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