Richard L. Rosenthal, Jr. (born June 15, 1949) is an American film instructor and director, known for directing Halloween II and Halloween: Resurrection.

Early life

Rosenthal was born in New York City, the son of Hinda (née Gould) and entrepreneur Richard L. Rosenthal, Sr.^[1]

Career

Rosenthal started his career by directing Halloween II and returned to the series 21 years later, helming Halloween: Resurrection. In between he has directed films such as American Dreamer (1984), Russkies (1987), Distant Thunder (1988) and Just a Little Harmless Sex (1998). He also directed dozens of episodic television shows, and was co-executive producer of the landmark Warner Bros. TV series Life Goes On for ABC from 1989-1991.

Rosenthal, along with his wife Nancy Stephens, executive produced the film Invisible Beauty about model and activist Bethann Hardison, which premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival.^[2][3]

Personal life

Rosenthal met his wife, actress Nancy Stephens, while filming Halloween II.

Select filmography as a director

Film

• Halloween II (1981)
• Bad Boys (1983)
• American Dreamer (1984)
• Russkies (1987)
• Distant Thunder (1988)
• Just a Little Harmless Sex (1998)
• Halloween: Resurrection (2002)
• Nearing Grace (2005)
• Drones (2013)

Television

• Darkroom (3 episodes, 1981-1982)
• Nasty Boys (1989, pilot)
• Yesterday Today (1992, unsold pilot)
• The Witches of Eastwick (1992, unsold pilot)
• Devlin (1992, television film;^[4] released theatrically in the Philippines as New York Mob War)^[5]
• The Birds II: Land's End (1994, television film), credited as Alan Smithee
• Early Edition (2 episodes, 1996–1997)
• Dellaventura (1 episode, 1997)
• The Practice (1 episode, 1997)
• Wasteland (1 episode, 1999)
• Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2 episodes, 1999–2000)
• Strong Medicine (1 episode, 2000)
• Providence (6 episodes, 2000–2001)
• The District (6 episodes, 2001–2003)
• Buffy the Vampire Slayer (2 episodes, 2002)
• Crossing Jordan (1 episode, 2002)
• She Spies (1 episode, 2003)
• Smallville (7 episodes, 2003–2008)
• Tru Calling (2 episodes, 2004–2005)
• Point Pleasant (1 episode, 2005)
• Reunion (3 episodes, 2005–2006)
• Veronica Mars (1 episode, 2006)
• Flash Gordon (1 episode, 2007)
• The Dresden Files (1 episode, 2007)
• 90210 (1 episode, 2009)
• Being Erica (3 episodes, 2009–2010)
• Greek (1 episode, 2009)
• Mental (1 episode, 2009)
• Life on Mars (1 episode, 2009)
• Haven (1 episode, 2010)
• Drop Dead Diva (1 episode, 2010)
• Gigantic (2 episodes, 2010)
• Shattered (2 episodes, 2010)
• Beauty & the Beast (1 episode, 2013)