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
Hollywood Squares
Self - Panelist
M*A*S*H
Patient
The Bear
Emmanuel Adamu
Black Lightning
Dr. Napier Frank
Amazing Stories
Billy Burliss
The Parent 'Hood
Robert Peterson
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
Rumpelstiltskin (voice)
The Warriors
Baseball Fury (uncredited)
Before
Jackson
Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man!
Self - Comedian & Filmmaker
Streets of Fire
The Sorels - Lester
Undercover Brother
Mr. UB
The Meteor Man
Jefferson Reed
Scooby-Doo! Music of the Vampire
Vampire Actor #1 (voice)
A Soldier's Story
Corporal Ellis
Hollywood Shuffle
Bobby Taylor
The Mighty Quinn
Maubee
I'm Gonna Git You Sucka
Minor Role (uncredited)
AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Eddie Murphy
Self
American Flyers
Jerome
Black Listed
Alan Chambers
The Five Heartbeats
Duck
Black in the 80s
Self
Love Songs
Champ
I Was a Teenage Faust
Mr. Five
Jackie's Back!
Robert Townsend
Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute
Self
Cooley High
Basketball Player in Gym Class
Up, Up, and Away
Jim Marshall / Bronze Eagle
The Carol Burnett Show
Willie & Phil
Thin Boy
Mahogany
Extra (uncredited)
Book of Love: The Definitive Reason Why Men Are Dogs
Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
Self
Directors on Directing
Self
Senior Trip
Randy
Ratboy
Manny
That's Adequate
Standup Comic