Robert Townsend Biography (1957-)

Born February 6, 1957, in Chicago, IL; son of Robert and Shirley (maiden name, Jenkins) Townsend. Addresses: Office: Creative Artists Agency, 9830Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90212-1825.

Gender
Male
Occupation
Actor, director, producer, writer
Birth Details
February 6, 1957
Chicago, Illinois

Famous Works

  • CREDITS
  • Film Appearances
  • Cooley High, American International, 1975
  • (Uncredited) Musician, Monkey Hustle, 1977
  • Thin Boy, Willie & Phil, 1980
  • Lester, Streets of Fire, Universal, 1983
  • Corporal Ellis, Soldier's Story, Columbia, 1983
  • Jerome, American Flyers, Warner Bros., 1985
  • Dwight, Odd Jobs, TriStar, 1986
  • Manny Espanoza, Ratboy, Warner Bros., 1986
  • Bobby Taylor, Jasper, Speed, and Sam Ace, Hollywood Shuffle, Samuel Goldwyn, 1987
  • (Uncredited) I'm Gonna Git You Sucka, 1988
  • Standup comic, That's Adequate, 1989
  • Maubee, The Mighty Quinn, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)/United Artists, 1989
  • Duck, The Five Heartbeats, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1991
  • Jefferson Reed, The Meteor Man (also known as Meteor Man: An Urban Fairy Tale), MGM, 1993
  • Thompson, Joseph's Gift, 1998
  • Peyton Cody, The Taxman, Phaedra Cinema, 1999
  • Book of Love, Artisan Entertainment, 2000
  • Film Director
  • (And producer) Hollywood Shuffle, Samuel Goldwyn, 1987
  • Eddie Murphy: Raw, 1987
  • (And executive producer) The Five Heartbeats, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1991
  • The Meteor Man (also known as Meteor Man: An Urban Fairy Tale), MGM, 1993
  • B*A*P*S (also known as B.A.P.S), 1997
  • Fraternity Boys, 1999
  • Television Appearances
  • Movies
  • Baker, The Bounty Man, ABC, 1972
  • Russell Baker, Women at West Point, CBS, 1979
  • Randy, Senior Trip!, CBS, 1981
  • James, In Love with an Older Woman, CBS, 1982
  • Charlie Love, Mercenary II: Thick & Thin, 1997
  • Champ, Love Songs, Showtime, 1999
  • Jackie's Back! (also known as Jackie's Back: Portrait of a Diva), Lifetime, 1999
  • Jim/bronze eagle, Up, Up and Away, The Disney Channel, 2000
  • Mr. Five, I Was a Teenage Faust, 2001
  • Series
  • The Great American Dream Machine, 1971
  • Skit characters, The Carol Burnett Show, 1991
  • Host, Townsend Television (also known as The Robert Townsend Variety Show), Fox, 1993
  • Robert Peterson, The Parent `Hood, The WB, 1995
  • Episodic
  • Patient, "Bombshells," M*A*S*H, 1982
  • Rotating host, The Late Show, Fox, 1986
  • Also appeared in Another Page, PBS.
  • Specials
  • "Rodney Dangerfield: It's Not Easy Bein' Me," On Location, HBO, 1986
  • "Robert Townsend and His Partners in Crime," HBO Comedy Hour, HBO,1987
  • "Uptown Comedy Express," On Location, HBO, 1987
  • That's What Friends Are For: AIDS Concert '88, Showtime, 1988
  • "Take No Prisoners: Robert Townsend and His Partners in Crime II," HBOComedy Hour, HBO, 1988
  • Host, Freedomfest: Nelson Mandela's 70th Birthday Celebration, Fox, 1988
  • "The Mutiny Has Just Begun: Robert Townsend and His Partners in Crime III," HBO Comedy Hour, HBO, 1989
  • "Playing the Nutroll: Robert Townsend and His Partners in Crime IV," HBO Comedy Hour, HBO, 1989
  • All-Star Tribute to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, NBC, 1989
  • 16th Annual Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame, syndicated, 1989
  • Motown 30: What's Goin' On!, CBS, 1990
  • Cutting Edge with Maria Shriver, NBC, 1990
  • A Party For Richard Pryor, CBS, 1991
  • Go Party!, Disney, 1991
