Ronnie Rondell Jr., the American stuntman who appeared in numerous famous productions in Hollywood such as Matrix, a deadly weapon or Charlie’s angels, died at 88.
Photo during the Pink Floyd exhibition: Their Mortal Remain Photo: X
Ronnie Rondell Jr, who became famous because he was burned to the cover of the iconic wish you are Here of Pink Floyd, died at the age of 88.
The Hollywood stunt and actor died on August 12, in an asylum in the American Missouri state, according to an online obituary, writes the BBC.
Rondell has participated in the production of numerous films and TV series throughout its long career, including Lethal Weapon, Thelma and Louise and Star Trek: First Contact.
I survive his wife Mary and his son, who is also called Ronald.
Rondell was born in California in 1937 and obtained his first role as an actor in adolescence, in the early 1950s, in the film Ma and Pa Kettle at the Fair.
His first role was in the television series of Soldiers of Fortune, broadcast between 1955 and 1957.
Between the 1960s and 1990s, he worked on several American television series, including Charlie’s Angels, Dynasty and Baywatch, as well as movies such as Spartacus, Diamonds has Forever and The Karate Kid.
One of his best -known stuntmen was the jump on a pillar in flames while he collapsed – a hiccule he made for the Kings of the Sun adventure film in 1963.
He was also involved in the battle scenes in the 1965 Shenandoah movie, which happens during the American Civil War, in a beating in a 1974 Western Blazing Saddles comedy and in the impressive fireplaces of The Towering Inferno, launched the same year.
Later in his career, he worked as a stunt coordinator for films such as Batman and Robin and The Mighty Ducks.
Although many do not recognize Rondell’s name, they probably saw him on the cover of the Wish You Here album of the 1975 Pink Floyd band, while shaking his colleague Cascador Danny Rogers.
Ronnie Rondell Jr. Photo: x
Aubrey Powell, who took the photo of the album cover, told The Guardian in 2020 that Rondell was reluctant to do the sting and said it was more dangerous than an action scene.
Powell said that Rondell had a suit and a wig covered with a flame retardant and was covered with a gel to protect it.
This worked 14 times, but at the 15th attempt, the wind changed its direction and blows the fire in front, causing it to lose an eyebrow and part of its characteristic mustache.
“Ronnie was very kind about this, considering … but, from his point of view, as a professional in the film industry, it was only a regular day of work.”Powell said.
Rondell was one of the three founders of a stunt company, Stunts Unlimited, in California in 1970.
In a post on social networks, Stunts Unlimited wrote: “Unique in his own way, Ronnie was a generous mentor, whose talent set the standard for all the aspirants to the stuntman. He was deeply respected, admired and loved. Ronnie was not just a legend, he was legendary and he would be deeply regretted.”
Rondell retired in 2001, but earned his last stunt loan for The Matrix Reloaded in 2003, participating in a complex cars tracking scene.
In 2004, he received a prize for his entire career at Taurus World Stunt Awards.
Rondell was not the only family artist. His father, Ronald R Rondell, was an actor and assistant, known for his work in films such as the 1956 adaptation of Jules Verne’s novel, AROUNIT THE WORLD in 80 days.
Both sons of Rondell also worked in the industry, one of them, Reid, dying while performing a helicopter for the Airwolf TV series in 1985.
