Robert Townsend

Known for ActingBorn 1957-02-06 (age 69)Chicago, Illinois, USA

Robert Townsend (born February 6, 1957) is an American actor, director, comedian, and writer. Townsend is best known for directing the films Hollywood Shuffle (1987), Eddie Murphy Raw (1987), The Meteor Man (1993), The Five Heartbeats (1991) and various other films and stand-up specials. He is especially known for his eponymous self-titled character, Robert Peterson as the starring role as on The WB sitcom The Parent 'Hood (1995–1999), a series which he created and of which directed select episodes. Townsend is also known for his role as Donald "Duck" Matthews in his 1991 film The Five Heartbeats. He later wrote, directed and produced Making The Five Heartbeats (2018), a documentary film about the production process and behind the scenes insight into creating the film. Townsend is also known for his production company Townsend Entertainment which has produced films Playin' for Love, In the Hive and more. During the 1980s and early–1990s, Townsend gained national exposure through his stand-up comedy routines and appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Townsend has worked with talent including Halle Berry, Morgan Freeman, Chris Tucker, Beyoncé, Denzel Washington and many more.Read more

Movies & web series

From Behind Closed Doors

Book of Love: The Definitive Reason Why Men Are Dogs

Love Songs

Power Book IV: Force

The Bear

A Party For Richard Pryor

Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy

Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man!

Women at West Point

Of Boys and Men

Rodney Dangerfield: It's Not Easy Bein' Me

Scooby-Doo! Music of the Vampire

Richard Pryor: I Ain't Dead Yet, #*%$#@!!

M*A*S*H

Livin' for Love: The Natalie Cole Story

Hollywood Squares

The Warriors

Amazing Stories

South of Nowhere

The Wonder Years

The Five Heartbeats

Bill Cosby: Far From Finished

Eddie Murphy Raw

The Carol Burnett Show

Holiday Heart

Black Lightning

Kaleidoscope

The Parent 'Hood

Joseph's Gift

The Legend of Dolemite! Bigger & Badder

Colin in Black and White

Jackie's Back!

Uptown Comedy Express

Streets of Fire

Cooley High

I Was a Teenage Faust

Sidney Poitier: One Bright Light

AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Eddie Murphy

A Soldier's Story

Before

Little Richard

Carmen: A Hip Hopera

Stuart Hall: Representation & the Media

Hollywood Shuffle

Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute

Love Is___

I'm Gonna Git You Sucka

Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child

MAS*H