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Robert Townsend

Robert Townsend

Actor, Producer, Writer

Born February 6, 1957 in Chicago, Illinois, USA

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The 30th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards
Netflix
Kevin Hart & Chris Rock: Headliners Only
Netflix
Black Lightning
Netflix
They've Gotta Have Us
Netflix
Scooby-Doo! Music of the Vampire
HBO Max
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
Amazon Prime Video
Undercover Brother
Crave
I Was a Teenage Faust
Amazon Prime Video
Up, Up, and Away!
Disney Plus
Taxman
Amazon Prime Video
The Chris Rock Show
ShowMax
The Daily Show
Paramount Plus
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
HBO Max
The Parent 'Hood
HBO Max
Martin
HBO Max
The Five Heartbeats
HBO Max
One Night Stand
HBO Max
The Mighty Quinn
HBO Max
I'm Gonna Git You Sucka
HBO Max
Hollywood Shuffle
Amazon Prime Video
Odd Jobs
HBO Max
American Masters
Amazon Prime Video
Streets of Fire
Netflix
The Warriors
Amazon Prime Video
The Monkey Hu$tle
Amazon Prime Video
Cooley High
Amazon Prime Video
M*A*S*H
Hulu

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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.

5 wins and 4 nominations

Robert Townsend Photos

Robert Townsend Videos

The Meteor Man (1993) | Meteor Man Saves His Family | MGM Studios

Official Trailer

The Five Heartbeats - Official Movie Trailer

Hollywood Shuffle | Winky Dinky Dog | MGM Studios

Official Trailer

Ratboy (1986) Official Trailer - Sondra Locke, Robert Townsend Movie HD

Odd Jobs Paul Reiser

Filmography

Actor

147

Type

Year

The 30th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards Poster

The 30th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards TV Special2024

Kevin Hart & Chris Rock: Headliners Only Poster

Kevin Hart & Chris Rock: Headliners Only Feature Film2023

Robert Townsend on 'Claudine' Poster

Robert Townsend on 'Claudine' Video2020

27th Annual Trumpet Awards Poster

27th Annual Trumpet Awards TV Special2019

Black Lightning Poster

Black Lightning TV Series2018

Making the Five Heartbeats Poster

Making the Five Heartbeats Documentary2018

They've Gotta Have Us Poster

They've Gotta Have Us Mini-Series2018

All Def Movie Awards Poster

All Def Movie Awards TV Special2017

Golic and Wingo Poster

Golic and Wingo TV Series2017

Melody Trice Special Events Poster

Melody Trice Special Events TV Series2017

Robert Townsend & Keenen Ivory Wayans in conversation with W. Kamau Bell (An SF Sketchfest Tribute) Poster

Robert Townsend & Keenen Ivory Wayans in conversation with W. Kamau Bell (An SF Sketchfest Tribute) Video2017

