Richard Rothenstein; Comic, Writer, Publicist

Richard Rothenstein, 35, comic, writer and former publicity director for HBO Pictures. He performed his comedy act at the Rose Tattoo, the Improv in Santa Monica, Igbys and the Comedy Cabaret in Encino. A graduate of Queens College in New York, Rothenstein was a frequent contributor to newspapers and magazines, and he wrote and co-produced the benefit “Survivors: A Tribute to People Living With AIDS,” which was presented at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre for the organization Being Alive. At HBO, he created national publicity campaigns for such films as “The Josephine Baker Story,” “Without Warning: The James Brady Story” and “Murders Among Us: The Simon Wiesenthal Story.” On Thursday in Los Angeles of AIDS.