# Steven Rothenberg

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{{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](/source/brackets) -->
| alt           = <!-- descriptive text for use by speech synthesis (text-to-speech) software -->
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| birth_date    = {{Birth date|1958|09|12}}
| birth_place   = [New York City](/source/New_York_City), [New York](/source/New_York_(state)), U.S.
| death_date    = {{Death date and age|2009|07|17|1958|09|12}}
| death_place   = [Burbank](/source/Burbank%2C_California), [California](/source/California), U.S.
| nationality   = 
| other_names   = 
| alma_mater    = [Stanford University](/source/Stanford_University)
| occupation    = {{hlist|[Studio executive](/source/Studio_executive)}}
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| notable_works = 
}}

'''Steven Rothenberg''' (September 12, 1958 – July 17, 2009) was an American [film](/source/film) [studio executive](/source/studio_executive). Rothenberg headed the theatrical [distribution](/source/Film_distributor) operations at [Lions Gate Entertainment](/source/Lions_Gate_Entertainment) at the film studio's President of [domestic releasing](/source/Film_release).<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](/source/Variety_(magazine))|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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/New_York_City).<ref name=variety/> He received his [bachelor's degree](/source/bachelor's_degree) with honors from [Stanford University](/source/Stanford_University).<ref name=variety/>

==Career==
Rothenberg began his career in the [film industry](/source/film_industry) when he was hired by [filmmaker](/source/filmmaker) and fellow Stanford [alumnus](/source/alumnus) [Roger Corman](/source/Roger_Corman).<ref name=variety/><ref name=thr/> Rothenberg worked with Corman in [film distribution](/source/film_distribution).<ref name=variety/> Rothenberg later worked in distribution at [Savoy Entertainment](/source/Savoy_Entertainment) and [The Samuel Goldwyn Company](/source/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](/source/Los_Angeles_Times) |date=22 July 2009}}</ref>

Rothenberg was president of [domestic](/source/Domestic_market) [film distribution](/source/film_distribution) at [Artisan Entertainment](/source/Artisan_Entertainment) prior to joining Lionsgate.<ref name=variety/> In particular, Rothenberg created and oversaw the [distribution strategy](/source/film_distribution) for ''[The Blair Witch Project](/source/The_Blair_Witch_Project)'',<ref name=thr/> which went on to become the highest grossing [indie film](/source/indie_film) in history at the time.<ref name=thr/> He also helmed the domestic distribution of ''[Requiem for a Dream](/source/Requiem_for_a_Dream)'', ''[Buena Vista Social Club](/source/Buena_Vista_Social_Club_(film))'' and many other films while at Artisan.<ref name=variety/>

Rothenberg headed the theatrical distribution operations of [Lionsgate](/source/Lionsgate_Films),<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](/source/Tyler_Perry) and ''[Saw](/source/Saw_(franchise))'' [film franchise](/source/film_franchise)s, as well as ''[Fahrenheit 9/11](/source/Fahrenheit_9%2F11)'', ''[3:10 to Yuma](/source/3%3A10_to_Yuma_(2007_film))'' and ''[Crash](/source/Crash_(2004_film))'', which won the [Academy Award for Best Picture](/source/Academy_Award_for_Best_Picture).<ref name=variety/> The combined [boxoffice](/source/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](/source/Academy_of_Motion_Picture_Arts_%26_Sciences).

==Personal life==
Steven Rothenberg died of [stomach cancer](/source/stomach_cancer) in [Burbank, California](/source/Burbank%2C_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](/source/Glendale%2C_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](/source/Reuters) |date=20 July 2009 |language=en}}</ref>

Rothenberg's memorial service and burial was held at the [Mount Sinai Memorial Park Cemetery](/source/Mount_Sinai_Memorial_Park_Cemetery) in the [Hollywood Hills](/source/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

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Steven Rothenberg](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Rothenberg) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Rothenberg?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.