David Rosenfelt was raised in Paterson, New Jersey. He is an alumnus of New York University. After graduating, Rosenfelt got a low-level job United Artists through his uncle, and set about moving up in the movie industry. He was, for some time, the Marketing President of Tri-Star Pictures.
Rosenfelt changed direction and began writing screenplays and novels. He sold many scripts, a few of which made it all the way to production. His first novel, Open and Shut (2002), introduced his most famous character, attorney and dog owner Andy Carpenter.
Rosenfelt and his wife founded the Tara Foundation, which rescues and finds homes for thousands of dogs. The Rosenfelts also house more than twenty dogs at their home-cum-dog-sanctuary in Maine.