ABFF Awards a Celebration of Hollywood TV Special2016

All Def Movie Awards Poster

All Def Movie Awards TV Special2016

BET Awards 2014 Poster

BET Awards 2014 TV Special2014

44th NAACP Image Awards Poster

44th NAACP Image Awards TV Special2013

BET Awards 2013 Poster

BET Awards 2013 TV Special2013

Datzhott TV Series2013

Playin' for Love Poster

Playin' for Love Feature Film2013

43rd NAACP Image Awards Poster

43rd NAACP Image Awards TV Special2012

Scooby-Doo! Music of the Vampire Poster

Scooby-Doo! Music of the Vampire Video2012

BET Awards 2011 Poster

BET Awards 2011 TV Special2011

Kingdom Come Poster

Kingdom Come Documentary2011

On Story Poster

On Story TV Series2011

Way Black When: Primetime Poster

Way Black When: Primetime TV Series2011

For Love of Liberty: The Story of America's Black Patriots Poster

For Love of Liberty: The Story of America's Black Patriots Documentary2010

11-04-08: The Day of Change Poster

11-04-08: The Day of Change TV Movie2009

Directors on Directing Poster

Directors on Directing Documentary2009

The Brian McKnight Show Poster

The Brian McKnight Show TV Series2009

The Mo'Nique Show Poster

The Mo'Nique Show TV Series2009

Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy Poster

Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy Documentary2009

Battleground Earth: Ludacris vs. Tommy Lee Poster

Battleground Earth: Ludacris vs. Tommy Lee TV Series2008

Of Boys and Men Poster

Of Boys and Men Feature Film2008

Unsung TV Series2008

Tao of the Golden Mask Poster

Tao of the Golden Mask Documentary2007

An Evening of Stars: Tribute to Stevie Wonder Poster

An Evening of Stars: Tribute to Stevie Wonder Documentary2006

Edge of Outside Poster

Edge of Outside Documentary2006

We Don't Die, We Multiply: The Robin Harris Story Poster

We Don't Die, We Multiply: The Robin Harris Story Documentary2006

Black in the 80s Poster

Black in the 80s Mini-Series2005

The 20th IFP Independent Spirit Awards Poster

The 20th IFP Independent Spirit Awards TV Special2005

The Black Movie Awards Poster

The Black Movie Awards TV Special2005

TV in Black: The First Fifty Years Poster

TV in Black: The First Fifty Years Documentary2004

3rd Annual BET Awards Poster

3rd Annual BET Awards Documentary2003

Black Listed Poster

Black Listed Video2003

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

Richard Pryor: I Ain't Dead Yet, #*%$#@!! Documentary2003

Book of Love: The Definitive Reason Why Men Are Dogs Poster

Book of Love: The Definitive Reason Why Men Are Dogs Feature Film2002

I Was a Teenage Faust Poster

I Was a Teenage Faust TV Movie2002

The Black Experience in Cinema Short Film2002

The Script Short Film2002

Undercover Brother Poster

Undercover Brother Feature Film2002

7th Annual BET Walk of Fame Poster

7th Annual BET Walk of Fame TV Special2001

An Evening of Stars: A Celebration of Educational Excellence Documentary2001

Casting for Glinda Documentary2001

Up, Up, and Away! Poster

Up, Up, and Away! TV Movie2000

Celebrate the Soul of American Music TV Special1999

Celebrity Profile TV Series1999

Jackie's Back! Poster

Jackie's Back! TV Movie1999

Joseph's Gift Poster

Joseph's Gift Feature Film1999

Love Songs Poster

Love Songs TV Movie1999

Hollywood Squares Poster

Hollywood Squares TV Series1998

Mercenary II: Thick & Thin Poster

Mercenary II: Thick & Thin TV Movie1998

Motown Live TV Series1998

Taxman Feature Film1998

28th NAACP Image Awards Poster

28th NAACP Image Awards TV Special1997

The 11th Annual Soul Train Music Awards Poster

The 11th Annual Soul Train Music Awards TV Special1997

The Chris Rock Show Poster

The Chris Rock Show TV Series1997

2nd Annual Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards Poster

2nd Annual Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards TV Special1996

Great Drives Poster

Great Drives Mini-Series1996

The 10th Annual Soul Train Music Awards Poster

The 10th Annual Soul Train Music Awards TV Special1996

The Daily Show Poster

The Daily Show TV Series1996

The Rosie O'Donnell Show Poster

The Rosie O'Donnell Show TV Series1996

10th Anniversary Independent Spirit Awards TV Special1995

AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Steven Spielberg Poster

AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Steven Spielberg Documentary1995

