDb rating 7.4as Dino
Columbus Day2008IMDb rating 5.2as Manny
The Astronaut Farmer2006IMDb rating 6.3as Chopper Miller
The Kid & I2005IMDb rating 5.1as Guy Prince
Frankenfish2004IMDb rating 4.7as Roland
Land of Plenty2004IMDb rating 6.4as Jimmy
The Million Dollar Hotel2000IMDb rating 5.7as Joe
Timecode2000IMDb rating 6.0as Lester Moore
Purgatory1999IMDb rating 6.8as Euripides
Lulu on the Bridge1998IMDb rating 6.2as Dave Reilly
Double Tap1997IMDb rating 5.0as Fischer
This World, Then the Fireworks1997IMDb rating 5.3as Joe
Things I Never Told You1996IMDb rating 6.7as Steve
Destiny Turns on the Radio1995IMDb rating 4.6as Gage
Jury Duty1995IMDb rating 4.4as Skeets
Strange Days1995IMDb rating 7.2as Tick
Attack of the 50 Ft. Woman1993IMDb rating 4.0as Tony
Love, Cheat & Steal1993IMDb rating 5.2as Billy Quayle
Super Mario Bros.1993IMDb rating 4.2as Spike
Love Is Like That1992IMDb rating 5.4as Bubba-Lilly
Eyes of an Angel1991IMDb rating 5.3as Goon
Bloodhounds of Broadway1989IMDb rating 5.3as Johnny Crackow
Do the Right Thing1989IMDb rating 7.9as Vito
Let It Ride1989IMDb rating 6.8as Johnny Casino
Eight Men Out1988IMDb rating 7.2as Billy Maharg
Good Morning, Vietnam1987IMDb rating 7.3as Pvt. Abersold
Ferris Bueller's Day Off1986IMDb rating 7.8as Garage Attendant
Howard the Duck1986IMDb rating 4.8as Ritchie
Platoon1986IMDb rating 8.0as Sal
Desperately Seeking Susan1985IMDb rating 6.2as Man With Newspapers
Stranger Than Paradise1984IMDb rating 7.4as Eddie

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

Top

Platoon1986 Drama, Waras Sal
IMDb rating 8.0477K votes
Do the Right Thing1989 Dramaas Vito
IMDb rating 7.9126K votes
Stranger Than Paradise1984as Eddie
IMDb rating 7.444K votes
Black Dynamite2009as Dino
IMDb rating 7.455K votes
Good Morning, Vietnam1987as Pvt. Abersold
IMDb rating 7.3167K votes
Super Mario Bros.1993as Spike
IMDb rating 4.268K votes
Ferris Bueller's Day Off1986as Garage Attendant
IMDb rating 7.8421K votes
Strange Days1995as Tick
IMDb rating 7.287K votes

Most often with

Wim Wenders directed two of these films, Michael Polish two. Two actors appear in three of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

