Joel Rosenzweig

Joel Rosenzweig, director of such television series as "Cagney & Lacey," "The Trials of Rosie O'Neill," "Christy," "Buck James" and "Falcon Crest" died at his home in Richardson, Texas. He was 66. Rosenzweig, who for the last several years taught government at Lake Highlands High School, like his teacher-father Aaron Rosenzweig, was beloved in his community by colleagues, students and parents alike.

Interment will be held Sunday, November 2, at Sparkman/Hillcrest Cemetery in North Dallas, Texas. For Rosenzweig, the Lake Highlands High School Bowling coach and USC sports junky, it was no coincidence that this is also the final resting place of sports greats, Mickey Mantle and Tom Landry.

It was at the University of Southern California in 1970 where Rosenzweig, guided by Oscar winner and acting mentor Nina Foch, would be deemed "... able to do character breakdown better than anyone on the planet.” His master’s thesis at USC was the world premiere staging of The Who’s rock opera, "Tommy."

A year later, at 22 years of age, Rosenzweig staged the rock opera again, this time with a professional cast at the Aquarius Theatre in Hollywood. Ted Neeley played the title role. "Creative differences" with the producers were to follow, but all subsequent productions of the iconic rock album (both on stage and screen) adhered closely to that original libretto, by the one-time USC drama student.

A second generation native of Los Angeles, Rosenzweig devoted nearly 20 years to California regional theatre before succumbing to the siren call of Hollywood and television production where his direction resulted in a string of accolades for others: Emmy nominations for Best Supporting Actor John Karlin ("Cagney & Lacey") and Best Supporting Actor Ed Asner ("The Trials of Rosie O'Neill"), Best Supporting Actress Emmy win for Tyne Daly ("Christy") and Randy Morgan,“Eddie” award for best editing ("Cagney & Lacey)."

Recruited as a drama specialist for the Richardson Independent School District in Texas, Rosenzweig has been a full time teacher, served as president of his Texas State Teachers Association local and has been a delegate to regional, state and national conferences as well as serving on several committees for the Texas Association of Film and Tape Professionals,

Joel Rosenzweig is survived by his wife of over 22 years, Joan Murphy Rosenzweig, their son Marc, a Drama Major at USC, daughters Dr. Sarah Murphy and Gwen Murphy-Vega, grandson Mason Vega, brother Producer Barney Rosenzweig and his spouse, Actress Sharon Gless.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that a donation be made to the Richardson Independent School District Scholarship Fund in Richardson, Texas.