Robert Townsend

Robert Townsend

Age: 68 years old
Born: February 6, 1957 in 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 espec...ially 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.
Before

Before

TV | 2024
2 Episodes
The Bear

The Bear

TV | 2023
Emmanuel Adamu
11 Episodes
A Walk with Charles Burnett

A Walk with Charles Burnett

Movie | 2019
Self
Black Lightning

Black Lightning

TV | 2018
Dr. Napier Frank
3 Episodes
Playin' for Love

Playin' for Love

Movie | 2015
Coach Banks
Scooby-Doo! Music of the Vampire

Scooby-Doo! Music of the Vampire

Movie | 2012
Vampire Actor #1 (voice)
Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy

Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy

Movie | 2009
Self
Directors on Directing

Directors on Directing

Movie | 2009
Self
Of Boys and Men

Of Boys and Men

Movie | 2008
Holden Cole
Tao of The Golden Mask

Tao of The Golden Mask

Movie | 2007
Black in the 80s

Black in the 80s

TV | 2005
Self
3 Episodes
Richard Pryor: I Ain't Dead Yet, #*%$#@!!

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

Movie | 2003
Self
Black Listed

Black Listed

Movie | 2003
Alan Chambers
I Was a Teenage Faust

I Was a Teenage Faust

Movie | 2002
Mr. Five
Undercover Brother

Undercover Brother

Movie | 2002
Mr. UB
Book of Love: The Definitive Reason Why Men Are Dogs

Book of Love: The Definitive Reason Why Men Are Dogs

Movie | 2002
Up, Up, and Away

Up, Up, and Away

Movie | 2000
Jim Marshall / Bronze Eagle
Sidney Poitier: One Bright Light

Sidney Poitier: One Bright Light

Movie | 2000
Taxman

Taxman

Movie | 1999
Peyton Cody
Mercenary II: Thick & Thin

Mercenary II: Thick & Thin

Movie | 1999
Charlie Love
Joseph's Gift

Joseph's Gift

Movie | 1999
James Saunders
Love Songs

Love Songs

Movie | 1999
Champ
Jackie's Back!

Jackie's Back!

Movie | 1999
Robert Townsend
Hollywood Squares

Hollywood Squares

TV | 1999
5 Episodes
Motown Live

Motown Live

TV | 1998
Self - Host
12 Episodes
Stuart Hall: Representation & the Media

Stuart Hall: Representation & the Media

Movie | 1997
Archive Footage (Hollywood Shuffle)
The Parent 'Hood

The Parent 'Hood

TV | 1995
Robert Peterson
90 Episodes
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child

Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child

TV | 1995
Rumpelstiltskin (voice)
One Episode
The Legend of Dolemite! Bigger & Badder

The Legend of Dolemite! Bigger & Badder

Movie | 1994
Self
The Meteor Man

The Meteor Man

Movie | 1993
Jefferson Reed
The Five Heartbeats

The Five Heartbeats

Movie | 1991
Duck
The Carol Burnett Show

The Carol Burnett Show

TV | 1991
9 Episodes
Robin Harris: One Night Stand

Robin Harris: One Night Stand

Movie | 1990
Bum #3
The Mighty Quinn

The Mighty Quinn

Movie | 1989
Maubee
Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 4

Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 4

Movie | 1989
Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 3

Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 3

Movie | 1989
That's Adequate

That's Adequate

Movie | 1989
Standup Comic
I'm Gonna Git You Sucka

I'm Gonna Git You Sucka

Movie | 1988
Minor Role (uncredited)
Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 2

Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 2

Movie | 1988
Hollywood Shuffle

Hollywood Shuffle

Movie | 1987
Bobby Taylor
Uptown Comedy Express

Uptown Comedy Express

Movie | 1987
Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 1

Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 1

Movie | 1987
Amazing Stories

Amazing Stories

TV | 1987
Billy Burliss
One Episode
Odd Jobs

Odd Jobs

Movie | 1986
Dwight
Ratboy

Ratboy

Movie | 1986
Manny
Rodney Dangerfield: It's Not Easy Bein' Me

Rodney Dangerfield: It's Not Easy Bein' Me

Movie | 1986
Self
American Flyers

American Flyers

Movie | 1985
Jerome
A Soldier's Story

A Soldier's Story

Movie | 1984
Corporal Ellis
Streets of Fire

Streets of Fire

Movie | 1984
The Sorels - Lester
In Love with an Older Woman

In Love with an Older Woman

Movie | 1982
James
M*A*S*H

M*A*S*H

TV | 1982
Patient
One Episode
Senior Trip

Senior Trip

Movie | 1981
Randy
Willie & Phil

Willie & Phil

Movie | 1980
Thin Boy
The Warriors

The Warriors

Movie | 1979
Baseball Fury (uncredited)
Women at West Point

Women at West Point

Movie | 1979
Russell Baker
The Monkey Hustle

The Monkey Hustle

Movie | 1976
Musician
Cooley High

Cooley High

Movie | 1975
Basketball Player in Gym Class
A Walk with Charles Burnett

A Walk with Charles Burnett

Movie | 2019
Self
Playin' for Love

Playin' for Love

Movie | 2015
Coach Banks
Scooby-Doo! Music of the Vampire

Scooby-Doo! Music of the Vampire

Movie | 2012
Vampire Actor #1 (voice)
Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy

Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy

Movie | 2009
Self
Directors on Directing

Directors on Directing

Movie | 2009
Self
Of Boys and Men

Of Boys and Men

Movie | 2008
Holden Cole
Tao of The Golden Mask

Tao of The Golden Mask

Movie | 2007
Richard Pryor: I Ain't Dead Yet, #*%$#@!!

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

Movie | 2003
Self
Black Listed

Black Listed

Movie | 2003
Alan Chambers
I Was a Teenage Faust

I Was a Teenage Faust

Movie | 2002
Mr. Five
Undercover Brother

Undercover Brother

Movie | 2002
Mr. UB
Book of Love: The Definitive Reason Why Men Are Dogs

Book of Love: The Definitive Reason Why Men Are Dogs

Movie | 2002
Up, Up, and Away

Up, Up, and Away

Movie | 2000
Jim Marshall / Bronze Eagle
Sidney Poitier: One Bright Light

Sidney Poitier: One Bright Light

Movie | 2000
Taxman

Taxman

Movie | 1999
Peyton Cody
Mercenary II: Thick & Thin

Mercenary II: Thick & Thin

Movie | 1999
Charlie Love
Joseph's Gift

Joseph's Gift

Movie | 1999
James Saunders
Love Songs

Love Songs

Movie | 1999
Champ
Jackie's Back!

Jackie's Back!

Movie | 1999
Robert Townsend
Stuart Hall: Representation & the Media

Stuart Hall: Representation & the Media

Movie | 1997
Archive Footage (Hollywood Shuffle)
The Legend of Dolemite! Bigger & Badder

The Legend of Dolemite! Bigger & Badder

Movie | 1994
Self
The Meteor Man

The Meteor Man

Movie | 1993
Jefferson Reed
The Five Heartbeats

The Five Heartbeats

Movie | 1991
Duck
Robin Harris: One Night Stand

Robin Harris: One Night Stand

Movie | 1990
Bum #3
The Mighty Quinn

The Mighty Quinn

Movie | 1989
Maubee
Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 4

Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 4

Movie | 1989
Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 3

Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 3

Movie | 1989
That's Adequate

That's Adequate

Movie | 1989
Standup Comic
I'm Gonna Git You Sucka

I'm Gonna Git You Sucka

Movie | 1988
Minor Role (uncredited)
Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 2

Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 2

Movie | 1988
Hollywood Shuffle

Hollywood Shuffle

Movie | 1987
Bobby Taylor
Uptown Comedy Express

Uptown Comedy Express

Movie | 1987
Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 1

Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 1

Movie | 1987
Odd Jobs

Odd Jobs

Movie | 1986
Dwight
Ratboy

Ratboy

Movie | 1986
Manny
Rodney Dangerfield: It's Not Easy Bein' Me

Rodney Dangerfield: It's Not Easy Bein' Me

Movie | 1986
Self
American Flyers

American Flyers

Movie | 1985
Jerome
A Soldier's Story

A Soldier's Story

Movie | 1984
Corporal Ellis
Streets of Fire

Streets of Fire

Movie | 1984
The Sorels - Lester
In Love with an Older Woman

In Love with an Older Woman

Movie | 1982
James
Senior Trip

Senior Trip

Movie | 1981
Randy
Willie & Phil

Willie & Phil

Movie | 1980
Thin Boy
The Warriors

The Warriors

Movie | 1979
Baseball Fury (uncredited)
Women at West Point

Women at West Point

Movie | 1979
Russell Baker
The Monkey Hustle

The Monkey Hustle

Movie | 1976
Musician
Cooley High

Cooley High

Movie | 1975
Basketball Player in Gym Class