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 1980s 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)