Robert Townsend

Robert Townsend

Acting
Born 1957-02-06Chicago, 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.

Movies (49)

The Warriors
7.7

The Warriors

1979Movie7.7
Undercover Brother
5.9

Undercover Brother

2002Movie5.9
Streets of Fire
6.9

Streets of Fire

1984Movie6.9
AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Eddie Murphy
5.3

AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Eddie Murphy

2026Movie5.3
A Soldier's Story
6.8

A Soldier's Story

1984Movie6.8
Hollywood Shuffle
6.5

Hollywood Shuffle

1987Movie6.5
The Mighty Quinn
6.0

The Mighty Quinn

1989Movie6.0
I'm Gonna Git You Sucka
6.4

I'm Gonna Git You Sucka

1988Movie6.4
The Meteor Man
5.8

The Meteor Man

1993Movie5.8
Scooby-Doo! Music of the Vampire
7.6

Scooby-Doo! Music of the Vampire

2012Movie7.6
American Flyers
6.2

American Flyers

1985Movie6.2
The Five Heartbeats
7.3

The Five Heartbeats

1991Movie7.3
Jackie's Back!
6.9

Jackie's Back!

1999Movie6.9
Up, Up, and Away
5.5

Up, Up, and Away

2000Movie5.5
Taxman
4.2

Taxman

1999Movie4.2
Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 4

Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 4

1989Movie
Willie & Phil
4.6

Willie & Phil

1980Movie4.6
Mahogany
5.9

Mahogany

1975Movie5.9
Sidney Poitier: One Bright Light
6.7

Sidney Poitier: One Bright Light

2000Movie6.7
That's Adequate
4.1

That's Adequate

1989Movie4.1
Book of Love: The Definitive Reason Why Men Are Dogs
9.5

Book of Love: The Definitive Reason Why Men Are Dogs

2002Movie9.5
Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute
6.5

Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute

1988Movie6.5
Love Songs
8.7

Love Songs

1999Movie8.7
Cooley High
7.0

Cooley High

1975Movie7.0
Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
8.0

Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy

2009Movie8.0
Ratboy
3.9

Ratboy

1986Movie3.9
Women at West Point
8.0

Women at West Point

1979Movie8.0
I Was a Teenage Faust
6.7

I Was a Teenage Faust

2002Movie6.7
The Legend of Dolemite! Bigger & Badder
7.0

The Legend of Dolemite! Bigger & Badder

1994Movie7.0
In Love with an Older Woman
6.0

In Love with an Older Woman

1982Movie6.0
Black Listed
4.0

Black Listed

2003Movie4.0
Of Boys and Men
7.7

Of Boys and Men

2008Movie7.7
Richard Pryor: I Ain't Dead Yet, #*%$#@!!
7.8

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

2003Movie7.8
Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 2

Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 2

1988Movie
Senior Trip
4.1

Senior Trip

1981Movie4.1
Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 1

Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 1

1987Movie
Odd Jobs
4.4

Odd Jobs

1986Movie4.4
Joseph's Gift
7.0

Joseph's Gift

1999Movie7.0
Rodney Dangerfield: It's Not Easy Bein' Me
7.9

Rodney Dangerfield: It's Not Easy Bein' Me

1986Movie7.9
Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 3

Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 3

1989Movie
Mercenary II: Thick & Thin
5.5

Mercenary II: Thick & Thin

1999Movie5.5
Playin' for Love
5.0

Playin' for Love

2015Movie5.0
The Monkey Hustle
5.8

The Monkey Hustle

1976Movie5.8
Robin Harris: One Night Stand

Robin Harris: One Night Stand

1990Movie
Uptown Comedy Express
7.0

Uptown Comedy Express

1987Movie7.0
Directors on Directing

Directors on Directing

2009Movie
A Walk with Charles Burnett

A Walk with Charles Burnett

2019Movie
Tao of The Golden Mask

Tao of The Golden Mask

2007Movie
Stuart Hall: Representation & the Media
8.0

Stuart Hall: Representation & the Media

1997Movie8.0

TV Shows (13)

Hollywood Squares
7.6

Hollywood Squares

1998Series7.6
M*A*S*H
7.9

M*A*S*H

1972Series7.9
The Bear
8.1

The Bear

2022Series8.1
Black Lightning
6.9

Black Lightning

2018Series6.9
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
6.3

Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child

1995Series6.3
The Parent 'Hood
7.3

The Parent 'Hood

1995Series7.3
Amazing Stories
7.5

Amazing Stories

1985Series7.5
Before
6.5

Before

2024Series6.5
Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man!
7.8

Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man!

2026Series7.8
Great Drives

Great Drives

1996Series
Black in the 80s

Black in the 80s

2005Series
Motown Live
1.0

Motown Live

1998Series1.0
The Carol Burnett Show
7.3

The Carol Burnett Show

1991Series7.3