Richard David Rothstein (1943 - April 16, 2018) was an American screenwriter and director.[1] He is best known for the original screenplay Universal Soldier,[2] which was followed by five sequels in 1998, 1999, 2009, 2012. He was the creator of the HBO TV series The Hitchhiker as well as the writer/director of many of the episodes. He wrote many screenplays in the science fiction/horror genre and had several graphic novels published. Rothstein died on April 16, 2018, at his home in Los Angeles.[3]