Acting
Robert Townsend
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.
Movies with Robert Townsend
The Warriors
1979
Undercover Brother
2002
Streets of Fire
1984
I'm Gonna Git You Sucka
1988
The Meteor Man
1993
Love Songs
1999
A Soldier's Story
1984
The Mighty Quinn
1989
Scooby-Doo! Music of the Vampire
2012
American Flyers
1985
Jackie's Back!
1999
Up, Up, and Away
2000
Cooley High
1975
The 51st AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Eddie Murphy
2026
The Five Heartbeats
1991
That's Adequate
1989
I Was a Teenage Faust
2002
Senior Trip
1981
Odd Jobs
1986
Black Listed
2003
Hollywood Shuffle
1987
Book of Love: The Definitive Reason Why Men Are Dogs
2002
Joseph's Gift
1999
Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
2009
Ratboy
1986
Willie & Phil
1980
Sidney Poitier: One Bright Light
2000
Of Boys and Men
2008
The Monkey Hustle
1976
Richard Pryor: I Ain't Dead Yet, #*%$#@!!
2003
Mahogany
1975
Playin' for Love
2015
Women at West Point
1979
In Love with an Older Woman
1982
Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute
1988
Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 4
1989
Taxman
1999
Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 3
1989
Mercenary II: Thick & Thin
1999
Directors on Directing
2009
Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 1
1987
Rodney Dangerfield: It's Not Easy Bein' Me
1986
Robin Harris: One Night Stand
1990
Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 2
1988
The Legend of Dolemite! Bigger & Badder
1994
Tao of The Golden Mask
2007
Uptown Comedy Express
1987
A Walk with Charles Burnett
2019
Stuart Hall: Representation & the Media
1997
TV Shows with Robert Townsend
The Bear
2022
Hollywood Squares
1998
M*A*S*H
1972
Black Lightning
2018
Amazing Stories
1985
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
1995
Before
2024
The Parent 'Hood
1995
Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man!
2026
Great Drives
1996
Black in the 80s
2005
Motown Live
1998
The Carol Burnett Show
1991