Robert Townsend (born February 6, 1957 in Chicago, Illinois) is an American celebrity, comedian, film director, and writer. He’s famous for directing the movie Hollywood Shuffle–his independent film he funded, produced, and directed–and for his part as the dad on The Parent ‘Hood. Townsend had a short uncredited part in the film Cooley High (1975). His career included stand-up comedy routines which appeared on cable television. In 1982, Townsend appeared as among the key characters in the PBS show Another Page, a program produced by Kentucky Educational Television that educated literacy to adults through serialized storylines. During the 1980s and early 1990s, Townsend gained national publicity through his many appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Townsend created himself when he wrote, directed, produced, and starred in the comedy Hollywood Shuffle his 1987 movie about fighting black celebrities in Hollywood. He also created and starred in the WB Network’s situation comedy The Parent ‘Hood (1995). Townsend was Scheduling Director in the Black Family Channel, but the network closed down in 2007. Townsend created The Robert Townsend Foundation, a non-profit organization whose mission will be to introduce and help new unsigned filmmakers.
March 7, 1838, Oyster Bay, New York, United States
Place Of Birth
Chicago
Height
1.8 m
Profession
Film Producer, Actor, Screenwriter, Film director, Comedian, Television producer, Television Director, Writer
Education
Illinois State University,
Nationality
United States of America
Spouse
Cheri Jones (1990 - 2001)
Children
Skye Townsend, Sierra Townsend, Grace Townsend, Isaiah Townsend
Parents
Shirley Townsend, Ed Townsend
Music Groups
One and One Is One, Burlesque, The Weaver's Answer, The Blues Band, Family, The Manfreds, Medicine Head, Axis Point
Nominations
Ovation Award,
Movies
The Five Heartbeats, Hollywood Shuffle, The Meteor Man, A Soldier's Story, Playin' for Love, Eddie Murphy Raw, The Mighty Quinn, American Flyers, Holiday Heart, Streets of Fire, Up, Up and Away, Carmen: A Hip Hopera, Of Boys and Men, B*A*P*S, In the Hive, Phantom Punch, 10,000 Black Men Named George...
TV Shows
The Parent 'Hood, Townsend Television, Motown Live, Black in the 80s, The Carol Burnett Show (1991), The Late Show
TV Series executive producer - 77 episodes, 1995 - 1999 co-executive producer - 13 episodes, 1995
Townsend Television
1993
TV Series executive producer - 10 episodes
The Meteor Man
1993
producer
The Five Heartbeats
1991
producer
The Best of Robert Townsend & His Partners in Crime
1991
TV Special documentary executive producer
Robert Townsend and His Partners in Crime
1987
TV Movie executive producer
Hollywood Shuffle
1987
producer
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Playin' for Love
2013
Coach Banks
Scooby-Doo! Music of the Vampire
2012
Vampire Actor #1 (voice)
Of Boys and Men
2008
Holden Cole
Black Listed
2003
Video
Alan Chambers
I Was a Teenage Faust
2002
TV Movie
Mr. Five
Undercover Brother
2002
Mr. UB
Book of Love: The Definitive Reason Why Men Are Dogs
2002
Up, Up, and Away!
2000
TV Movie
Jim Marshall
Bronze Eagle
The Parent 'Hood
1995-1999
TV Series
Robert Peterson
Mercenary II: Thick & Thin
1999
TV Movie
Charlie Love
Jackie's Back!
1999
TV Movie
Robert Townsend
Love Songs
1999
TV Movie
Champ (segment "Love Song for Champ, A")
Joseph's Gift
1998
James Saunders
Motown Live
1998
TV Series
Host (1998-1999)
Taxman
1998
Peyton Cody
Bliss
1995
TV Movie
Dr. Barry Sullivan
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
1995
TV Series
Rumpelstiltskin
The Meteor Man
1993
Jefferson Reed
The Carol Burnett Show
1991
TV Series
Skit characters
The Five Heartbeats
1991
Duck
One Night Stand
1990
TV Series
Bum #3
The Mighty Quinn
1989
Maubee
That's Adequate
1989
Stand-up Comic
I'm Gonna Git You Sucka
1988
uncredited
Another Page
1988
TV Series
Robert Townsend and His Partners in Crime
1987
TV Movie
Hollywood Shuffle
1987
Bobby Taylor / Jasper / Speed / ...
