Ronnie Rondell Jr., a renowned Hollywood stuntman and actor, has passed away at the age of 88. Born in California in 1937, Rondell began his career as an actor in the early 1950s and transitioned to stunts later on. He worked on numerous films and TV shows, including Lethal Weapon, Thelma and Louise, Star Trek: First Contact, Spartacus, and The Karate Kid.
One of Rondell’s most memorable feats was performing a stunt for the cover of Pink Floyd’s iconic album “Wish You Were Here.” In 1975, he set himself on fire while shaking hands with fellow stuntman Danny Rogers. Although the stunt was initially successful 14 times, it ultimately proved disastrous on the 15th attempt when a strong wind blew the flames into his face.
Rondell went on to work as a stunt coordinator for films like “Batman” and “The Mighty Ducks.” He was also one of three founders of Stunts Unlimited, a stunts company in California. Rondell received numerous accolades throughout his career, including a lifetime achievement honor at the Taurus World Stunt Awards.
Rondell is survived by his wife Mary and their son, Ronald, who also worked in the industry. His father, Ronald R. Rondell, was an actor and assistant director, while one of his sons, Reid, died during a helicopter stunt for the TV series “Airwolf” in 1985.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c05e0z9lj3mo