Bliss TV Movie1995

Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child Poster

Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child TV Series1995

HBO Comedy Showcase TV Series1995

Soul Train's 25th Anniversary Poster

Soul Train's 25th Anniversary TV Special1995

The Parent 'Hood Poster

The Parent 'Hood TV Series1995

26th NAACP Image Awards Poster

26th NAACP Image Awards TV Special1994

Apollo Theatre Hall of Fame Documentary1994

The 9th Annual IFP/West Independent Spirit Awards TV Special1994

The Second Annual Comedy Hall of Fame Poster

The Second Annual Comedy Hall of Fame TV Special1994

Late Show with David Letterman Poster

Late Show with David Letterman TV Series1993

The Chevy Chase Show Poster

The Chevy Chase Show TV Series1993

The Meteor Man Poster

The Meteor Man Feature Film1993

Townsend Television Poster

Townsend Television TV Series1993

7th Annual Independent Spirit Awards Poster

7th Annual Independent Spirit Awards TV Special1992

Comic Relief V Poster

Comic Relief V TV Special1992

Martin TV Series1992

Sci-Fi Buzz Poster

Sci-Fi Buzz TV Series1992

A Comedy Salute to Michael Jordan TV Special1991

A Party for Richard Pryor Documentary1991

Alan King: Inside the Comedy Mind TV Series1991

Ray Charles: 50 Years in Music Poster

Ray Charles: 50 Years in Music Documentary1991

The Best of Robert Townsend & His Partners in Crime Poster

The Best of Robert Townsend & His Partners in Crime Documentary1991

The Carol Burnett Show Poster

The Carol Burnett Show TV Series1991

The Five Heartbeats Poster

The Five Heartbeats Feature Film1991

The Movie Awards Documentary1991

22nd NAACP Image Awards Poster

22nd NAACP Image Awards TV Special1990

Motown 30: What's Goin' on! Poster

Motown 30: What's Goin' on! TV Special1990

1989 MTV Video Music Awards Poster

1989 MTV Video Music Awards TV Special1989

21st NAACP Image Awards Poster

21st NAACP Image Awards TV Special1989

All-Star Tribute to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar TV Special1989

