LOS ANGELES — Veteran industry lighting man, gaffer and grip Rick Rodney passed away, according to industry friends and associates.

For many years, Rodney was the go-to freelance crew professional for countless adult productions. He also worked regularly for Wicked Pictures alongside Brad Armstrong.

“Ric was a true professional,” Armstrong told XBIZ. “Always the first one to set and the last to leave. He was usually the first smiling face I saw as I pulled up to the location. He had a way of making me feel like I was in good hands and it was going to be a good day — and even if it turned to shit I knew he’d be there in the trenches to help me muddle through it as he’d done a hundred times before.”

Rodney, Armstrong added, was much more than that. “He was just an amazing man. Everyone loved Ric — he was just that kinda guy. In the almost 30 years we worked together I’ve never heard anyone say a bad word about him. Judging by the texts and messages I’ve received today everyone felt the same way I did.

“One of my fondest memories of Ric was while we were shooting ‘Coming Home and I picked him to play the role of the Army Barber who would be shaving my head. It was the first time I’d ever shaved my head and I was kinda freaking out. He said ‘Don’t worry about it, I’m a professional’ He always had a perfectly shaved head every time I’d ever seen him in 30 years.

“We had a mantra: Sweating by 10.  He was such a hard worker he was always sweating by 10 a.m., whether we were shooting in an air conditioned studio or in 100 degree deser, his head was glistening with sweat. I’m really gonna miss that shiny bald head and his warm smiling face.”

Stormy Daniels posted on Facebook, “This one hits so hard. We’d been trying to reach him all weekend and Ric has always responded quickly. I thought it was odd — and then we got the call. I’m absolutely heartbroken.”