Stuntman Ronnie Rondell Jr., Icon of Pink Floyd’s ‘Wish You Were Here,’ Dies at 88

## Remembering Ronnie Rondell Jr.

Ronnie Rondell Jr., a venerable Hollywood stuntman widely recognized for his unforgettable performance on fire for the cover of Pink Floyd’s *Wish You Were Here*, has passed away at 88. His family shared the news of his death, which occurred at a senior living facility in Missouri, although they did not disclose the cause.

## A Stuntman’s Legacy

With over 200 credits to his name, Rondell Jr. is particularly celebrated for a single moment captured in history: the striking cover of Pink Floyd’s 1975 album. This iconic image features him on a Hollywood backlot (Warner Bros. Studios), ablaze while shaking hands with a suited individual, Danny Rogers.

Rondell Jr. recounted his experiences in the documentary *Pink Floyd: The Story of Wish You Were Here*, stating, “I’d been doing a lot of fire work in those days, and I had the special suits and all this stuff for fully enveloped fire. It was pretty easy to do, not too life-threatening, and paid well.”

## Behind the Iconic Cover

To achieve that legendary photo, conceived by Hipgnosis artists Storm Thorgersen and Audrey Powell, Rondell Jr. endured being set on fire 15 times. He humorously noted, “There’s a funny thing about fire. When it gets in your face, you’re going to move.” Each attempt was influenced by variables like wind, leading to multiple trials.

During the shoot, the flames caused him to lose an eyebrow and part of his mustache, but the outcome was undeniably impactful. Today, *Wish You Were Here* is frequently regarded as one of the greatest album covers in history.

Powell reflected on Rondell Jr.’s professionalism, saying, “Ronnie was very gracious about it considering… but as far as he was concerned, it was all in a day’s work.”

## A Career Spanning Decades

Rondell Jr.’s illustrious career in film and television stretched from 1955 to 2003. He contributed significantly, though often anonymously, to notable productions such as *Lethal Weapon*, *Batman & Robin*, *Twister*, *The Crow*, *Predator 2*, *They Live*, and *The Karate Kid*. He even had a role in the classic TV series *Charlie’s Angels*. Although he retired in 2000, he made a return for a final appearance in the chase sequence of *The Matrix Reloaded* in 2003, where his son, R.A. Rondell, served as the supervising stunt coordinator.

How will you remember the fearless contributions of Ronnie Rondell Jr. to the world of stunt work and cinema?