Cast & creator
Rick Rosenthal
Best known for Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Smallville, Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Richard L. Rosenthal Jr. (born June 15, 1949) is an American film instructor and director, known for directing Halloween II, Bad Boys, and Halloween: Resurrection. Rosenthal started his career by directing Halloween II (1981) and returned to the series 21 years later, helming Halloween: Resurrection (2002). In between, he 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, where he guest starred in two episodes as "Uncle Richard".
Also known as: Alan Smithee, Richard L. Rosenthal
74
film credits
45
television credits
10
1975–2026 · acting roles
6.4
average across scored titles
Signature credits
Known for
Across film & television
Filmography (119)
Showing 119 of 119 credits
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Director
1999
Smallville
Director
2001
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Director
1997
The Practice
Director
1997
Crossing Jordan
Director
2001
Strong Medicine
Director
2000
Veronica Mars
Director
2004
Childrens Hospital
Producer
2008
Early Edition
Director
1996
The Incredible Hulk
Writer
1977
90210
Director
2008
The District
Director
2000
Natural World
Director
1983
Haven
Director
2010
Drop Dead Diva
Director
2009
Providence
Director
1999
Greek
Director
2007
Life Goes On
Director
1989
Tru Calling
Director
2003
Transparent
Consulting Producer
2014Transparent
Supervising Producer
2014
She Spies
Director
2002
Hack
Director
2002
L.A. Doctors
Director
1998
Life on Mars
Director
2008
Being Erica
Director
2009
Flash Gordon
Rick Rosenthal
2007Flash Gordon
Director
2007
Mister Sterling
Director
2003
Fantasy Island
Director
1998
Darkroom
Director
1981
The Dresden Files
Director
2007
Halloween II
Director
1981
Witchblade
Director
2001
Point Pleasant
Director
2005
Roar
Director
1997
The Handler
Director
2003
MDs
Director
2002
Halloween: Resurrection
Professor
2002Halloween: Resurrection
Director
2002
Bad Boys
Judge
1983Bad Boys
Director
1983
Reunion
Director
2005
Mental
Director
2009
Angela's Eyes
Director
2006
Better Off Dead...
Smity
1985
Secrets of Midland Heights
Director
1980
E! True Hollywood Story
Self
1996
Cold Comes the Night
Executive Producer
2013
Won't You Be My Neighbor?
Executive Producer
2018
Small Engine Repair
Producer
2021
Standing Up, Falling Down
Producer
2020
Feels Good Man
Executive Producer
2020
Bending the Arc
Executive Producer
2017
All Souls
Director
2001
Johnny Dangerously
Judge
1984
The Boy Behind the Door
Producer
2020
7 Minutes
Producer
2014
First Girl I Loved
Executive Producer
2016
Invisible Beauty
Executive Producer
2023
Mean Creek
Producer
2004
Afternoon Delight
Executive Producer
2013
Punching Henry
Producer
2017
Distant Thunder
Director
1988
The Birds II: Land's End
Director
1994Hard Copy
Director
1987
According to Greta
Producer
2009
Kabluey
Producer
2007
Match
Producer
2014
Just a Little Harmless Sex
Director
1999Just a Little Harmless Sex
Producer
1999
Band of Robbers
Producer
2016
Civil War (Or, Who Do We Think We Are)
Executive Producer
2021
Nearing Grace
Director
2006
Fat Kid Rules The World
Producer
2012
Yo (Love Is a Rebellious Bird)
Executive Producer
2026
The Cow Who Sang a Song into the Future
Executive Producer
2023
Fire on the Mountain
Producer
1981
Halfway There
Executive Producer
2017Halfway There
Director
2017
Nasty Boys
Director
1989
Russkies
Director
1987
The Procession
Executive Producer
2012
California Solo
Executive Producer
2012
American Dreamer
Director
1984
Alien Contact
Self
2024Alien Contact
Director
2024
Move Ya Body: The Birth of House
Executive Producer
2025
I Hate Myself and Want to Die
Producer
2024
Lost After Dark
Sheriff
2014Dalton's Code of Vengeance
Director
1985
Drones
Director
2013Drones
Producer
2013
Code of Vengeance
Director
1985
Devlin
Director
1992
THE NIGHTMARE ISN'T OVER! the making of Halloween II
Self
2012
Lindsay Wagner: Another Side of Me
Assistant Camera
1977The Witches of Eastwick
Director
1992
Video Vixens!
Slate Man
1975Video Vixens!
Production Assistant
1975
Food and Country
Co-Executive Producer
2024
Stay Awake
Executive Producer
2023
The Shepherd and the Bear
Executive Producer
2025
King Jack
Executive Producer
2015
Big Men
Executive Producer
2014
Citizen Ashe
Executive Producer
2021
Aram, Aram
Executive Producer
2015
Arcadia
Executive Producer
2012
The Grab
Executive Producer
2024
Best Revenge
Writer
1984
Saving Capitalism
Executive Producer
2017
Big in Japan
Executive Producer
2014
Rebel Hearts
Executive Producer
2021
On the Ice
Executive Producer
2011
Art for Everybody
Executive Producer
2023
Love & Stuff
Co-Executive Producer
2020
Open Heart
Executive Producer
2013
Dark Money
Executive Producer
2018
Waves of Freedom
Director
2008