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IMDbPro

Robert Townsend(I)

  • Director
  • Actor
  • Producer
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Robert Townsend
Trailer for Playin' for Love
Play trailer1:51
Playin' for Love (2013)
9 Videos
99+ Photos
Robert Townsend transcends any medium he touches whether he's performing stand up, acting, writing, directing, producing, or running a television network. A Chicago native, Townsend is often referred to as one of the "Godfathers" of the Independent Film World." With over 30 years in the business, he has made an indelible mark in Hollywood with an extensive list of credits. Robert's genius first revealed itself in elementary school. As a kid Robert was always fascinated with television, watching and studying it tirelessly, he began to practice acting out scenes and impersonating famous characters. At his school during a reading of Shakespeare's Oedipus Rex he dazzled the class with his ability to transform effortlessly into character, as a result Robert's remarkable versatile talent as a young actor was born and caught the attention of Chicago's Experimental Bag Theatre. Robert made an unforgettable mark in his hometown of Chicago, where he went onto New York's renowned comedy club the Improvisation that initiated his career as a stand-up comedian. Then for Robert it was on to Hollywood, where he dabbled in a mixture of industries and found that with his versatile talent, he was able to adapt easily from being a comedian to a full-screen actor. Robert's first film appearance was (uncredited) in popular urban classic, Cooley High (1975). His break came while performing on various television comedy specials including Rodney Dangerfield: It's Not Easy Bein' Me (1986) and Uptown Comedy Express (1987). Although comedy had been his forte during the early part of his career, he knew he was destined to be on the big screen. He landed the role of a lifetime co-starring opposite Denzel Washington in A Soldier's Story (1984), and appeared with Diane Lane in Streets of Fire (1984) and Kevin Costner in American Flyers (1985).

Once in Hollywood, seeing the difficulty Black Actors had and the lack of good work available in the film industry, left a burning desire for Robert to step behind the camera. With his acting career in high gear, Robert's career took a turn for the best when Robert Townsend the "independent filmmaker" was born. He wanted to do something to fill this void and without formal film education or outside funding (he used his own credit cards to finance), Robert wrote, directed, produced and starred in his own first film. The result was the critically acclaimed Hollywood Shuffle (1987), a satire, depicting the trials and tribulations of Black Actors in Hollywood. The success of this film forced "Hollywood" to recognize and appreciate the visionary versatile talent of "Robert Townsend", Tinseltown's newest, talented actor and filmmaker.

Following the success of "Hollywood Shuffle," film projects continued to pour in. He was soon directing Eddie Murphy in Eddie Murphy: Raw (1987). His next film endeavor was the popular tearjerker classic The Five Heartbeats (1991)," a semi-autobiographical piece; reminiscent of the 60s R & B male groups and the ups and downs of the music industry. This classic continues to be a favorite amongst audiences and one of the most talked about films in the industry. The Meteor Man (1993) that he also wrote, directed and starred in included a stellar cast: James Earl Jones, Bill Cosby and Eddie Griffin.

In between features, Robert created and produced his ground breaking Cable Ace award-winning Partners in Crime (2005) variety specials for HBO and highly praised Townsend Television (1993) for FOX television. He also created and starred in the WB Network hit series The Parent 'Hood (1995).

Townsend has made history by being nominated for over 30 NAACP Image Awards for film and television. At the 2001 NAACP Image Awards he directed three performers nominated in the best actor/actress category in three different films: Leon, for his role in NBC's Little Richard (2000); Alfre Woodard in the Showtime Movie Holiday Heart (2000) (which also garnered her a Golden Globe nomination) and Natalie Cole for her gripping self-portrayal in Livin' for Love: The Natalie Cole Story (2000) (for which she won the coveted Image Award for best actress). Townsend continued to helm films for the small screen: Carmen: A Hip Hopera (2001) for MTV Films, starring Beyoncé (one of the highest rated shows for MTV) and Image Award winner, 10,000 Black Men Named George (2002) for Showtime, a highly acclaimed period piece about the Pullman porter strike, starring Andre Braugher and Charles S. Dutton.

Robert has worked with some of the top talent in Hollywood including: Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Denzel Washington, Halle Berry, Morgan Freeman, Alfre Woodard, Louis Gossett Jr., Keenen Ivory Wayans and Chris Tucker, just to name a few and is responsible for discovering many of Hollywood's A-List talent before they became household names. He is the mastermind behind many of Hollywood's favorite and best-remembered movies and hit series. Robert's body of work has been seen on MGM, Disney, Fox, NBC, HBO, WB and MTV.

