Richard Edson's acting career began with a notable role in Jim Jarmusch's 1983 film, which was later released in 1984 as Stranger Than Paradise. He played the character "Eddie", one of the main characters, in this cult classic.
Following this success, Edson appeared in several notable films, including Desperately Seeking Susan, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Platoon, Good Morning, Vietnam, and Do the Right Thing. In 1993, he played the role of "Spike", a henchman of the evil King Koopa, in the film Super Mario Bros.
In 1995, Edson appeared in the sci-fi thriller Strange Days. More recently, he has appeared in the remake of Starsky & Hutch, the horror film Frankenfish, and is currently starring in The Kid & I alongside Tom Arnold.
In addition to his work in film, Edson has had a successful career in music. He was the original drummer for the influential post-punk band Sonic Youth and spent three years as a member of the rhythmic dance band Konk. It was his involvement in Konk and the New York art scene that caught the attention of Jim Jarmusch, leading to his role in Stranger Than Paradise.
Edson currently resides in Los Angeles, where he is active in music, writing, and photography, in addition to his acting career.