Top

Seymour Cassel

Charlie Sheen

Eric Roberts

Danny Trejo

Willem Dafoe

Tom Sizemore

Wim WendersDirector, 2 films

Michael PolishDirector, 2 films

Films together

Seymour Cassel3 films together, 1992 to 1997
Seymour Cassel's page
- This World, Then the Fireworks1997IMDb rating 5.3Edson as JoeCassel as Detective Harris
- Things I Never Told You1996IMDb rating 6.7Edson as SteveCassel as Frank
- Love Is Like That1992IMDb rating 5.4Edson as Bubba-LillyCassel as Uncle Bud
Charlie Sheen3 films together, 1986 to 1988
Charlie Sheen's page
- Eight Men Out1988IMDb rating 7.2Edson as Billy MahargSheen as Hap Felsch
- Ferris Bueller's Day Off1986IMDb rating 7.8Edson as Garage AttendantSheen as Boy in Police Station
- Platoon1986IMDb rating 8.0Edson as SalSheen as Chris Taylor
Eric Roberts2 films together, 1993 to 1999
Eric Roberts's page
- Purgatory1999IMDb rating 6.8Edson as EuripidesRoberts as Blackjack Britton
- Love, Cheat & Steal1993IMDb rating 5.2Edson as Billy QuayleRoberts as Reno Adams
Danny Trejo2 films together, 1993 to 2019
Danny Trejo's page
- 3 from Hell2019IMDb rating 5.4Edson as Carlos PerroTrejo as Rondo
- Love, Cheat & Steal1993IMDb rating 5.2Edson as Billy QuayleTrejo as Cuban
Willem Dafoe2 films together, 1986 to 1998
Willem Dafoe's page
- Lulu on the Bridge1998IMDb rating 6.2Edson as Dave ReillyDafoe as Dr. Van Horn
- Platoon1986IMDb rating 8.0Edson as SalDafoe as Sgt. Elias
Tom Sizemore2 films together, 1992 to 1995
Tom Sizemore's page
- Strange Days1995IMDb rating 7.2Edson as TickSizemore as Max Peltier
- Love Is Like That1992IMDb rating 5.4Edson as Bubba-LillySizemore as Lenny
Wim WendersDirector, 2 films, 2000 to 2004
All films by Wim Wenders
- Land of Plenty2004IMDb rating 6.4Edson as Jimmy
- The Million Dollar Hotel2000IMDb rating 5.7Edson as Joe
Michael PolishDirector, 2 films, 2006 to 2011
All films by Michael Polish
- The Smell of Success2011IMDb rating 5.2Edson as Nelly the Nose
- The Astronaut Farmer2006IMDb rating 6.3Edson as Chopper Miller
Also two films together29 more actors
- Peter StormareThe Million Dollar Hotel (2000) and Purgatory (1999)
- Forest WhitakerGood Morning, Vietnam (1987) and Platoon (1986)
- John TurturroDo the Right Thing (1989) and Desperately Seeking Susan (1985)
- Xander BerkeleyTimecode (2000) and Attack of the 50 Ft. Woman (1993)
- Billy Bob ThorntonThe Smell of Success (2011) and The Astronaut Farmer (2006)
- Giancarlo EspositoDo the Right Thing (1989) and Desperately Seeking Susan (1985)
- Randy QuaidPurgatory (1999) and Bloodhounds of Broadway (1989)
- Gina GershonLulu on the Bridge (1998) and This World, Then the Fireworks (1997)
- Will PattonThis World, Then the Fireworks (1997) and Desperately Seeking Susan (1985)
- John DiehlLand of Plenty (2004) and Purgatory (1999)
- Jon GriesThe Smell of Success (2011) and The Astronaut Farmer (2006)
- Kyle MacLachlanThe Smell of Success (2011) and Timecode (2000)
- Allen GarfieldDestiny Turns on the Radio (1995) and Let It Ride (1989)
- Fisher StevensSuper Mario Bros. (1993) and Bloodhounds of Broadway (1989)
- Leslie MannTimecode (2000) and Things I Never Told You (1996)
- Debi MazarThings I Never Told You (1996) and Love Is Like That (1992)
- Josef SommerStrange Days (1995) and Bloodhounds of Broadway (1989)
- MadonnaBloodhounds of Broadway (1989) and Desperately Seeking Susan (1985)
- Charles NapierThe Kid & I (2005) and Jury Duty (1995)
- Jeffrey JonesFerris Bueller's Day Off (1986) and Howard the Duck (1986)
- Alan RuckBloodhounds of Broadway (1989) and Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)
- Tony LongoBloodhounds of Broadway (1989) and Let It Ride (1989)
- Jennifer GreyBloodhounds of Broadway (1989) and Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)
- Gloria StuartLand of Plenty (2004) and The Million Dollar Hotel (2000)
- Virginia CapersFerris Bueller's Day Off (1986) and Howard the Duck (1986)
- Gene LeBellDouble Tap (1997) and Eyes of an Angel (1991)
- Rockets RedglareDesperately Seeking Susan (1985) and Stranger Than Paradise (1984)
- Tito LarrivaThe Million Dollar Hotel (2000) and Eyes of an Angel (1991)
- Mark PolishThe Smell of Success (2011) and The Astronaut Farmer (2006)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.