While busy as a performer and filmmaker, Robert always makes time to participate in humanitarian efforts and speak to various organizations. As a longtime speaker for the United Negro College Fund and the NAACP, his concern for inner city youth takes him through out the country to inspire young people to follow their dreams. In addition, Robert shares his business expertise with various Fortune 500 companies. Townsend is also a spokesman for the Milken Family Fund an organization created to recognize outstanding educators in the country, and stress to children the importance of education and respect for teachers. He has traveled with The Milken Family Fund to Chicago, Boston, Sacramento, Philadelphia, Washington, DC and Los Angeles to recognize deserving teachers and inspire and motive students around the country.

Although he has many accolades, but none are more important than his family. His four children are the center of his heart. Following in his footsteps, his 3 daughters; Grace, Sierra and Skylar aka "The T Unit". They have received their first TV credit for the "B5 Christmas Special" aired on the BFC, a concept they came up with and pitched to their father. Despite his demanding schedule, Robert makes sure he spends quality time with his son, Max and his three daughters.

Always a pioneer, Townsend took the helm as President and CEO of Production for The Black Family Channel (BFC) creating and spearheading production for BFC's top rated shows. Where he ran the cable network for four years before it was sold to the Gospel Music Channel in the Spring of 2007. During his reign, he created unprecedented original programming for the network. Showing his unstoppable genius, in his short time as a television executive Townsend reached several milestones; he created over 15 new shows for the network with limited financing; of which two shows were nominated for a prestigious NAIMC Vision Award (National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications), The Thou$and Dollar Bee and Lisa Knight and the Round Table), and he was voted one of the Most Influential Minorities in Cable by Cable World Magazine.

Townsend has recently returned in front of the camera to star opposite Angela Bassett in the faith based film Of Boys and Men (2008). He has also directed Golden Globe winner Ving Rhames in a biopic about the troubled boxing legend Sonny Liston entitled Phantom Punch (2008). Townsend also directed Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy (2009), a comedy documentary on the history of African America Comedians from slavery to present, with interviews including such legends as Bill Cosby, Dick Gregory, Chris Rock and the Wayans. As a Hollywood Icon and humanitarian, Townsend's mission is to create quality programming for everyone to enjoy and to create a classic body of work that would be timeless.
BornFebruary 6, 1957
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BornFebruary 6, 1957
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Photos102

The Five Heartbeats
Robert Townsend in The Meteor Man (1993)
Musical Theater of Hope Headshot
Robert Townsend
Robert Townsend
Robert Townsend in Hollywood Shuffle (1987)
Suzzanne Douglas and Robert Townsend in The Parent 'Hood (1995)
Kenny Blank and Robert Townsend in The Parent 'Hood (1995)
Roxanne Beckford, Suzzanne Douglas, and Robert Townsend in The Parent 'Hood (1995)
Robert Townsend in The Parent 'Hood (1995)
Suzzanne Douglas, Robert Townsend, and Curtis Williams in The Parent 'Hood (1995)
Kenny Blank and Robert Townsend in The Parent 'Hood (1995)

Known for

Anne-Marie Johnson and Robert Townsend in Hollywood Shuffle (1987)
Hollywood Shuffle
6.9
  • Director
  • 1987
Robert Townsend in The Meteor Man (1993)
The Meteor Man
5.2
  • Director
  • 1993
Ashli Adams, Tyrone Burton, Suzzanne Douglas, Reagan Gomez-Preston, Robert Townsend, and Curtis Williams in The Parent 'Hood (1995)
The Parent 'Hood
6.9
TV Series
  • Director
Denzel Washington and Robert Townsend in The Mighty Quinn (1989)
The Mighty Quinn
6.0
  • Maubee
  • 1989

