Philip Rosenthal

Philip Rosenthal (born January 27, 1960) is an American television writer and producer who is best known as the creator, writer, and executive producer for the sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond (1996–2005).

Rosenthal was born to a Jewish family in Queens, New York, but spent most of his childhood living in New City, New York, located in Rockland County. He attended Clarkstown North High School where he became very active in the school's drama club, Cue 'N Curtain. During his four years at Clarkstown, Rosenthal was involved in theatre. Rosenthal graduated from Clarkstown North in 1977. He attended Hofstra University, from which he graduated in 1981.

In the early 1980s, Rosenthal was an actor based out of New York City before shifting his focus to production work, becoming the writer and producer of such shows as Coach with Craig T. Nelson and the short-lived Baby Talk. Rosenthal's largest commercial success and longest running project was the sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond. The show was co-produced by Ray Romano, and based in part on Ray Romano's comedy material. Rosenthal's wife, actress Monica Horan, played the role of Amy MacDougall-Barone, the off and on girlfriend (wife after season 7) of Robert Barone (Brad Garrett) in Raymond. It was Rosenthal and Romano who decided to retire the series over the objections or reservations of the other cast members. Rosenthal wrote or co-wrote twenty-one episodes of the series.

Rosenthal has occasionally acted as well, in projects such as James L. Brooks' Spanglish; The Simpsons Movie, a big screen adaption of the long running TV series which was also produced by Brooks and his company, Gracie Films; Curb Your Enthusiasm; 30 Rock; and Jake Kasdan's feature, The TV Set.

Rosenthal is the author of the book You're Lucky You're Funny: How Life Becomes a Sitcom which was published on October 21, 2006. He recounts how his life led to the success of Everybody Loves Raymond.

Rosenthal directed President Bill Clinton in a White House Correspondents' Dinner video, which was shown to wide acclaim at the April 2000 event. Rosenthal co-wrote the 9/11 telethon America: A Tribute to Heroes, which aired on all four networks, and won a Peabody Award and an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Writing. Rosenthal wrote and directed a documentary film for Sony Pictures called Exporting Raymond. It depicts his efforts to adapt Everybody Loves Raymond for Russian television, despite little knowledge of Russian culture.

Being of Jewish descent, in August 2015 he signed - as one of 98 members of the Los Angeles' Jewish community - an open letter supporting the proposed nuclear agreement between Iran and six world powers led by the United States "as being in the best interest of the United States and Israel."

Beginning on September 28, 2015, PBS is presenting a television series I'll Have What Phil's Having where Philip Rosenthal goes to popular locations around the world to sample their food.

Rosenthal serves on the Creative Council of Represent.Us, a nonpartisan anti-corruption organization.