
Robert Townsend
Department: Acting
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.
Known For

Senior Trip
1981

The Meteor Man
1993

The Mighty Quinn
1989

A Soldier's Story
1984

Hollywood Shuffle
1987

Richard Pryor: I Ain't Dead Yet, #*%$#@!!
2003

The Five Heartbeats
1991

Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
2009

I'm Gonna Git You Sucka
1988

Odd Jobs
1986

Directors on Directing
2009

Ratboy
1986

The Warriors
1979

Black Listed
2003

Rodney Dangerfield: It's Not Easy Bein' Me
1986

Taxman
1999

Of Boys and Men
2008

Tao of The Golden Mask
2007

Up, Up, and Away
2000

Uptown Comedy Express
1987

Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 2
1988

Mercenary II: Thick & Thin
1999

Robin Harris: One Night Stand
1990

Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 1
1987

Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 4
1989

Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 3
1989

Cooley High
1975

I Was a Teenage Faust
2002

Playin' for Love
2015

That's Adequate
1989

Streets of Fire
1984

Undercover Brother
2002

The Legend of Dolemite! Bigger & Badder
1994

In Love with an Older Woman
1982

A Walk with Charles Burnett
2019

Book of Love: The Definitive Reason Why Men Are Dogs
2002

Scooby-Doo! Music of the Vampire
2012

Joseph's Gift
1999

Willie & Phil
1980

American Flyers
1985

Love Songs
1999

Women at West Point
1979

Stuart Hall: Representation & the Media
1997

Sidney Poitier: One Bright Light
2000

The Monkey Hustle
1976

Jackie's Back!
1999

Mahogany
1975

Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute
1988

M*A*S*H
1972

The Parent 'Hood
1995

The Carol Burnett Show
1991

Black in the 80s
2005

Amazing Stories
1985

The Bear
2022

Hollywood Squares
1998

Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
1995

Black Lightning
2018

Before
2024

Motown Live
1998

Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man!
2026