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Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Birthday
February 6, 1957
Place of Birth
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Robert Townsend
0.9 Popularity
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
6.4
Jackson
Before
2024
8.2
Emmanuel Adamu
The Bear
2022
0.0
Self
A Walk with Charles Burnett
2019
6.9
Dr. Napier Frank
Black Lightning
2018
5.0
Coach Banks
Playin' for Love
2015
7.7
Vampire Actor #1 (voice)
Scooby-Doo! Music of the Vampire
2012
0.0
Self
Directors on Directing
2009
8.0
Self
Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
2009
7.7
Holden Cole
Of Boys and Men
2008
🎬
0.0
Tao of The Golden Mask
2007
Credits
Before
as Jackson
2024
6.4
The Bear
as Emmanuel Adamu
2022
8.2
A Walk with Charles Burnett
as Self
2019
0.0
Black Lightning
as Dr. Napier Frank
2018
6.9
Playin' for Love
as Coach Banks
2015
5.0
Scooby-Doo! Music of the Vampire
as Vampire Actor #1 (voice)
2012
7.7
Directors on Directing
as Self
2009
0.0
Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
as Self
2009
8.0
Of Boys and Men
as Holden Cole
2008
7.7
🎬
Tao of The Golden Mask
2007
0.0
Black in the 80s
as Self
2005
0.0
Black Listed
as Alan Chambers
2003
2.5
Richard Pryor: I Ain't Dead Yet, #*%$#@!!
as Self
2003
8.0
I Was a Teenage Faust
as Mr. Five
2002
5.5
Undercover Brother
as Mr. UB
2002
5.9
Book of Love: The Definitive Reason Why Men Are Dogs
2002
10.0
Sidney Poitier: One Bright Light
2000
6.0
Up, Up, and Away
as Jim Marshall / Bronze Eagle
2000
5.6
Taxman
as Peyton Cody
1999
3.5
Mercenary II: Thick & Thin
as Charlie Love
1999
4.7
Jackie's Back!
as Robert Townsend
1999
6.5
Love Songs
as Champ
1999
8.0
Joseph's Gift
as James Saunders
1999
0.0
🎬
Motown Live
as Self - Host
1998
1.0
Hollywood Squares
1998
7.3
Stuart Hall: Representation & the Media
as Archive Footage (Hollywood Shuffle)
1997
8.0
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
as Rumpelstiltskin (voice)
1995
6.0
The Parent 'Hood
as Robert Peterson
1995
7.3
The Legend of Dolemite! Bigger & Badder
as Self
1994
0.0
The Meteor Man
as Jefferson Reed
1993
5.8
🎬
The Carol Burnett Show
1991
7.3
The Five Heartbeats
as Duck
1991
7.3
Robin Harris: One Night Stand
as Bum #3
1990
0.0
Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 4
1989
0.0
Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 3
1989
0.0
The Mighty Quinn
as Maubee
1989
6.0
That's Adequate
as Standup Comic
1989
3.2
I'm Gonna Git You Sucka
as Minor Role (uncredited)
1988
6.4
Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 2
1988
0.0
Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 1
1987
0.0
Uptown Comedy Express
1987
0.0
Hollywood Shuffle
as Bobby Taylor
1987
6.5
Ratboy
as Manny
1986
3.4
Rodney Dangerfield: It's Not Easy Bein' Me
as Self
1986
8.1
Odd Jobs
as Dwight
1986
3.8
Amazing Stories
as Billy Burliss
1985
7.4
American Flyers
as Jerome
1985
6.1
A Soldier's Story
as Corporal Ellis
1984
6.8
Streets of Fire
as The Sorels - Lester
1984
6.9
In Love with an Older Woman
as James
1982
4.0
Senior Trip
as Randy
1981
3.7
Willie & Phil
as Thin Boy
1980
4.1
Women at West Point
as Russell Baker
1979
0.0
The Warriors
as Baseball Fury (uncredited)
1979
7.7
The Monkey Hustle
as Musician
1976
5.6
Mahogany
as Extra (uncredited)
1975
5.8
Cooley High
as Basketball Player in Gym Class
1975
6.9
M*A*S*H
as Patient
1972
7.9