Ronnie Rondell Jr., a Hollywood stuntman whose feats spanned classic Westerns, blockbuster action films and the cover of Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here, has died at 88. Over his long career he became a fixture in both film and television, remembered for taking on risks that made him a legend in the stunt world and a part of pop culture history.
A Storied Career in Hollywood Stunts
Rondell’s path into Hollywood action scenes was almost inevitable. Born in 1937 in Los Angeles, he grew up around film sets where his father worked behind the camera, and he quickly gravitated toward the stunt community. A natural athlete, he excelled in gymnastics, diving and later scuba diving during his service in the Navy, skills that translated seamlessly into the physically demanding world of stunt performance. By the late 1950s and early 1960s, he was already doubling actors in television Westerns and adventure series, building a reputation for precision and fearlessness.
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As his career progressed, Rondell became a go-to stuntman for major productions. He executed elaborate falls in historical epics, braved fire and explosions in war dramas, and was regularly trusted with the kinds of high-risk stunts that left little margin for error. Audiences may have spotted him tumbling through the air in “Shenandoah,” racing in “Grand Prix,” or fighting for survival in films like “Blazing Saddles” and “Lethal Weapon.” In the 1970s and 1980s, his expertise led him into stunt coordination, where he oversaw the action on television staples such as “Charlie’s Angels” and “Fantasy Island.”
Beyond film and television, Rondell also made an indelible mark on rock history. In 1975 he donned a business suit, was covered in protective gel and set on fire for the cover photo of Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here. The striking image of two men shaking hands, with one engulfed in flames, became one of the most memorable album covers in rock music. The shoot itself was so dangerous that Rondell lost part of his mustache during one of the takes, but the resulting photo immortalized his daring in an entirely different arena.
Even after decades of broken bones and concussions, Rondell continued to work well into the 1990s, taking part in action sequences for films like “The Hunt for Red October,” “Thelma and Louise,” “Speed” and “The Crow.” He briefly came out of retirement for “The Matrix Reloaded” in 2003, where he contributed to the now-famous car chase sequence coordinated by his son, R.A. Rondell. By then, he had become a legend among his peers, not only for his skill and toughness but also for helping to establish professional stunt organizations that set new standards for safety and creativity in Hollywood action.
