Stuntman Ronnie Rondell Jr., Set Ablaze for Pink Floyd Album, Dies at 88

The flames that once engulfed him on Pink Floyd’s legendary album cover have now faded: Ronnie Rondell Jr., the fearless Hollywood stuntman who embodied the “burning businessman” on Wish You Were Here and performed death-defying feats in over 100 films, died Tuesday at 88. His passing in Osage Beach, Missouri, marks the end of a six-decade career where he redefined risk and resilience in cinema.

Who Was Ronnie Rondell Jr.?

Born into Hollywood royalty on February 10, 1937, Rondell grew up on sets where his father worked as an assistant director. His journey from North Hollywood High School gymnast to Navy demolition diver forged the physical prowess that launched his career. After a construction job, he returned to studios as an extra, catching the eye of veteran stuntman Lennie Geer. Soon, he doubled for stars like David Janssen (Richard Diamond, Private Detective) and Michael Cole (Mod Squad). Rondell’s family became stunt legends—his father pioneered production coordination, while son R.A. Rondell coordinated stunts for The Avengers. Tragically, another son, Reid, died in a 1985 helicopter crash while filming Airwolf.

How Did Stuntmen Shape Classic Hollywood Action?

Rondell’s career paralleled Hollywood’s golden age of practical effects. At 5’10” and 170 pounds, he specialized in high falls, car chases, and fire gags, performing in:

• Western epics: A fiery plunge in Kings of the Sun (1963)
• Spy thrillers: High-octane sequences in Diamonds Are Forever (1971) and Lethal Weapon (1987)
• Cult classics: The cannon flip in Shenandoah (1965) and bar brawls in Blazing Saddles (1974)

In 1970, he co-founded Stunts Unlimited, an elite collective of specialists that revolutionized on-set safety and coordination. As a coordinator, he engineered action for Charlie’s Angels, Star Trek: First Contact, and Thelma & Louise, blending athleticism with precise timing.

What Happened on the Pink Floyd Album Shoot?

The 1975 Wish You Were Here cover shoot nearly cost Rondell his mustache. Directed to embody a businessman “burned” by the music industry, he wore fire-retardant gel under his suit, doused in gasoline. After 15 takes on the Warner Bros. lot, flames ignited his facial hair. “When fire gets in your face, you’re going to move,” he later recalled. Designer Storm Thorgerson noted in the documentary Pink Floyd: The Story of Wish You Were Here (2012), “A close shave, one might say.” The image became rock history’s most recognizable visual metaphor.

Why Was Rondell’s Legacy Unbreakable?

Despite broken bones, detached muscles, and spinal fusion, Rondell embodied old-school toughness: “You never told anyone you were hurt because they had another guy that could fit the clothes,” he stated in Kevin Conley’s book The Full Burn (2008). After retiring in 2000, he remained a symbol of Hollywood’s daredevil spirit. His final stunt? A 2003 comeback for The Matrix Reloaded, coordinated by his son R.A.

Ronnie Rondell Jr.’s death closes a chapter in cinematic history—where stunts were raw, real, and etched in flames. From Wish You Were Here’s haunting cover to The Matrix’s digital age, his courage shaped what audiences believe is possible. Share your favorite stunt memory using #StuntLegend.

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Must Know

Q: Who was the man on fire on Pink Floyd’s album?
A: Ronnie Rondell Jr., a veteran Hollywood stunt performer. He endured 15 fiery takes in 1975 while wearing a business suit doused in gasoline, resulting in minor burns.

Q: What famous movies did Ronnie Rondell work on?
A: His credits include How the West Was Won, Twister, Speed, Thelma & Louise, Lethal Weapon, and Batman and Robin as a stunt coordinator.

Q: Did Ronnie Rondell perform his own stunts?
A: Yes. Known for high falls, car crashes, and fire gags, he executed dangerous sequences without CGI, suffering multiple injuries over his career.

Q: How did Ronnie Rondell die?
A: He passed peacefully at a senior facility in Osage Beach, Missouri, on June 25, 2024. No cause was disclosed.

Q: Is Ronnie Rondell related to other stunt professionals?
A: Yes. His father, Ronald R. Rondell, was a famed assistant director, and his son R.A. Rondell is a top stunt coordinator (The Avengers).

Q: What was Rondell’s most dangerous stunt?
A: In Kings of the Sun (1963), he fell from a flaming 30-foot pole, a feat requiring split-second timing to avoid severe injury.