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.
2026About Space and DepthMovieMusic
2026She Put Away Her Heart in the FridgeMovieOriginal Music Composer
2025Peas and CarrotsMovieas Lee · Songs
2025Salt MarshMovieMusic
2025The SystemMovieCompositor
2025Sonic Youth: Live in 1991Movie
2023Velvet SuiteMovieas himself2022Fragments of ParadiseMovieas Self
2021Freakscene: The Story of Dinosaur Jr.MovieCamera Operator
2019We Still Have the Deep Black NightMovieMusic Producer2019Swans: Where Does a Body End?Movieas Self
2019SY NYC 12/12/01: The Demonlover SessionsMovieas Self
2019Sonic Youth: Daydream NationMovie
2019The TaxidermistMovieOriginal Music Composer
2018Barbara Rubin and the Exploding NY UndergroundMovieMusic2018Desolation CenterMovie
2017Hello Hello Hello: Lee Ranaldo, Electric TrimMovieas Self2016OmegaMovieas Self2014Sex and BroadcastingMovieas Self
2011Sonic Youth: Live at SWU Festival 2011Movie
2011Sonic Youth: Maquinaria FestivalMovie
2010William S. Burroughs: A Man WithinMovieMusic2010Daddy LonglegsMovieas Stepfather
2009From the BasementMovieas Self - Sonic Youth
2009From The BasementMovieas Self - Sonic Youth2009Late Night with Jimmy FallonTV showas Self - Musical Guest · 1 episodes
2008New York Rock at the BBCMovieas Self - Sonic Youth
2007365 Day ProjectMovieas Self2006NoiseMovieas Self
2005DRIFTMovieMusic
2005Sonic Youth: Live at EurockéennesMovie2005We Jam Econo: The Story of the MinutemenMovieas Self
2004(This Is Known as) The Blues ScaleMovieas Self2004Sonic Youth: Corporate GhostMovie
200412 O'Clock High: Volumes 1 & 2Movie2004Kill Your IdolsMovieas Self
2003Sonic Youth: Live at SoundstageMovieas Performer
2003Sonic Youth: Koncertas Stan Brakhage Prisiminimui (April 12, 2003)Movie2003Jimmy Kimmel Live!TV showas Self - Musical Guest · 1 episodes
2002DemonloverMovieOriginal Music Composer
2001Things Behind the SunMovieOriginal Music Composer
2000Sonic Youth: Live in São Paulo 2000Movie
2000Record Player: Christian MarclayMovieas Himself
2000Silver Rockets Kool Things - 20 Years of Sonic YouthMovieas Self
1998Free TibetMovieas Self - Sonic Youth
1998Sonic Youth: Festival Internacional de BenicàssimMovie
1997SubUrbiaMovieMusician
1996Sonic Youth: Rocknacht - Live In Dusseldorf 1996Movie
1996Tibetan Freedom ConcertMovieas Self
1996FriskMovieOriginal Music Composer1995The State's 43rd Annual All-Star Halloween SpecialMovieas Self
1995Sonic Youth: Screaming Fields of Sonic LoveMovie
1995Sonic Youth: Blood on the BeachMovieas Self1993Late Night with Conan O'BrienTV showas Self - Musical Guest · 4 episodes1993Late Show with David LettermanTV showas Self - Musical Guest · 5 episodes
1993Sonic Youth: Live at Campo Pequeno LisboaMovie19921991: The Year Punk BrokeMovieas Self · Additional Director of Photography1992The Tonight Show with Jay LenoTV showas Self - Musical Guest · 1 episodes
1991Skeeno H.C. RulesMovie1991GooMovieas Self · Writer
1991NotebookMovieDirector
1988Sonic Youth: 930 ClubMovie1988Put More Blood Into the MusicMovieas Himself
1987Made in U.S.A.MovieOriginal Music Composer
1986Sonic Youth: Mississippi Nights, St. LouisMovie
1986Sublapse Video Mag 1Movie
1985Sonic Youth: Gila Monster JamboreeMovie1985Submit to MeMovie
—Sonic Youth - Gila Monster Jamboree - January 5, 1985Movie
—Vinyl: An Unlikely HistoryMovieas Himself
—Sonic Youth: Tibetan Freedom Concert 1996Movie
—Sonic Youth: Full Set From The BasementMovieas Self