Amazing Stories
1987
TV Series
Billy Burliss
Ratboy
1986
Manny
Odd Jobs
1986
Dwight
American Flyers
1985
Jerome
A Soldier's Story
1984
Corporal Ellis
Streets of Fire
1984
Lester - The Sorels
M*A*S*H
1982
TV Series
Patient
In Love with an Older Woman
1982
TV Movie
James
Senior Trip
1981
TV Movie
Randy
Willie & Phil
1980
Thin Boy
Women at West Point
1979
TV Movie
Russell Baker
The Warriors
1979
Baseball Fury (uncredited)
Watch Your Mouth
1978
TV Series
Prince Otoma
The Monkey Hu$tle
1976
Musician
Mahogany
1975
Extra (uncredited)
Cooley High
1975
Basketball Player in Gym Class (uncredited)
Writer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Playin' for Love
2013
Musical Theatre of Hope
2009
TV Series writer
Musical Theater of Hope
2009
TV Movie written by
The Beginning of B5: The Documentary
2006
Documentary archive footage
Black Listed
2003
Video written by
The Parent 'Hood
TV Series creator - 90 episodes, 1995 - 1999 story - 1 episode, 1995
Townsend Television
TV Series creator - 10 episodes, 1993 writer - 10 episodes, 1993
The Meteor Man
1993
written by
Comic Relief V
1992
TV Special
A Party for Richard Pryor
1991
TV Special documentary
The Five Heartbeats
1991
written by
The Best of Robert Townsend & His Partners in Crime
1991
TV Special documentary writer
A Comedy Salute to Michael Jordan
1991
TV Movie
Uptown Comedy Express
1987
TV Special
The Late Show
1987
TV Series 1 episode
Hollywood Shuffle
1987
written by
Director
Title
Year
Status
Character
Bill Cosby: 77
2014
Video
Bill Cosby: Far from Finished
2013
TV Special documentary
Playin' for Love
2013
In the Hive
2012
Diary of a Single Mom
2009-2011
TV Series 26 episodes
Musical Theatre of Hope
2009
TV Series
Musical Theater of Hope
2009
TV Movie
Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
2009
Documentary
Phantom Punch
2008
Unfabulous
2004-2007
TV Series 9 episodes
South of Nowhere
2005-2006
TV Series 4 episodes
The Story of Beyoncé
2006
TV Movie documentary earlier footage
The Beginning of B5: The Documentary
2006
Documentary
Partners in Crime
2005
TV Series
Black Listed
2003
Video
Soul Food
2002
TV Series 1 episode
10,000 Black Men Named George
2002
TV Movie
Carmen: A Hip Hopera
2001
TV Movie
Holiday Heart
2000
TV Movie
Livin' for Love: The Natalie Cole Story
2000
TV Movie
Little Richard
2000
TV Movie
Up, Up, and Away!
2000
TV Movie
Fraternity Boys
1999
The 20th Century: From Behind Closed Doors
1999
TV Movie documentary
The Parent 'Hood
1996-1999
TV Series 17 episodes
Jackie's Back!
1999
TV Movie
Love Songs
1999
TV Movie segment "Love Song for Jean and Ellis, A"
B*A*P*S
1997
Townsend Television
1993
TV Series film segment director - 1993
The Meteor Man
1993
The Five Heartbeats
1991
The Best of Robert Townsend & His Partners in Crime
1991
TV Special documentary
Robert Townsend and His Partners in Crime
1987
TV Movie
Eddie Murphy: Raw
1987
Documentary
Hollywood Shuffle
1987
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
Phantom Punch
2008
lyrics: "If You Want My Love", "The Man That I Love"
The Five Heartbeats
1991
performer: "America"
Hollywood Shuffle
1987
lyrics: "There's a Bat in My House" Batty Boy's Theme, "Rebels of the Night" / music: "There's a Bat in My House" Batty Boy's Theme / performer: "There's a Bat in My House" Batty Boy's Theme
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
Pretty Dudes
2017
TV Series special thanks - 1 episode
Bill Cosby: Far from Finished
2013
TV Special documentary special thanks
Laff Mobb Presents
2012
TV Series special thanks - 2 episodes
Ax 'Em
1992
special thanks
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Unsung
2016
TV Series documentary
Himself
All Def Movie Awards
2016
TV Movie
Himself
BET Awards 2014
2014
TV Special
Himself
BET Awards 2013
2013
TV Special
Himself
Datzhott
2013
TV Series
Himself
44th NAACP Image Awards
2013
TV Movie documentary
Himself
43rd NAACP Image Awards
2012
TV Special
Himself
Kingdom Come
2011
Documentary
Himself
The Mo'Nique Show
2010-2011
TV Series
Himself
BET Awards 2011
2011
TV Special
Himself
Way Black When: Primetime
2011
TV Series
Himself
The Brian McKnight Show
2010
TV Series
Himself
For Love of Liberty: The Story of America's Black Patriots
2010
TV Movie documentary voice
Directors on Directing
2009
Documentary
Robert Townsend
11-04-08: The Day of Change
2009
TV Movie
Himself
Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
2009
Documentary
Himself
Battleground Earth: Ludacris vs. Tommy Lee
2008
TV Series
Himself
Tao of the Golden Mask
2007
Documentary
Lead
We Don't Die, We Multiply: The Robin Harris Story
2006
Video documentary
Himself
An Evening of Stars: Tribute to Stevie Wonder
2006
TV Movie documentary
Himself
The Black Movie Awards
2005
TV Special
Himself
The 20th IFP Independent Spirit Awards
2005
TV Special documentary
Himself - Presenter: Best Cinematography
Black in the 80s
2005
TV Mini-Series documentary
Himself
Richard Pryor: I Ain't Dead Yet, #*%$#@!!