New Edition Past and Present Video1989

One Night Stand Poster

One Night Stand TV Series1989

That's Adequate Poster

That's Adequate Feature Film1989

The All New Mickey Mouse Club Poster

The All New Mickey Mouse Club TV Series1989

The Mighty Quinn Poster

The Mighty Quinn Feature Film1989

20th NAACP Image Awards Poster

20th NAACP Image Awards TV Special1988

Another Page TV Series1988

Freedomfest: Nelson Mandela's 70th Birthday Celebratation Poster

Freedomfest: Nelson Mandela's 70th Birthday Celebratation Documentary1988

I'm Gonna Git You Sucka Poster

I'm Gonna Git You Sucka Feature Film1988

The 2nd Annual American Comedy Awards Poster

The 2nd Annual American Comedy Awards TV Special1988

The 9th Annual American Black Achievement Awards Poster

The 9th Annual American Black Achievement Awards TV Special1988

Biography Poster

Biography TV Series1987

Cooking with Wolfgang Puck Poster

Cooking with Wolfgang Puck Video1987

Hollywood Shuffle Poster

Hollywood Shuffle Feature Film1987

Robert Townsend and His Partners in Crime Poster

Robert Townsend and His Partners in Crime TV Movie1987

The Last Resort with Jonathan Ross Poster

The Last Resort with Jonathan Ross TV Series1987

The Media Show Poster

The Media Show TV Series1987

The Wil Shriner Show Poster

The Wil Shriner Show TV Series1987

Uptown Comedy Express Poster

Uptown Comedy Express TV Special1987

Nightlife Poster

Nightlife TV Series1986

Odd Jobs Poster

Odd Jobs Feature Film1986

Ratboy Feature Film1986

Rodney Dangerfield: It's Not Easy Bein' Me Poster

Rodney Dangerfield: It's Not Easy Bein' Me TV Special1986

The Late Show Poster

The Late Show TV Series1986

Amazing Stories Poster

Amazing Stories TV Series1985

American Flyers Poster

American Flyers Feature Film1985

American Masters Poster

American Masters TV Series1985

A Soldier's Story Poster

A Soldier's Story Feature Film1984

Streets of Fire Poster

Streets of Fire Feature Film1984

Ebony/Jet Showcase Poster

Ebony/Jet Showcase TV Series1982

In Love with an Older Woman Poster

In Love with an Older Woman TV Movie1982

Late Night with David Letterman Poster

Late Night with David Letterman TV Series1982

An Evening at the Improv Poster

An Evening at the Improv TV Series1981

Senior Trip Poster

Senior Trip TV Movie1981

Willie & Phil Poster

Willie & Phil Feature Film1980

The Warriors Poster

The Warriors Feature Film1979

Women at West Point Poster

Women at West Point TV Movie1979

Watch Your Mouth TV Series1978

The Monkey Hu$tle Poster

The Monkey Hu$tle Feature Film1976

Cooley High Poster

Cooley High Feature Film1975

Mahogany Poster

Mahogany Feature Film1975

AFI Life Achievement Award Poster

AFI Life Achievement Award TV Series1973

M*A*S*H TV Series1972

Soul Train Poster

Soul Train TV Series1971

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson Poster

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson TV Series1962

Producer

28

Type

Year

Reimagining Kubrick: Dr. Strangelove Short Film2021

A Walk with Charles Burnett Poster

A Walk with Charles Burnett Feature Film2019

Making the Five Heartbeats Poster

Making the Five Heartbeats Documentary2018

Playin' for Love Poster

Playin' for Love Feature Film2013

In the Hive Poster

In the Hive Feature Film2012

Los Americans Poster

Los Americans TV Series2011

Diary of a Single Mom Poster

Diary of a Single Mom TV Series2009

Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy Poster

Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy Documentary2009

Of Boys and Men Poster

Of Boys and Men Feature Film2008

CeCe Winans Straight Up TV Movie2006

Partners in Crime: The Next Generation Atlanta TV Series2006

Playhouse 22 Poster

Playhouse 22 TV Series2006

The Envy Life Poster

The Envy Life TV Series2006

Thou$and Dollar Bee on the Road TV Series2006

Partners in Crime TV Series2005

Black College Talent Hour TV Series2004

Lisa Knight and the Round Table TV Series2004

Souled Out TV Series2004

Speaker's Box TV Series2004

Spoken TV Series2004

Thousand Dollar Bee TV Series2004

The Parent 'Hood Poster

The Parent 'Hood TV Series1995

The Meteor Man Poster

The Meteor Man Feature Film1993

Townsend Television Poster

Townsend Television TV Series1993

The Best of Robert Townsend & His Partners in Crime Poster

The Best of Robert Townsend & His Partners in Crime Documentary1991

The Five Heartbeats Poster

The Five Heartbeats Feature Film1991

Hollywood Shuffle Poster

Hollywood Shuffle Feature Film1987

Robert Townsend and His Partners in Crime Poster

Robert Townsend and His Partners in Crime TV Movie1987

Writer

18

Type

