Robert Townsendborn 1957

usually

Actor

Popularity

2.6

Famous

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.

Credits

A Walk with Charles Burnett
A Walk with Charles Burnett

2019

Documentary

as Self

0
0.1
Playin' for Love
Playin' for Love

2015

Comedy

as Coach Banks

5
0.2
Scooby-Doo! Music of the Vampire
Scooby-Doo! Music of the Vampire

2012

Adventure • Animation • Comedy • Family • Fantasy • Mystery

as Vampire Actor #1 (voice)

7.7
1.2
Directors on Directing
Directors on Directing

2009

Documentary

as Self

0
0.3
Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy

2009

Comedy • Documentary

as Self

8
0.2
Of Boys and Men
Of Boys and Men

2008

Drama

as Holden Cole

7.7
0.1
Edge of Outside
Edge of Outside

2006

Documentary

as Bobby Taylor (archive footage)

5.8
0.3
Black Listed
Black Listed

2003

Action • Drama • Thriller

as Alan Chambers

2.5
0.1
Richard Pryor: I Ain't Dead Yet, #*%$#@!!
Richard Pryor: I Ain't Dead Yet, #*%$#@!!

2003

Comedy • Documentary

as Self

8
0.3
I Was a Teenage Faust
I Was a Teenage Faust

2002

Comedy • Family • Fantasy • TV Movie

as Mr. Five

5.5
0.4
Undercover Brother
Undercover Brother

2002

Action • Comedy

as Mr. UB

5.9
1.2
Sidney Poitier: One Bright Light
6
0.2
Up, Up, and Away
Up, Up, and Away

2000

Action • Comedy • Family • Fantasy • Science Fiction • TV Movie

as Jim Marshall / Bronze Eagle

5.7
0.5
Taxman
Taxman

1999

Action • Crime • Thriller

as Peyton Cody

3
0.4
Mercenary II: Thick & Thin
Mercenary II: Thick & Thin

1999

Action

as Charlie Love

4.7
0.3
Jackie's Back!
Jackie's Back!

1999

Comedy • Music • TV Movie

as Robert Townsend

7.8
0.7
Love Songs
Love Songs

1999

Romance

as Champ

8
0.2
Joseph's Gift
Joseph's Gift

1999

Drama

as James Saunders

0
0.3
Stuart Hall: Representation & the Media
Stuart Hall: Representation & the Media

1997

Documentary

as Archive Footage (Hollywood Shuffle)

8
0.2
The Legend of Dolemite! Bigger & Badder
The Legend of Dolemite! Bigger & Badder

1994

Comedy • Documentary

as Self

0
0.7
The Meteor Man
The Meteor Man

1993

Action • Comedy • Fantasy • Science Fiction

as Jefferson Reed

5.8
0.8
The Five Heartbeats
The Five Heartbeats

1991

Drama • Music

as Duck

7.4
1.1
Robin Harris: One Night Stand
0
0.1
The Mighty Quinn
The Mighty Quinn

1989

Action • Crime • Drama • Mystery • Thriller

as Maubee

6.1
0.9
That's Adequate
That's Adequate

1989

Comedy

as Standup Comic

3.6
0.3
I'm Gonna Git You Sucka
I'm Gonna Git You Sucka

1988

Action • Comedy • Crime

as Minor Role (uncredited)

6.4
1.1
Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 2
Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 2

1988

Comedy • Documentary • TV Movie

0
0.2
Uptown Comedy Express
Uptown Comedy Express

1987

Comedy • Documentary • TV Movie

0
0.1
Hollywood Shuffle
Hollywood Shuffle

1987

Comedy

as Bobby Taylor

6.4
0.6
Ratboy
Ratboy

1986

Comedy • Crime • Drama

as Manny

3.4
0.6
Rodney Dangerfield: It's Not Easy Bein' Me
7.9
0.1
Odd Jobs
Odd Jobs

1986

Comedy

as Dwight

4.2
0.4
American Flyers
American Flyers

1985

Drama

as Jerome

6.2
0.9
A Soldier's Story
A Soldier's Story

1984

Crime • Drama • Mystery

as Corporal Ellis

6.8
0.9
Streets of Fire
Streets of Fire

1984

Action

as The Sorels - Lester

6.9
1.5
In Love with an Older Woman
In Love with an Older Woman

1982

Comedy • Drama • TV Movie

as James

4
0.1
Senior Trip
Senior Trip

1981

Comedy • Drama • TV Movie

as Randy

4.2
0.2
Willie and Phil
Willie and Phil

1980

Comedy • Drama • Romance

as Thin Boy

4.4
0.3
Women at West Point
Women at West Point

1979

Drama • TV Movie

as Russell Baker

0
0.2
The Warriors
The Warriors

1979

Action • Thriller

as Baseball Fury (uncredited)

7.7
5.4
The Monkey Hustle
The Monkey Hustle

1976

Action • Comedy • Crime • Drama

as Musician

6.2
0.3
Cooley High
Cooley High

1975

Comedy • Drama • Romance

as Basketball Player in Gym Class

7
0.7

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