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Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

113

Gender

Male

Birthday

1957-02-06 (68 years old)

Place of Birth

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Also Known As

Robert Townsend

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

Acting

Senior Trip

1981

Senior Trip

as

Randy

The Meteor Man

1993

The Meteor Man

as

Jefferson Reed

The Mighty Quinn

1989

The Mighty Quinn

as

Maubee

A Soldier's Story

1984

A Soldier's Story

as

Corporal Ellis

Hollywood Shuffle

1987

Hollywood Shuffle

as

Bobby Taylor

I'm Gonna Git You Sucka

1988

I'm Gonna Git You Sucka

as

Minor Role (uncredited)

Odd Jobs

1986

Odd Jobs

as

Dwight

Ratboy

1986

Ratboy

as

Manny

The Warriors

1979

The Warriors

as

Baseball Fury (uncredited)

Black Listed

2003

Black Listed

as

Alan Chambers

Taxman

1999

Taxman

as

Peyton Cody

Of Boys and Men

2008

Of Boys and Men

as

Holden Cole

Up, Up, and Away

2000

Up, Up, and Away

as

Jim Marshall / Bronze Eagle

Edge of Outside

2006

Edge of Outside

as

Bobby Taylor (archive footage)

Mercenary II: Thick & Thin

1999

Mercenary II: Thick & Thin

as

Charlie Love

Cooley High

1975

Cooley High

as

Basketball Player in Gym Class

I Was a Teenage Faust

2002

I Was a Teenage Faust

as

Mr. Five

Playin' for Love

2015

Playin' for Love

as

Coach Banks

That's Adequate

1989

That's Adequate

as

Standup Comic

Streets of Fire

1984

Streets of Fire

as

The Sorels - Lester

Undercover Brother

2002

Undercover Brother

as

Mr. UB

Scooby-Doo! Music of the Vampire

2012

Scooby-Doo! Music of the Vampire

as

Vampire Actor #1 (voice)

Joseph's Gift

1999

Joseph's Gift

as

James Saunders

Willie & Phil

1980

Willie & Phil

as

Thin Boy

American Flyers

1985

American Flyers

as

Jerome

Love Songs

1999

Love Songs

as

Champ

Women at West Point

1979

Women at West Point

as

Russell Baker

Stuart Hall: Representation & the Media

1997

Stuart Hall: Representation & the Media

as

Archive Footage (Hollywood Shuffle)

The Monkey Hustle

1976

The Monkey Hustle

as

Musician

Jackie's Back!

1999

Jackie's Back!

as

Robert Townsend

M*A*S*H

M*A*S*H

as

Patient

The Parent 'Hood

The Parent 'Hood

as

Robert Peterson

Amazing Stories

Amazing Stories

as

Billy Burliss

The Bear

The Bear

as

Emmanuel Adamu

Black Lightning

Black Lightning

as

Dr. Napier Frank

Production

Crew

Directing