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

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

Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy

Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man!

Stuart Hall: Representation & the Media

Scooby-Doo! Music of the Vampire

Women at West Point

Of Boys and Men

Rodney Dangerfield: It's Not Easy Bein' Me

M*A*S*H

Livin' for Love: The Natalie Cole Story

Hollywood Squares

The Warriors

Amazing Stories

South of Nowhere

The Parent 'Hood

The Five Heartbeats

The Wonder Years

The Carol Burnett Show

Eddie Murphy Raw

Bill Cosby: Far From Finished

Black Lightning

Kaleidoscope

Joseph's Gift

The Legend of Dolemite! Bigger & Badder

Holiday Heart

Jackie's Back!

Uptown Comedy Express

Colin in Black and White

Streets of Fire

Cooley High

I Was a Teenage Faust

Sidney Poitier: One Bright Light

Before

A Soldier's Story

Little Richard

Love Is___

Ms. Pat: Y'all Wanna Hear Something Crazy?

Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute

Hollywood Shuffle

Carmen: A Hip Hopera

I'm Gonna Git You Sucka

Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child

American Flyers

MAS*H