Robert Townsend
Acting • Born 1957-02-06
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.
Filmography
59 credits
Senior Trip
Movie • 1981
Randy
The Meteor Man
Movie • 1993
Jefferson Reed
The Mighty Quinn
Movie • 1989
Maubee
A Soldier's Story
Movie • 1984
Corporal Ellis
Hollywood Shuffle
Movie • 1987
Bobby Taylor
Richard Pryor: I Ain't Dead Yet, #*%$#@!!
Movie • 2003
Self
The Five Heartbeats
Movie • 1991
Duck
Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
Movie • 2009
Self
I'm Gonna Git You Sucka
Movie • 1988
Minor Role (uncredited)
Odd Jobs
Movie • 1986
Dwight
Directors on Directing
Movie • 2009
Self
Ratboy
Movie • 1986
Manny
The Warriors
Movie • 1979
Baseball Fury (uncredited)
Black Listed
Movie • 2003
Alan Chambers
Rodney Dangerfield: It's Not Easy Bein' Me
Movie • 1986
Self
Taxman
Movie • 1999
Peyton Cody
Of Boys and Men
Movie • 2008
Holden Cole
Tao of The Golden Mask
Movie • 2007
Up, Up, and Away
Movie • 2000
Jim Marshall / Bronze Eagle
Uptown Comedy Express
Movie • 1987
Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 2
Movie • 1988
Mercenary II: Thick & Thin
Movie • 1999
Charlie Love
Robin Harris: One Night Stand
Movie • 1990
Bum #3
Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 1
Movie • 1987
Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 3
Movie • 1989
Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 4
Movie • 1989
Cooley High
Movie • 1975
Basketball Player in Gym Class
I Was a Teenage Faust
Movie • 2002
Mr. Five
Playin' for Love
Movie • 2015
Coach Banks
That's Adequate
Movie • 1989
Standup Comic
Streets of Fire
Movie • 1984
The Sorels - Lester
Undercover Brother
Movie • 2002
Mr. UB
The Legend of Dolemite! Bigger & Badder
Movie • 1994
Self
In Love with an Older Woman
Movie • 1982
James
A Walk with Charles Burnett
Movie • 2019
Self
Book of Love: The Definitive Reason Why Men Are Dogs
Movie • 2002
Scooby-Doo! Music of the Vampire
Movie • 2012
Vampire Actor #1 (voice)
Joseph's Gift
Movie • 1999
James Saunders
Willie & Phil
Movie • 1980
Thin Boy
American Flyers
Movie • 1985
Jerome
Love Songs
Movie • 1999
Champ
Women at West Point
Movie • 1979
Russell Baker
Stuart Hall: Representation & the Media
Movie • 1997
Archive Footage (Hollywood Shuffle)
Sidney Poitier: One Bright Light
Movie • 2000
The Monkey Hustle
Movie • 1976
Musician
Jackie's Back!
Movie • 1999
Robert Townsend
Mahogany
Movie • 1975
Extra (uncredited)
M*A*S*H
TV • 1972
Patient
The Parent 'Hood
TV • 1995
Robert Peterson
The Carol Burnett Show
TV • 1991
Black in the 80s
TV • 2005
Self
Amazing Stories
TV • 1985
Billy Burliss
The Bear
TV • 2022
Emmanuel Adamu
Hollywood Squares
TV • 1998
Self - Panelist
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
TV • 1995
Rumpelstiltskin (voice)
Black Lightning
TV • 2018
Dr. Napier Frank
Before
TV • 2024
Jackson
Motown Live
TV • 1998
Self - Host
Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man!
TV • 2026
Self - Comedian & Filmmaker