- Known For
- Acting
- Born
- February 6, 1957
- Place of Birth
- Chicago, Illinois, USA
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 t…
Filmography
movieThe 51st AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Eddie Murphy
2026 · Self
tvMel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man!
2026 · Self - Comedian & Filmmaker
tvBefore
2024 · Jackson
tvPoppa's House
2024 · Director
tvKaleidoscope
2023 · Director
tvThe Bear
2022 · Emmanuel Adamu
movieMs. Pat: Y'all Wanna Hear Something Crazy?
2022 · Director
tvPower Book IV: Force
2022 · Director
tvColin in Black and White
2021 · Director
tvThe Wonder Years
2021 · Director
movieA Walk with Charles Burnett
2019 · Self, Director
movieMaking The Five Heartbeats
2018 · Director, Producer
tvLove Is___
2018 · Director
tvBlack Lightning
2018 · Dr. Napier Frank, Director
moviePlayin' for Love
2015 · Coach Banks, Director, Writer, Producer
movieBill Cosby: Far From Finished
2013 · Director, Thanks
movieIn the Hive
2012 · Director
movieScooby-Doo! Music of the Vampire
2012 · Vampire Actor #1 (voice)
movieDirectors on Directing
2009 · Self
movieDiary of a Single Mom
2009 · Director
movieWhy We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
2009 · Self, Director
movieOf Boys and Men
2008 · Holden Cole, Producer
moviePhantom Punch
2008 · Director
Tao of The Golden Mask
movieTao of The Golden Mask
2007
tvSouth of Nowhere
2005 · Director
tvBlack in the 80s
2005 · Self
movieRichard Pryor: I Ain't Dead Yet, #*%$#@!!
2003 · Self
movieBlack Listed
2003 · Alan Chambers, Director
movieI Was a Teenage Faust
2002 · Mr. Five
movieUndercover Brother
2002 · Mr. UB
movie10,000 Black Men Named George
2002 · Director
movieBook of Love: The Definitive Reason Why Men Are Dogs
2002
movieCarmen: A Hip Hopera
2001 · Director
movieLivin' for Love: The Natalie Cole Story
2000 · Director
movieHoliday Heart
2000 · Director
movieLittle Richard
2000 · Director
movieSidney Poitier: One Bright Light
2000
movieUp, Up, and Away
2000 · Jim Marshall / Bronze Eagle, Director
movieTaxman
1999 · Peyton Cody
movieMercenary II: Thick & Thin
1999 · Charlie Love
movieFrom Behind Closed Doors
1999 · Director
movieJackie's Back!
1999 · Robert Townsend, Director
movieLove Songs
1999 · Champ, Director
movieJoseph's Gift
1999 · James Saunders
Motown Live
tvMotown Live
1998 · Self - Host
tvHollywood Squares
1998 · Self - Panelist
movieB.A.P.S
1997 · Director
movieStuart Hall: Representation & the Media
1997 · Archive Footage (Hollywood Shuffle)
Great Drives
tvGreat Drives
1996 · Self - Host
tvHappily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
1995 · Rumpelstiltskin (voice)
tvThe Parent 'Hood
1995 · Robert Peterson, Director, Producer, Creator
movieThe Legend of Dolemite! Bigger & Badder
1994 · Self
movieThe Meteor Man
1993 · Jefferson Reed, Director, Screenplay, Producer
The Carol Burnett Show
tvThe Carol Burnett Show
1991
movieThe Five Heartbeats
1991 · Duck, Director, Writer, Producer
movieRobin Harris: One Night Stand
1990 · Bum #3
movieRobert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 4
1989 · , Executive Producer, Director, Writer
movieRobert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 3
1989 · , Writer, Executive Producer, Director
movieThe Mighty Quinn
1989 · Maubee
movieThat's Adequate
1989 · Standup Comic
movieI'm Gonna Git You Sucka
1988 · Minor Role (uncredited)
movieRobert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 2
1988 · , Director, Writer
movieNelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute
1988 · Self
movieRobert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 1
1987 · , Director, Writer
movieEddie Murphy Raw
1987 · Director
movieUptown Comedy Express
1987 · , Writer
movieHollywood Shuffle
1987 · Bobby Taylor, Director, Writer, Producer
movieRatboy
1986 · Manny
movieRodney Dangerfield: It's Not Easy Bein' Me
1986 · Self, Writer
movieOdd Jobs
1986 · Dwight
tvAmazing Stories
1985 · Billy Burliss
movieAmerican Flyers
1985 · Jerome
movieA Soldier's Story
1984 · Corporal Ellis
movieStreets of Fire
1984 · The Sorels - Lester
movieIn Love with an Older Woman
1982 · James
movieSenior Trip
1981 · Randy
movieWillie & Phil
1980 · Thin Boy
movieWomen at West Point
1979 · Russell Baker
movieThe Warriors
1979 · Baseball Fury (uncredited)
movieThe Monkey Hustle
1976 · Musician
movieMahogany
1975 · Extra (uncredited)
movieCooley High
1975 · Basketball Player in Gym Class
tvM*A*S*H
1972 · Patient
Townsend Television
tvTownsend Television
— · Creator