2003
TV Special documentary
Himself
3rd Annual BET Awards
2003
TV Special documentary
Himself
The Script
2002
Short
Himself
Casting for Glinda
2001
Video documentary
Himself
An Evening of Stars: A Celebration of Educational Excellence
2001
TV Special documentary
Himself - Co-Host
American Masters
1997-2000
TV Series documentary
Himself - Actor / Director / Himself
Hollywood Squares
1999
TV Series
Himself
Celebrity Profile
1998
TV Series documentary
Himself
The Daily Show
1998
TV Series
Himself
Motown Live
1998
TV Series
Himself
28th NAACP Image Awards
1997
TV Special
Himself
The Chris Rock Show
1997
TV Series
Himself
The Rosie O'Donnell Show
1997
TV Series
Himself
Late Show with David Letterman
1997
TV Series
Himself
Great Drives
1996
TV Mini-Series documentary
Host (volume 2: Route 66)
AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Steven Spielberg
1996
TV Special documentary
Himself
Martin
1996
TV Series
Himself
Soul Train's 25th Anniversary
1995
TV Movie documentary
Himself
HBO Comedy Showcase
1995
TV Series
Himself - Host (1995)
The Second Annual Comedy Hall of Fame
1994
TV Special
Himself
Soul Train
1994
TV Series documentary
Himself - Guest Host
Apollo Theatre Hall of Fame
1994
TV Movie documentary
Himself - Host
26th NAACP Image Awards
1994
TV Special
Himself
Townsend Television
1993
TV Series
Himself / Various Characters
Comic Relief V
1992
TV Special
Himself
Ebony/Jet Showcase
1987-1992
TV Series
Himself
A Party for Richard Pryor
1991
TV Special documentary
Himself
Ray Charles: 50 Years in Music
1991
TV Special documentary
Himself
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1987-1991
TV Series
Himself / Himself - Guest
The Best of Robert Townsend & His Partners in Crime
1991
TV Special documentary
Himself - Host / Various Characters
The Movie Awards
1991
TV Movie documentary
Himself - Host
A Comedy Salute to Michael Jordan
1991
TV Movie
Himself
The All New Mickey Mouse Club
1991
TV Series
Himself
Motown 30: What's Goin' On!
1990
TV Special
Himself
Saturday Night Clive
1990
TV Series
Himself
22nd NAACP Image Awards
1990
TV Special
Himself
All-Star Tribute to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
1989
TV Movie
Himself
The 1989 Annual MTV Video Music Awards
1989
TV Special
Himself
Late Night with David Letterman
1989
TV Series
Himself - Guest
New Edition Past and Present
1989
Video
Himself
21st NAACP Image Awards
1989
TV Special
Himself
Freedomfest: Nelson Mandela's 70th Birthday Celebratation
1988
TV Special documentary
Himself
The 2nd Annual American Comedy Awards
1988
TV Special
Himself - Presenter
The Media Show
1988
TV Series
Himself
20th NAACP Image Awards
1988
TV Special
Himself
The 9th Annual American Black Achievement Awards
1988
TV Special
Himself
Cooking with Wolfgang Puck
1987
Video
Himself
The Wil Shriner Show
1987
TV Series
Himself
Uptown Comedy Express
1987
TV Special
Himself
The Late Show
1987
TV Series
Himself
Rodney Dangerfield: It's Not Easy Bein' Me
1986
TV Special
Himself
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
Edge of Outside
2006
Documentary
Bobby Taylor
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
2004
Video documentary
Won Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2003
Black Reel
Black Reel Awards
Network/Cable - Best Director
10,000 Black Men Named George (2002)
2002
Career Achievement Award
American Black Film Festival
Male
1991
ACE
CableACE Awards
Variety Special or Series
The Best of Robert Townsend & His Partners in Crime (1991)
1987
Golden Unicorn
Amiens International Film Festival
Best Film
Hollywood Shuffle (1987)
1987
Best Actor
Amiens International Film Festival
Hollywood Shuffle (1987)
1987
Critics Award
Deauville Film Festival
Hollywood Shuffle (1987)
1987
Coup de Coeur LTC
Deauville Film Festival
Hollywood Shuffle (1987)
Nominated Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2011
Black Reel
Black Reel Awards
Best Documentary
Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy (2009)