Rick Rosenthal

Rick Rosenthal Photo

RICK ROSENTHAL

Date of Birth: June 15, 1949

Born and raised in the Big Apple, Rosenthal's goal in life was not to make television shows or films. He went to Harvard and majored in economics and government. While attending, he took up metal sculpting after watching shipbuilders at work.

His fascination with film developed while filming his thesis. Upon finishing university, he took up documentary film making for New Hampshire public television. Wanting to develop his skills further, Rosenthal enrolled into the American Film Institute where he made the film Moonbase. Though the film confused most viewers, Rosenthal ploughed on and created the half-hour horror short, The Toyer which made its way to John Carpenter's agent's desk. By 1980's he and John Carpenter were working together to create Rosenthal's full-length film directing debut - Halloween 2(1981).

The rest of the 80s filled Rosenthal's time with feature film work like Bad Boys (1983), American Dreamer (1984) and Russkies (1987). Exploring new genres, Rosenthal didn't make the blockbuster linked name he might have made had his films attracted the same attendance as Halloween 2.

He moved on into the realm of television and, for a decade, he jumped around from one series to the next directing various episodes including Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Roar, L.A. Doctors, Providence, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Rosenthal returned to film releasing Just A Little Harmless Sex in 1999 before returning to television where he worked on Falcone, Witchblade and Crossing Jordan.

Besides directing, Rosenthal has also dabbled in acting, produced both film and television and wrote the screenplay to the film, Best Revenge (1982).

In 2002, he made a full circle and directed the eight Halloween film, Halloween: Resurrection.

Filmography:

Halloween: Resurrection (2002)
Just a Little Harmless Sex (1999)
Distant Thunder (1988)
Russkies (1987)
American Dreamer (1984)
Bad Boys (1983)
Halloween II (1981)