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 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.
Known for
Kaleidoscope
The Bear
Ms. Pat: Y'all Wanna Hear Something Crazy?
Colin in Black and White
The Wonder Years
A Walk with Charles Burnett
Making The Five Heartbeats
Black Lightning
Playin' for Love
Bill Cosby: Far From Finished
In the Hive
Scooby-Doo! Music of the Vampire
Directors on Directing
Diary of a Single Mom
Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
Of Boys and Men
Phantom Punch
Edge of Outside
South of Nowhere
Black Listed
Richard Pryor: I Ain't Dead Yet, #*%$#@!!
I Was a Teenage Faust
Undercover Brother
10,000 Black Men Named George
Book of Love: The Definitive Reason Why Men Are Dogs
Carmen: A Hip Hopera
Holiday Heart
Little Richard
Sidney Poitier: One Bright Light
Up, Up, and Away
Taxman
Mercenary II: Thick & Thin
From Behind Closed Doors
Jackie's Back!
Love Songs
Joseph's Gift
Hollywood Squares
B.A.P.S
Stuart Hall: Representation & the Media
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
The Parent 'Hood
The Legend of Dolemite! Bigger & Badder
The Meteor Man
The Five Heartbeats
Robin Harris: One Night Stand
Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 4
Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 3
The Mighty Quinn
That's Adequate
I'm Gonna Git You Sucka
Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 2
Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 1
Eddie Murphy Raw
Uptown Comedy Express
Hollywood Shuffle
Ratboy
Rodney Dangerfield: It's Not Easy Bein' Me
Odd Jobs
Amazing Stories
American Flyers
A Soldier's Story
Streets of Fire
In Love with an Older Woman
Senior Trip
Willie and Phil
Women at West Point
The Warriors
The Monkey Hustle
Cooley High
M*A*S*H