Robert Townsend
Acting
Born: 1957-02-06 in Chicago, Illinois, USA
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
Baseball Fury (uncredited)
The Bear
Emmanuel Adamu
Black Lightning
Dr. Napier Frank
M*A*S*H
Patient
Streets of Fire
The Sorels - Lester
Undercover Brother
Mr. UB
Amazing Stories
Billy Burliss
I'm Gonna Git You Sucka
Minor Role (uncredited)
Scooby-Doo! Music of the Vampire
Vampire Actor #1 (voice)
A Soldier's Story
Corporal Ellis
The Meteor Man
Jefferson Reed
The Mighty Quinn
Maubee
American Flyers
Jerome
Hollywood Shuffle
Bobby Taylor
Cooley High
Basketball Player in Gym Class
The Five Heartbeats
Duck
Before
Jackson
Up, Up, and Away
Jim Marshall / Bronze Eagle
Mahogany
Extra (uncredited)
Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man!
Self - Comedian & Filmmaker
Ratboy
Manny
The Parent 'Hood
Robert Peterson
Willie & Phil
Thin Boy
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
Rumpelstiltskin (voice)
The Monkey Hustle
Musician
Odd Jobs
Dwight
Jackie's Back!
Robert Townsend
Senior Trip
Randy
Richard Pryor: I Ain't Dead Yet, #*%$#@!!
Self
That's Adequate
Standup Comic
Hollywood Squares
Self - Panelist
Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
Self
Rodney Dangerfield: It's Not Easy Bein' Me
Self
Of Boys and Men
Holden Cole
Taxman
Peyton Cody
Mercenary II: Thick & Thin
Charlie Love
AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Eddie Murphy
Self
The Carol Burnett Show
Black Listed
Alan Chambers
I Was a Teenage Faust
Mr. Five