  • A Comedy Salute to Michael Jordan (also known as Los Angeles and Chicago Salute to Michael Jordan), NBC, 1991
  • Celebrate the Soul of American Music, syndicated, 1991
  • Host, Ray Charles: 50 Years in Music, Uh-Huh!, Fox, 1991
  • Host, The Movie Awards, CBS, 1991
  • Magic Johnson's All-Star Slam 'N Jam, syndicated, 1992
  • The Issue Is Race, PBS, 1992
  • Comic Relief V, HBO, 1992
  • Back to School '92 (also known as Education First!), CBS, 1992
  • Laughing Matters (also known as Funny Business), Showtime,1993
  • Count on Me, PBS, 1993
  • Host, Met Life Presents the Apollo Theatre Hall of Fame, NBC, 1994
  • Co-host, An Evening of Stars: A Celebration of Educational Excellence, syndicated, 2001
  • Miniseries
  • Dr. Barry Sullivan, Bliss, 1995
  • Host (volume 2: Route 66), Great Drives, PBS, 1996
  • Awards Presentations
  • The 2nd Annual American Comedy Awards, ABC, 1988
  • The 20th Annual NAACP Image Awards, NBC, 1988
  • MTV's 1989 Video Music Awards, MTV, 1989
  • The 22nd Annual NAACP Image Awards, NBC, 1990
  • The 24th Annual NAACP Image Awards, NBC, 1992
  • Television Director
  • Movies
  • Love Songs, 1999
  • Jackie's Back (also known as Jackie's Back: Portrait of a Diva), Showtime, 1999
  • The 20th Century: From behind Closed Doors, 1999
  • Up, Up, and Away!, The Disney Channel, 2000
  • Little Richard, NBC, 2000
  • Livin' for Love: The Natalie Cole Story (also known as The Natalie Cole Story), 2000
  • Holiday Heart, 2000
  • Carmen: A Hip Hopera, 2001
  • 10,000 Black Men Named George, 2001
  • Series
  • The Parent `Hood, The WB, 1995
  • Specials
  • "Robert Townsend and His Partners in Crime," HBO Comedy Hour, HBO,1987
  • "The Mutiny Has Just Begun: Robert Townsend and His Partners in Crime III," HBO Comedy Hour, HBO, 1989
  • "Playing the Nutroll: Robert Townsend and His Partners in Crime IV," HBO Comedy Hour, HBO, 1989
  • Townsend Television (also known as The Robert Townsend VarietyShow), Fox, 1993
  • Television Executive Producer
  • Specials
  • "Robert Townsend and His Partners in Crime," HBO Comedy Hour, HBO,1987
  • "Take No Prisoners: Robert Townsend and His Partners in Crime II," HBOComedy Hour, HBO, 1988
  • "The Mutiny Has Just Begun: Robert Townsend and His Partners in Crime III," HBO Comedy Hour, HBO, 1989
  • "Playing the Nutroll: Robert Townsend and His Partners in Crime IV," HBO Comedy Hour, HBO, 1989
  • Townsend Television (also known as The Robert Townsend VarietyShow), Fox, 1993
  • Stage Appearances
  • (New York debut) Calvin, Take It from the Top, Henry Street Settlement, 1979
  • Charley Soul, Bones, Riverside Church, New York City, 1980
  • WRITINGS
  • Screenplays
  • (With Keenan Ivory Wayans) Hollywood Shuffle, Samuel Goldwyn, 1987
  • (With Wayans) The Five Heartbeats, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1991
  • The Meteor Man (also known as Meteor Man: An Urban Fairy Tale), MGM, 1993
  • Television Specials
  • "Take No Prisoners: Robert Townsend and His Partners in Crime II," HBOComedy Hour, HBO, 1988
  • "The Mutiny Has Just Begun: Robert Townsend and His Partners in Crime III," HBO Comedy Hour, HBO, 1989
  • "Playing the Nutroll: Robert Townsend and His Partners in Crime IV," HBO Comedy Hour, HBO, 1989
  • Television Series
  • Townsend Television (also known as The Robert Townsend VarietyShow), Fox, 1993

Further Reference

OTHER SOURCES

    Periodicals
    • Hollywood Reporter, January 26, 1988, pp. S27-28
    • Interview, February, 1991, pp. 75-76

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