Robert Townsend
Acting
Born: February 6, 1957 (age 69) · Chicago, Illinois, USA
Highest Rated
Biography
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.
Known for
The Warriors
1979
The Bear
2022
Black Lightning
2018
M*A*S*H
1972
Streets of Fire
1984
Kaleidoscope
2023
Undercover Brother
2002
Eddie Murphy Raw
1987
Amazing Stories
1985
Power Book IV: Force
2022
I'm Gonna Git You Sucka
1988
The Wonder Years
2021
Photos (3)
Movies (40)
The Warriors
Baseball Fury (uncredited)
Undercover Brother
Mr. UB
Streets of Fire
The Sorels - Lester
Jackie's Back!
Robert Townsend
I'm Gonna Git You Sucka
Minor Role (uncredited)
The Meteor Man
Jefferson Reed
Hollywood Shuffle
Bobby Taylor
Scooby-Doo! Music of the Vampire
Vampire Actor #1 (voice)
A Soldier's Story
Corporal Ellis
The Mighty Quinn
Maubee
The Five Heartbeats
Duck
American Flyers
Jerome
Cooley High
Basketball Player in Gym Class
Up, Up, and Away
Jim Marshall / Bronze Eagle
Mahogany
Extra (uncredited)
Book of Love: The Definitive Reason Why Men Are Dogs
2002
I Was a Teenage Faust
Mr. Five
That's Adequate
Standup Comic
Willie & Phil
Thin Boy
Joseph's Gift
James Saunders
Black Listed
Alan Chambers
Ratboy
Manny
Sidney Poitier: One Bright Light
2000
Love Songs
Champ
Odd Jobs
Dwight
Women at West Point
Russell Baker
Mercenary II: Thick & Thin
Charlie Love
Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 2
1988
The Monkey Hustle
Musician
Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 1
1987
Of Boys and Men
Holden Cole
Playin' for Love
Coach Banks
Senior Trip
Randy
Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 3
1989
Taxman
Peyton Cody
Robin Harris: One Night Stand
Bum #3
Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 4
1989
In Love with an Older Woman
James
Uptown Comedy Express
1987
Stuart Hall: Representation & the Media
Archive Footage (Hollywood Shuffle)
TV Shows (7)
M*A*S*H
Patient · 1 eps
The Bear
Emmanuel Adamu · 12 eps
Black Lightning
Dr. Napier Frank · 3 eps
Amazing Stories
Billy Burliss · 1 eps
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
Rumpelstiltskin (voice) · 1 eps
The Parent 'Hood
Robert Peterson · 90 eps
Before
Jackson · 2 eps
Self / Appearances (11)
Hollywood Squares
Self - Panelist · 5 eps
Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man!
Self - Comedian & Filmmaker · 1 eps
Black in the 80s
Self · 3 eps
AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Eddie Murphy
Self
Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
Self
Richard Pryor: I Ain't Dead Yet, #*%$#@!!
Self
Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute
Self
The Legend of Dolemite! Bigger & Badder
Self
Rodney Dangerfield: It's Not Easy Bein' Me
Self
Directors on Directing
Self
A Walk with Charles Burnett
Self
Directing (37)
The Wonder Years
Director
Black Lightning
Director
Power Book IV: Force
Director
The Parent 'Hood
Director
Kaleidoscope
Director
South of Nowhere
Director
Colin in Black and White
Director
Poppa's House
Director
Love Is___
Director
Jackie's Back!
Director
The Meteor Man
Director
Hollywood Shuffle
Director
Eddie Murphy Raw
Director
The Five Heartbeats
Director
Holiday Heart
Director
B.A.P.S
Director
Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
Director
Up, Up, and Away
Director
Carmen: A Hip Hopera
Director
Phantom Punch
Director
Black Listed
Director
Love Songs
Director
In the Hive
Director
Diary of a Single Mom
Director
Little Richard
Director
Livin' for Love: The Natalie Cole Story
Director
Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 2
Director
Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 1
Director
10,000 Black Men Named George
Director
Ms. Pat: Y'all Wanna Hear Something Crazy?
Director
Playin' for Love
Director
Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 3
Director
Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 4
Director
Making The Five Heartbeats
Director
From Behind Closed Doors
Director
Bill Cosby: Far From Finished
Director
A Walk with Charles Burnett
Director
Writing (10)
The Meteor Man
Screenplay
Hollywood Shuffle
Writer
The Five Heartbeats
Writer
Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 2
Writer
Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 1
Writer
Playin' for Love
Writer
Rodney Dangerfield: It's Not Easy Bein' Me
Writer
Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 3
Writer
Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 4
Writer
Uptown Comedy Express
Writer
Producing (9)
The Parent 'Hood
Producer
The Meteor Man
Producer
Hollywood Shuffle
Producer
The Five Heartbeats
Producer
Of Boys and Men
Producer
Playin' for Love
Producer
Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 3
Executive Producer
Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 4
Executive Producer
Making The Five Heartbeats
Producer