Robert Towne Picture
STARmeter
SEE RANK
Up 4,051 this week

Robert Towne (I)

Writer, director, producer, actor. Born in Los Angeles, California, USA, and raised in the seaport town of San Pedro. Got his start acting and writing for legendary exploitation director/producer Roger Corman. Came into his own during the 1970s when he was regarded as one of the finest screenwriters in Hollywood. Began directing with mixed success... See full bio »
6 photos »

Quick Links

Explore More
Show Less

IMDb's Guide to Streaming

Check out IMDb's Streaming Guide to see what's new on Netflix, find out if your favorite streaming show has been renewed or canceled, and more.

Visit our Streaming Guide

Related News

See all related articles »

Around The Web

 | 

Powered by ZergNet

On Prime Video

See more on Prime Video »

Projects In Development

Dancing Bear
Pompeii
The 39 Steps
The Battle of Britain
Details only on IMDbPro »
Create a list »

User Lists

Related lists from IMDb users

My Best screenwriters for movies
a list of 24 people
created 3 months ago
 
40 Greatest Screenwriters of all time
a list of 40 people
created 21 Sep 2016
 
Top 25 Greatest Screenwriters Of All Time
a list of 26 people
created 11 Jul 2014
 
Masters of Cinema: Screenwriters
a list of 25 people
created 18 Dec 2012
 
Screenwriters I admire
a list of 44 people
created 12 Apr 2012
 
See all related lists »

Do you have a demo reel?

Add it to your IMDbPage

How Much Have You Seen?

How much of Robert Towne's work have you seen?

User Polls

See more polls »
Won 1 Oscar. Another 11 wins & 9 nominations. See more awards »

Known For

Chinatown
Chinatown Writer
(1974)
Mission: Impossible
Mission: Impossible Writer
(1996)
Tequila Sunrise
Tequila Sunrise Writer
(1988)
The Last Detail
The Last Detail Writer
(1973)
Show Show all  | 
 |  Edit

Filmography

Hide Hide Show Show Writer (35 credits)
  Welcome to the Basement (TV Series) (1 episode, 2013) (screenplay - 1 episode, 2017)
- Shampoo (2017) ... (screenplay)
- Tough Guys Don't Dance (2013)
 2006 Ask the Dust (screenplay)
 2000 Mission: Impossible II (screenplay)
 1998 Without Limits (written by)
 1996 Mission: Impossible (screenplay)
 1994 Love Affair (screenplay)
 1993 The Firm (screenplay)
 1990 The Two Jakes (characters) / (written by)
 1990 Days of Thunder (screenplay) / (story)
 1988 Tequila Sunrise (written by)
 1988 Frantic (uncredited)
 1987 Tough Guys Don't Dance (uncredited)
 1986 8 Million Ways to Die (uncredited)
 1983 Deal of the Century (uncredited)
 1982 Personal Best (written by)
 1978 Heaven Can Wait (uncredited)
 1977 Orca (uncredited)
 1976 The Missouri Breaks (uncredited)
 1975 Shampoo (written by)
 1974 The Yakuza (screenplay)
 1974 Chinatown (written by)
 1974 The Parallax View (uncredited)
 1973 The Last Detail (screenplay)
 1972 The New Centurions (uncredited)
 1972 Cisco Pike (uncredited)
 1971/I Drive, He Said (uncredited)
 1968 Villa Rides (screenplay)
 1967 Bonnie and Clyde (uncredited)
 1964 The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (TV Series) (written by - 1 episode)
- The Dove Affair (1964) ... (written by)
 1964 The Tomb of Ligeia (screenplay)
  The Outer Limits (TV Series) (story by - 1 episode, 1964) (teleplay by - 1 episode, 1964)
- The Chameleon (1964) ... (story by) / (teleplay by)
 1964 Breaking Point (TV Series) (teleplay - 1 episode)
- So Many Pretty Girls, So Little Time (1964) ... (teleplay)
  The Lloyd Bridges Show (TV Series) (written by - 3 episodes, 1963) (teleplay - 1 episode, 1963)
- The Epidemic (1963) ... (written by)
- The Last Lion (1963) ... (written by)
- A Personal Matter (1963) ... (teleplay)
- My Daddy Can Lick Your Daddy (1963) ... (written by)
 1960 Last Woman on Earth (screenplay)
Show Show Producer (3 credits)
Show Show Actor (7 credits)
Show Show Director (4 credits)
Show Show Miscellaneous Crew (4 credits)
Show Show Thanks (5 credits)
Show Show Self (29 credits)
Show Show Archive footage (1 credit)
Edit

Personal Details

Publicity Listings:

1 Biographical Movie | 3 Articles | See more »

Alternate Names:

Robert Tubin | P.H. Vazak | Edward Wain
Edit

Did You Know?

Personal Quote:

The [American] dream was more "If you can be similar in that way, you can be American and have equal opportunities." Whereas today it's, how can I put it? It's kind of Balkanized: Black pride. Gay pride. White, Anglo-Saxon Protestant pride. All of these things, you know, they're more polarized, aren't they? The red and blue states. Christians, that's the most insidious aspect of it, giving into ... See more »

Trivia:

Ex-father-in-law of Charlie Hunnam. See more »

Trademark:

Reputation as Script Doctor Extraordinaire

Star Sign:

Sagittarius
Getting Started | Contributor Zone »

Contribute to This Page

Stream Comedy Titles With Prime Video

Explore popular comedy titles available to stream with Prime Video.

Start your free trial


Clear your history

Recently Viewed