Tony Randel

Randel grew up in West Los Angeles and attended University High School. He went on to study at Santa Monica College before transferring to California State University, Northridge, where he majored in film production. During his high school and college years, Randel worked as a grocery clerk at Lucky Market, with locations in both the Palms and Brentwood neighborhoods of Los Angeles.

Randel began his career working in the mailroom for B movie icon Roger Corman. Within a few weeks, he transitioned into editorial work on Battle Beyond the Stars—a film more famous for the careers it launched than for the film itself.

In 1985, Randel (credited as Anthony Randel) produced the New World Pictures rework of the Japanese The Return of Godzilla into the English film Godzilla 1985. Randel's breakthrough into directing came when Randel, who had supervised the production of Clive Barker's Hellraiser, was hired by New World's President of Production, Steve White, to direct the sequel Hellbound: Hellraiser II.^[3] It received mixed reviews, but was a financial success. Randel also directed the live-action film adaptation of the manga Fist of the North Star.^[4] The film premiered on HBO and was released to video. He also directed one of Fangoria's low-budget films, Children of the Night (1991), which one critic described as obviously low budget, but with striking scenes.^[5]

Randel is married and has three children. In addition to his film career, he has stated his "other love" is radio. He has been a licensed amateur radio operator^[6] since 1968.