Stuntman Ronnie Rondell Jr dies at 88

Ronnie Rondell Jr, a veteran Hollywood stuntman known for a famous Pink Floyd cover stunt, has died at age 88 in Missouri.

Ronnie Rondell Jr dies at 88 after decades in Hollywood stunt work

Ronnie Rondell Jr., a veteran Hollywood stuntman and actor, died on August 12 at a care home in Missouri, at age 88. Rondell’s career spanned decades in film and television, with work on Baywatch, Spartacus, The Matrix Reloaded, Lethal Weapon, Thelma and Louise, and Star Trek: First Contact. He is best known for a daring stunt decades ago when he was set on fire for the front cover of Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here album cover.

He is survived by his wife Mary and his son Ronald. The obituary notes his long career across action and sci‑fi productions and reflects on the enduring appeal of stunt work in Hollywood, where risk and craft have long walked hand in hand.

Rondell's passing spotlights the quiet, lifelong risks that stunt performers take and the way a single moment can define a career. The Pink Floyd stunt remains a pop culture touchstone, yet the stories behind such feats are often unsung. Today’s productions increasingly codify safety standards, but the arc of a stunt professional—years of training, risk, and adaptation—shows how the field evolves while personal risk can endure.

Highlights

The story invites readers to consider how stunt safety and support for aging performers should evolve.