Hollywood Stuntman and Pink Floyd Icon Ronnie Rondell Jr. Passes Away at 88

Ronnie Rondell Jr., the iconic Hollywood stuntman who famously set himself on fire for the cover of Pink Floyd’s 1975 album *Wish You Were Here*, has passed away at 88. He died on August 12 at a care home in Missouri. Rondell, born in California in 1937, had a storied career in both film and television, contributing to major productions like *Lethal Weapon*, *Thelma & Louise*, and *Star Trek: First Contact*. He began his career as an actor in the early 1950s before transitioning to stunt work, first with the TV show *Soldiers of Fortune*. Over the decades, Rondell became a familiar face in Hollywood stunt circles, working on iconic TV series such as *Charlie’s Angels* and *Baywatch*, as well as major films like *Spartacus* and *The Karate Kid*.

Perhaps his most memorable moment came during the photo shoot for the *Wish You Were Here* album cover, where he was set on fire while shaking hands with fellow stuntman Danny Rogers. The stunt went wrong when a gust of wind caused the flames to blow into his face, resulting in the loss of his eyebrow and part of his mustache. Rondell went on to establish Stunts Unlimited, a prominent stunt company, and continued to work in Hollywood until his retirement in 2001. He received a lifetime achievement award at the Taurus World Stunt Awards in 2004. Rondell’s legacy lives on through his contributions to the industry and his family’s involvement in film production.