An American screenwriter and director, born in 1950 in Philadelphia. Rosenthal holds a Doctor of Arts degree from the University of the Pacific. He sold his first screenplay, which appeared theatrically as The Legend of Billie Jean. This was followed by films such as Jewel of the Nile, The Beverly Hillbillies, Tim Burton's Planet of the Apes, Mona Lisa Smile, Mighty Joe Young, and The Sorcerer's Apprentice. He co-wrote and directed The In Crowd for Orion Studios. He is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.