Year

Making the Five Heartbeats Poster

Making the Five Heartbeats Documentary2018

Playin' for Love Poster

Playin' for Love Feature Film2013

Musical Theater of Hope Poster

Musical Theater of Hope TV Short2009

Musical Theatre of Hope TV Series2009

The Beginning of B5: The Documentary Documentary2006

Black Listed Poster

Black Listed Video2003

The Parent 'Hood Poster

The Parent 'Hood TV Series1995

The Meteor Man Poster

The Meteor Man Feature Film1993

Townsend Television Poster

Townsend Television TV Series1993

Comic Relief V Poster

Comic Relief V TV Special1992

A Comedy Salute to Michael Jordan TV Special1991

A Party for Richard Pryor Documentary1991

The Best of Robert Townsend & His Partners in Crime Poster

The Best of Robert Townsend & His Partners in Crime Documentary1991

The Five Heartbeats Poster

The Five Heartbeats Feature Film1991

Hollywood Shuffle Poster

Hollywood Shuffle Feature Film1987

Robert Townsend and His Partners in Crime Poster

Robert Townsend and His Partners in Crime TV Movie1987

Uptown Comedy Express Poster

Uptown Comedy Express TV Special1987

The Late Show Poster

The Late Show TV Series1986

Director

46

Type

Year

Kaleidoscope Poster

Kaleidoscope Mini-Series2023

Ms. Pat: Y'all Wanna Hear Something Crazy? Poster

Ms. Pat: Y'all Wanna Hear Something Crazy? TV Special2022

The Best Man: The Final Chapters Poster

The Best Man: The Final Chapters TV Series2022

Colin in Black & White Poster

Colin in Black & White Mini-Series2021

The Wonder Years Poster

The Wonder Years TV Series2021

A Walk with Charles Burnett Poster

A Walk with Charles Burnett Feature Film2019

American Soul Poster

American Soul TV Series2019

Black Lightning Poster

Black Lightning TV Series2018

Love Is_ Poster

Love Is_ TV Series2018

Making the Five Heartbeats Poster

Making the Five Heartbeats Documentary2018

The Last O.G. Poster

The Last O.G. TV Series2018

Bill Cosby: 77 Video2014

Bill Cosby: Far from Finished Poster

Bill Cosby: Far from Finished Documentary2013

Playin' for Love Poster

Playin' for Love Feature Film2013

In the Hive Poster

In the Hive Feature Film2012

Diary of a Single Mom Poster

Diary of a Single Mom TV Series2009

Musical Theater of Hope Poster

Musical Theater of Hope TV Short2009

Musical Theatre of Hope TV Series2009

Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy Poster

Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy Documentary2009

Phantom Punch Poster

Phantom Punch Feature Film2008

The Beginning of B5: The Documentary Documentary2006

The Story of Beyoncé Documentary2006

Partners in Crime TV Series2005

South of Nowhere Poster

South of Nowhere TV Series2005

Unfabulous Poster

Unfabulous TV Series2004

Black Listed Poster

Black Listed Video2003

10,000 Black Men Named George Poster

10,000 Black Men Named George TV Movie2002

Carmen: A Hip Hopera Poster

Carmen: A Hip Hopera TV Movie2001

Holiday Heart Poster

Holiday Heart TV Movie2000

Little Richard Poster

Little Richard TV Movie2000

Livin' for Love: The Natalie Cole Story Poster

Livin' for Love: The Natalie Cole Story TV Movie2000

Soul Food Poster

Soul Food TV Series2000

Up, Up, and Away! Poster

Up, Up, and Away! TV Movie2000

Fraternity Boys Feature Film1999

Jackie's Back! Poster

Jackie's Back! TV Movie1999

Love Songs Poster

Love Songs TV Movie1999

The 20th Century: From Behind Closed Doors Poster

The 20th Century: From Behind Closed Doors Documentary1999

B*A*P*S Feature Film1997

The Parent 'Hood Poster

The Parent 'Hood TV Series1995

The Meteor Man Poster

The Meteor Man Feature Film1993

Townsend Television Poster

Townsend Television TV Series1993

The Best of Robert Townsend & His Partners in Crime Poster

The Best of Robert Townsend & His Partners in Crime Documentary1991

The Five Heartbeats Poster

The Five Heartbeats Feature Film1991

Eddie Murphy: Raw Poster

Eddie Murphy: Raw Documentary1987

Hollywood Shuffle Poster

Hollywood Shuffle Feature Film1987

Robert Townsend and His Partners in Crime Poster

Robert Townsend and His Partners in Crime TV Movie1987

Thanks

9

Type

Year

Surely, You Jest Poster

Surely, You Jest Documentary2019

God's Gracie Poster

God's Gracie Short Film2018

Perfectly Natural Poster

Perfectly Natural Short Film2018

For a Fee Poster

For a Fee TV Series2017

Pretty Dudes Poster

Pretty Dudes TV Series2016

Bill Cosby: Far from Finished Poster

Bill Cosby: Far from Finished Documentary2013

Laff Mobb Presents TV Series2012

Black in the 80s Poster

Black in the 80s Mini-Series2005

Ax 'Em Feature Film1992

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