{{Short description|American film studio executive}} {{Use American English|date=June 2021}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2021}} {{Infobox person | name = <!-- use common name/article title --> | image = <!-- filename only, no "File:" or "Image:" prefix, and no enclosing brackets --> | alt = <!-- descriptive text for use by speech synthesis (text-to-speech) software --> | caption = | birth_name = <!-- only use if different from name --> | birth_date = {{Birth date|1958|09|12}} | birth_place = New York City, New York, U.S. | death_date = {{Death date and age|2009|07|17|1958|09|12}} | death_place = Burbank, California, U.S. | nationality = | other_names = | alma_mater = Stanford University | occupation = {{hlist|Studio executive}} | years_active = | known_for = | notable_works = }}
'''Steven Rothenberg''' (September 12, 1958 – July 17, 2009) was an American film studio executive. Rothenberg headed the theatrical distribution operations at Lions Gate Entertainment at the film studio's President of domestic releasing.<ref name=variety>{{cite news |first=Dave|last= McNary|title=Lionsgate's Steven Rothenberg dies |url=https://www.variety.com/article/VR1118006188.html?categoryId=25&cs=1 |work=Variety|date=2009-07-20 |access-date=2009-08-01}}</ref> He oversaw the release of more than 350 movies during his career,<ref name=variety/> which spanned 28 years at several film studios.<ref name=thr>{{cite news|first=Carl |last=DiOrio |title=Steve Rothenberg dies at 50 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3i7c23ccda60974aa20677ac607d102241 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=2009-07-19 |access-date=2009-08-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100201002701/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3i7c23ccda60974aa20677ac607d102241 |archive-date=February 1, 2010 }}</ref>
==Early life== Rothenberg was born and raised in New York City.<ref name=variety/> He received his bachelor's degree with honors from Stanford University.<ref name=variety/>
==Career== Rothenberg began his career in the film industry when he was hired by filmmaker and fellow Stanford alumnus Roger Corman.<ref name=variety/><ref name=thr/> Rothenberg worked with Corman in film distribution.<ref name=variety/> Rothenberg later worked in distribution at Savoy Entertainment and The Samuel Goldwyn Company as well.<ref name=variety/><ref name="savoy la">{{cite web |title=Steven Rothenberg, president of domestic distribution at Lions Gate, dies at 50 |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/blogs/company-town-blog/story/2009-07-22/steven-rothenberg-president-of-domestic-distribution-at-lions-gate-dies-at-50 |website=Los Angeles Times |date=22 July 2009}}</ref>
Rothenberg was president of domestic film distribution at Artisan Entertainment prior to joining Lionsgate.<ref name=variety/> In particular, Rothenberg created and oversaw the distribution strategy for ''The Blair Witch Project'',<ref name=thr/> which went on to become the highest grossing indie film in history at the time.<ref name=thr/> He also helmed the domestic distribution of ''Requiem for a Dream'', ''Buena Vista Social Club'' and many other films while at Artisan.<ref name=variety/>
Rothenberg headed the theatrical distribution operations of Lionsgate,<ref name="ho distribution">{{cite news |last1=Germain |first1=David |title='Max Payne,' 'Chihuahua,' 'Bees' out-poll 'W' |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-box-office-10-19-08-2008oct22-story.html |access-date=27 April 2023 |work=San Diego Union-Tribune |date=22 October 2008}}</ref> or its predecessor companies, for more than 10 years.<ref name=variety/> It was Rothenberg who coordinated and oversaw the domestic film releases of Tyler Perry and ''Saw'' film franchises, as well as ''Fahrenheit 9/11'', ''3:10 to Yuma'' and ''Crash'', which won the Academy Award for Best Picture.<ref name=variety/> The combined boxoffice gross of the films in which Rothenberg facilitated the releases totaled more than $2 billion for Lions Gate.<ref name=thr/>
He was a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences.
==Personal life== Steven Rothenberg died of stomach cancer in Burbank, California, on July 17, 2009, at the age of 50.<ref name=variety/> He was survived by his wife Frances and their children Alexandra, Ted, and Emma, all of Glendale, California, where Rothenberg also resided.<ref name=thr/> Rothenberg was also survived by his mother, Ina Rothenberg, and sister, Stacy Moscoe.<ref name=variety/><ref name=thr/><ref name="fam">{{cite news |title=Lionsgate distribution chief Rothenberg dies at 50 |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/industry-us-lionsgate/lionsgate-distribution-chief-rothenberg-dies-at-50-idUSTRE56J09V20090720 |work=Reuters |date=20 July 2009 |language=en}}</ref>
Rothenberg's memorial service and burial was held at the Mount Sinai Memorial Park Cemetery in the Hollywood Hills of Los Angeles.<ref name=thr/>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb name|id=2379138|name=Steve Rothenberg}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rothenberg, Steven}} Category:1958 births Category:2009 deaths Category:20th-century American businesspeople Category:American film studio executives Category:Burials at Mount Sinai Memorial Park Cemetery Category:Businesspeople from New York City Category:Deaths from stomach cancer in California Category:Stanford University alumni Category:Mass media people from Glendale, California Category:Businesspeople from Glendale, California