Credits

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IMDbPro

Director

  • Giancarlo Esposito, Paz Vega, Jai Courtney, Rosaline Elbay, Peter Mark Kendall, and Tati Gabrielle in Kaleidoscope (2023)
    Kaleidoscope
  • The Best Man: The Final Chapters (2022)
    The Best Man: The Final Chapters
  • Ms. Pat: Y'all Wanna Hear Something Crazy? (2022)
    Ms. Pat: Y'all Wanna Hear Something Crazy?
  • The Wonder Years (2021)
    The Wonder Years
  • Jaden Michael and Colin Kaepernick in Colin in Black & White (2021)
    Colin in Black & White
  • Tracy Morgan in The Last O.G. (2018)
    The Last O.G.
  • Black Lightning (2017)
    Black Lightning
  • A Walk with Charles Burnett
  • American Soul (2019)
    American Soul
  • Harry Lennix in Making the Five Heartbeats (2018)
    Making the Five Heartbeats
  • Love Is_ (2018)
    Love Is_
  • Bill Cosby: 77
  • Bill Cosby: Far from Finished (2013)
    Bill Cosby: Far from Finished
  • Esai Morales, Salli Richardson-Whitfield, and Robert Townsend in Playin' for Love (2013)
    Playin' for Love
  • In the Hive (2012)
    In the Hive

Actor

  • Black Lightning (2017)
    Black Lightning
  • Esai Morales, Salli Richardson-Whitfield, and Robert Townsend in Playin' for Love (2013)
    Playin' for Love
  • Scooby-Doo! Music of the Vampire (2012)
    Scooby-Doo! Music of the Vampire
    • (voice)
  • Of Boys and Men (2008)
    Of Boys and Men
  • Black Listed (2003)
    Black Listed
  • Denise Richards, Aunjanue Ellis, and Eddie Griffin in Undercover Brother (2002)
    Undercover Brother
  • The Black Experience in Cinema
  • Morgan Fairchild, Robert Townsend, and Josh Zuckerman in I Was a Teenage Faust (2002)
    I Was a Teenage Faust
  • Robin Givens, Mari Morrow, Anthony 'Treach' Criss, Loretta Devine, Eric George, Richard T. Jones, and Salli Richardson-Whitfield in Book of Love: The Definitive Reason Why Men Are Dogs (2002)
    Book of Love: The Definitive Reason Why Men Are Dogs
  • Up, Up, and Away! (2000)
    Up, Up, and Away!
  • Freddy Rodríguez in Joseph's Gift (1999)
    Joseph's Gift
  • Ashli Adams, Tyrone Burton, Suzzanne Douglas, Reagan Gomez-Preston, Robert Townsend, and Curtis Williams in The Parent 'Hood (1995)
    The Parent 'Hood
  • Jenifer Lewis in Jackie's Back! (1999)
    Jackie's Back!
  • Louis Gossett Jr., Lynn Whitfield, Andre Braugher, and Robert Townsend in Love Songs (1999)
    Love Songs
  • Mercenary II: Thick & Thin (1998)
    Mercenary II: Thick & Thin

Producer

  • Reimagining Kubrick: Dr. Strangelove
  • A Walk with Charles Burnett
  • Harry Lennix in Making the Five Heartbeats (2018)
    Making the Five Heartbeats
  • Esai Morales, Salli Richardson-Whitfield, and Robert Townsend in Playin' for Love (2013)
    Playin' for Love
  • In the Hive (2012)
    In the Hive
  • Los Americans (2011)
    Los Americans
  • Diary of a Single Mom (2009)
    Diary of a Single Mom
  • Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy (2009)
    Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
  • Of Boys and Men (2008)
    Of Boys and Men
  • Partners in Crime: The Next Generation Atlanta
  • CeCe Winans Straight Up
  • Thou$and Dollar Bee on the Road
  • Playhouse 22 (2006)
    Playhouse 22
  • Jilene Coggins in The Envy Life (2006)
    The Envy Life
  • Partners in Crime

Videos9

Robert Townsend's Sizzle Reel
Demo Reel 9:05
Robert Townsend's Sizzle Reel
Trailer
Trailer 1:37
Trailer
Official Trailer
Trailer 1:50
Official Trailer
Playin' for Love
Trailer 1:51
Playin' for Love
The Five Heartbeats
Trailer 1:26
The Five Heartbeats
A Soldier's Story
Trailer 1:23
A Soldier's Story
The Mighty Quinn
Trailer 0:30
The Mighty Quinn
The Meteor Man
Trailer 1:04
The Meteor Man
Directors On Directing
Trailer 1:56
Directors On Directing

Personal details

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  • Official sites
    • Facebook Fan Page
    • Official Site
    • February 6, 1957
    • Chicago, Illinois, USA
    • September 15, 1990 - August 9, 2001 (divorced, 3 children)
    • Skye Townsend
  • Other works
    Xommercial break teaser for Anamainiacs on Kids' WB (Late 90s)
  • Publicity listings
    • 1 Article

Did you know

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  • Trivia
    His daughter, Sierra, is best friends with Denzel Washington's daugther, Olivia.

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