Robert Townsend
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
M*A*S*H
Patient
The Bear
Emmanuel Adamu
Hollywood Squares
Black Lightning
Dr. Napier Frank
The Legend of Dolemite! Bigger & Badder
Self
Amazing Stories
Billy Burliss
Richard Pryor: I Ain't Dead Yet, #*%$#@!!
Self
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
Rumpelstiltskin (voice)
Rodney Dangerfield: It's Not Easy Bein' Me
Self
Book of Love: The Definitive Reason Why Men Are Dogs
The Warriors
Baseball Fury (uncredited)
The Meteor Man
Jefferson Reed
The Parent 'Hood
Robert Peterson
Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 2
Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 1
A Soldier's Story
Corporal Ellis
Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 4
Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 3
Before
Jackson
The Five Heartbeats
Duck
Streets of Fire
The Sorels - Lester
American Flyers
Jerome
The Mighty Quinn
Maubee
Stuart Hall: Representation & the Media
Archive Footage (Hollywood Shuffle)
Undercover Brother
Mr. UB
Playin' for Love
Coach Banks
Scooby-Doo! Music of the Vampire
Vampire Actor #1 (voice)
Women at West Point
Russell Baker
Cooley High
Basketball Player in Gym Class
Directors on Directing
Self
Ratboy
Manny
Love Songs
Champ
Taxman
Peyton Cody
In Love with an Older Woman
James
Jackie's Back!
Robert Townsend
I'm Gonna Git You Sucka
Minor Role (uncredited)
Willie & Phil
Thin Boy
Mahogany
Extra (uncredited)
Black in the 80s
Self
A Walk with Charles Burnett
Self
Of Boys and Men
Holden Cole
The Monkey Hustle
Musician
Tao of The Golden Mask
Up, Up, and Away
Jim Marshall / Bronze Eagle
Hollywood Shuffle
Bobby Taylor
The Carol Burnett Show
Mercenary II: Thick & Thin
Charlie Love
Sidney Poitier: One Bright Light
Joseph's Gift
James Saunders
That's Adequate
Standup Comic
I Was a Teenage Faust
Mr. Five
Odd Jobs
Dwight
Motown Live
Self - Host
Black Listed
Alan Chambers
Senior Trip
Randy
Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
Self
Robin Harris: One Night Stand
Bum #3