Acting

Lee Ranaldo

Born: February 3, 1956 (age 70)
Birthplace: Glen Cove, Long Island, New York, USA
Credits: 76 titles

Biography

Lee Mark Ranaldo (born February 3, 1956) is an American guitarist, singer and songwriter, best known as a co-founder of the rock band Sonic Youth. In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked Ranaldo at number 33 on its "Greatest Guitarists of All Time" list. In May 2012, Spin published a staff-selected top 100 guitarist list, ranking Ranaldo and his Sonic Youth bandmate Thurston Moore together at number 1.

Latest project Best work, ranked IMDb

Signature work

Known For

Jimmy Kimmel Live!

2003

Late Show with David Letterman

1993

Late Night with Conan O'Brien

1993

SubUrbia

1997

Demonlover

2002

Late Night with Jimmy Fallon

2009

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

1992

Daddy Longlegs

2010

1991: The Year Punk Broke

1992

William S. Burroughs: A Man Within

2010

Submit to Me

1985

Things Behind the Sun

2001

Frisk

1996

Made in U.S.A.

1987

Sonic Youth: Corporate Ghost

2004

Goo

1991

We Still Have the Deep Black Night

2019

Desolation Center

2018

Acting credits 60

Year	Title	Role
TBA	Vinyl: An Unlikely History Film	Himself
TBA	Sonic Youth - Gila Monster Jamboree - January 5, 1985 Film
TBA	Sonic Youth: Tibetan Freedom Concert 1996 Film
TBA	Sonic Youth: Full Set From The Basement Film	Self
2025	Peas and Carrots Film	Lee
2025	Sonic Youth: Live in 1991 Film
2023	Velvet Suite Film	himself
2022	Fragments of Paradise Film	Self
2019	Swans: Where Does a Body End? Film	Self
2019	Sonic Youth: NYC and Beyond Film
2019	SY NYC 12/12/01: The Demonlover Sessions Film	Self
2019	Sonic Youth: Daydream Nation Film
2018	Desolation Center Film
2017	Hello Hello Hello: Lee Ranaldo, Electric Trim Film	Self
2016	Omega Film	Self
2014	Sex and Broadcasting Film	Self
2014	Sound and Chaos: The Story of BC Studio Film	Himself
2012	The Hardcore Collection Film	(archive footage)
2011	Sonic Youth: Live at SWU Festival 2011 Film
2011	Sonic Youth: Maquinaria Festival Film
2010	Daddy Longlegs Film	Stepfather
2009	From the Basement Film	Self - Sonic Youth
2009	From The Basement Film	Self - Sonic Youth
2009	Late Night with Jimmy Fallon TV	Self - Musical Guest (1 ep)
2008	New York Rock at the BBC Film	Self - Sonic Youth
2007	365 Day Project Film	Self
2006	Noise Film	Self
2005	Sonic Youth: Live at Eurockéennes Film
2005	We Jam Econo: The Story of the Minutemen Film	Self
2004	(This Is Known as) The Blues Scale Film	Self
2004	Sonic Youth: Corporate Ghost Film
2004	12 O'Clock High: Volumes 1 & 2 Film
2004	Kill Your Idols Film	Self
2003	Sonic Youth: Live at Soundstage Film	Performer
2003	Sonic Youth: Koncertas Stan Brakhage Prisiminimui (April 12, 2003) Film
2003	Jimmy Kimmel Live! TV	Self - Musical Guest (1 ep)
2000	Sonic Youth: Live in São Paulo 2000 Film
2000	Record Player: Christian Marclay Film	Himself
2000	Silver Rockets Kool Things - 20 Years of Sonic Youth Film	Self
1998	Free Tibet Film	Self - Sonic Youth
1998	Sonic Youth: Festival Internacional de Benicàssim Film
1997	Don't Bring A Dog Film	Himself
1996	Sonic Youth: Rocknacht - Live In Dusseldorf 1996 Film
1996	Tibetan Freedom Concert Film	Self
1995	The State's 43rd Annual All-Star Halloween Special Film	Self
1995	Sonic Youth: Screaming Fields of Sonic Love Film
1995	Sonic Youth: Blood on the Beach Film	Self
1993	Late Night with Conan O'Brien TV	Self - Musical Guest (4 ep)
1993	Late Show with David Letterman TV	Self - Musical Guest (5 ep)
1993	Sonic Youth: Live at Campo Pequeno Lisboa Film
1992	1991: The Year Punk Broke Film	Self
1992	The Tonight Show with Jay Leno TV	Self - Musical Guest (1 ep)
1991	Skeeno H.C. Rules Film
1991	Goo Film	Self
1988	Sonic Youth: 930 Club Film
1988	Put More Blood Into the Music Film	Himself
1986	Sonic Youth: Mississippi Nights, St. Louis Film
1986	Sublapse Video Mag 1 Film
1985	Sonic Youth: Gila Monster Jamboree Film
1985	Submit to Me Film

Crew credits 19

Year	Title	Job
2026	About Space and Depth Film	Music
2026	She Put Away Her Heart in the Fridge Film	Original Music Composer
2025	Peas and Carrots Film	Songs
2025	Salt Marsh Film	Music
2025	The System Film	Compositor
2021	Freakscene: The Story of Dinosaur Jr. Film	Camera Operator
2019	We Still Have the Deep Black Night Film	Music Producer
2019	The Taxidermist Film	Original Music Composer
2018	Barbara Rubin and the Exploding NY Underground Film	Music
2010	William S. Burroughs: A Man Within Film	Music
2005	DRIFT Film	Music
2002	Demonlover Film	Original Music Composer
2001	Things Behind the Sun Film	Original Music Composer
1997	SubUrbia Film	Musician
1996	Frisk Film	Original Music Composer
1992	1991: The Year Punk Broke Film	Additional Director of Photography
1991	Goo Film	Writer
1991	Notebook Film	Director
1987	Made in U.S.A. Film	Original Music Composer