The world lost a legendary Hollywood stuntman, Ronnie Rondell Jr., who passed away at the age of 88 in a senior living facility in Osage Beach, Missouri. His family announced his passing, though no specific cause of death was disclosed. Rondell Jr. leaves behind a remarkable legacy, most notably immortalized as the fiery figure on the cover of Pink Floyd’s 1975 album Wish You Were Here, alongside a prolific career that spanned decades in film and television.
Born on February 10, 1937, in Hollywood, California, Ronald Reid Rondell grew up surrounded by the film industry. His father, Ronald R. Rondell, was an extra and assistant director, exposing young Ronnie to the world of movie sets from an early age. After excelling in gymnastics and diving at North Hollywood High School and serving in the U.S. Navy, where he specialized in scuba diving and mine force demolition, Rondell Jr. transitioned into stunt work, a field where his athleticism and fearlessness shone.
Rondell Jr.’s career, which began in the 1950s, included over 200 credits in film and television. His daring stunts ranged from high falls to intricate fight choreography, showcasing his skills in diving, gymnastics, and even hang-gliding. Notable film credits include How the West Was Won (1962), Kings of the Sun (1963), where he performed a dramatic fall from a burning pole, Diamonds Are Forever (1971), Blazing Saddles (1974), Lethal Weapon (1987), Thelma & Louise (1991), Speed (1994), and The Matrix Reloaded (2003). On television, he served as a stunt coordinator for iconic Aaron Spelling-produced shows like Charlie’s Angels, Fantasy Island, Dynasty, and Hart to Hart, and doubled for Robert Blake on Baretta.
In 1970, alongside stunt performer Hal Needham and Glenn Wilder, Rondell Jr. co-founded Stunts Unlimited, a prestigious organization representing top-tier stunt professionals, including motorcycle racers, car drivers, and aerial specialists. His contributions to the industry were not only as a performer but also as a coordinator, shaping the craft of stunt work in Hollywood.
To music and art enthusiasts, Rondell Jr. is forever etched in history as the businessman engulfed in flames on the cover of Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here. The striking image, photographed on the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank, California, was designed by Storm Thorgerson and Aubrey Powell of the art group Hipgnosis. The concept symbolized a music executive “getting burned” in a deal, with Rondell Jr. shaking hands with fellow stuntman Danny Rogers while ablaze.
The shoot was no small feat. Rondell Jr., wearing a fire-retardant suit beneath a business suit and doused with gasoline, was set on fire 15 times to capture the perfect shot. Despite precautions, a gust of wind during the final take caused the flames to wrap around his face, singeing his eyebrow and mustache. “There’s a funny thing about fire. When it gets in your face, you’re going to move,” Rondell Jr. later recalled in the documentary Pink Floyd: The Story of Wish You Were Here. His professionalism and bravery resulted in one of the most iconic album covers in rock history, a testament to his willingness to push boundaries for art.
Rondell Jr.’s career was not without sacrifice. Over the years, he endured broken ribs, arms, wrists, and vertebrae, detached triceps, concussions, and underwent hip replacements and spinal fusion. “You never told anyone you were hurt,” he once said, reflecting the stoic ethos of stunt performers in his era. Despite the physical toll, his passion for his craft never wavered.
After retiring to Camdenton, Missouri, in 2000, Rondell Jr. briefly returned to the screen for a chase sequence in The Matrix Reloaded (2003), where his son, R.A. Rondell, served as the supervising stunt coordinator. His family’s connection to Hollywood runs deep—his son R.A. continues as a stunt performer and coordinator, while another son, Reid Rondell, tragically died at 22 in a helicopter crash during a stunt for the TV series Airwolf in 1985. Rondell Jr. is survived by his wife of 56 years, Mary, his son R.A., grandchildren Brandon, Rachel, and Dalton, great-grandson Rocco, and brother Ric Rondell, a production manager.
Ronnie Rondell Jr.’s life was a testament to courage, resilience, and creativity. From death-defying stunts to his unforgettable role in one of rock’s most memorable images, his legacy will continue to inspire generations of performers and fans alike.
