Directed credits
33
Prolific
Very extensive directing filmography.
Director
Robert Townsend
Acting
Career Snapshot
ExplainedThese indicators come from TMDB. They are relative signals, not review ratings.
TMDB popularity
2.1
Moderate attention
TMDB internal trend index. Higher usually means more searches and page activity now.
Directed movies: 24Directed series: 9All crew credits: 40
TMDB ID: 68750
IMDb ID: nm0870186
Known for: Acting
Born: February 6, 1957
Age: 69
Place of birth: Chicago, Illinois, USA
Gender: Male
Adult content flag: No
Career span: 1972 - 2026
Years active: 55
Average TMDB rating: 6.76
Wikidata: Q2159005
Frequent jobs
Director (33)Writer (3)Executive Producer (2)Producer (1)Screenplay (1)
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.
Photos
Movies
Directed Movies
Movies directed by Robert Townsend.
Ms. Pat: Y'all Wanna Hear Something Crazy?
Director
2022 Movie
A Walk with Charles Burnett
Director
2019 Movie
Making The Five Heartbeats
Director
2018 Movie
Playin' for Love
Director
2015 Movie
Bill Cosby: Far From Finished
Director
2013 Movie
In the Hive
Director
2012 Movie
Diary of a Single Mom
Director
2009 Movie
Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
Director
2009 Movie
Phantom Punch
Director
2008 Movie
Black Listed
Director
2003 Movie
10,000 Black Men Named George
Director
2002 Movie
Carmen: A Hip Hopera
Director
2001 Movie
Holiday Heart
Director
2000 Movie
Livin' for Love: The Natalie Cole Story
Director
2000 Movie
Little Richard
Director
2000 Movie
Up, Up, and Away
Director
2000 Movie
From Behind Closed Doors
Director
1999 Movie
Jackie's Back!
Director
1999 Movie
Love Songs
Director
1999 Movie
B.A.P.S
Director
1997 Movie
The Five Heartbeats
Director
1991 Movie
Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 2
Director
1988 Movie
Eddie Murphy Raw
Director
1987 Movie
Hollywood Shuffle
Director
1987 Movie
Series
Directed Series
Series directed by Robert Townsend.
Poppa's House
Director • 5 eps
2024 Series
Kaleidoscope
Director • 2 eps
2023 Series
Power Book IV: Force
Director • 2 eps
2022 Series
Colin in Black and White
Director • 2 eps
2021 Series
The Wonder Years
Director • 1 eps
2021 Series
Love Is___
Director • 1 eps
2018 Series
Black Lightning
Director • 2 eps
2018 Series
South of Nowhere
Director • 5 eps
2005 Series
The Parent 'Hood
Director • 20 eps
1995 Series
Movies
Top Rated Movies
Highest rated movies linked with Robert Townsend.
The Warriors
as Baseball Fury (uncredited)
1979 Movie
Scooby-Doo! Music of the Vampire
as Vampire Actor #1 (voice)
2012 Movie
Eddie Murphy Raw
Director
1987 Movie
Streets of Fire
as The Sorels - Lester
1984 Movie
A Soldier's Story
as Corporal Ellis
1984 Movie
Hollywood Shuffle
Director
1987 Movie
I'm Gonna Git You Sucka
as Minor Role (uncredited)
1988 Movie
American Flyers
as Jerome
1985 Movie
The Mighty Quinn
as Maubee
1989 Movie
Undercover Brother
as Mr. UB
2002 Movie
The Meteor Man
Screenplay
1993 Movie
B.A.P.S
Director
1997 Movie
Series
Top Rated Series
Highest rated series linked with Robert Townsend.
Power Book IV: Force
Director • 2 eps
2022 Series
The Bear
as Emmanuel Adamu • 12 eps
2022 Series
M*A*S*H
as Patient • 1 eps
1972 Series
Amazing Stories
as Billy Burliss • 1 eps
1985 Series
The Wonder Years
Director • 1 eps
2021 Series
Black Lightning
Director • 2 eps
2018 Series
Kaleidoscope
Director • 2 eps
2023 Series
Movies
Most Popular Movies
Most viewed movie titles linked with Robert Townsend.
The Warriors
as Baseball Fury (uncredited)
1979 Movie
A Soldier's Story
as Corporal Ellis
1984 Movie
Streets of Fire
as The Sorels - Lester
1984 Movie
Undercover Brother
as Mr. UB
2002 Movie
AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Eddie Murphy
as Self
2026 Movie
Scooby-Doo! Music of the Vampire
as Vampire Actor #1 (voice)
2012 Movie
I'm Gonna Git You Sucka
as Minor Role (uncredited)
1988 Movie
The Meteor Man
Screenplay
1993 Movie
The Mighty Quinn
as Maubee
1989 Movie
Eddie Murphy Raw
Director
1987 Movie
B.A.P.S
Director
1997 Movie
American Flyers
as Jerome
1985 Movie
Series
Most Popular Series
Most viewed series linked with Robert Townsend.
Hollywood Squares
as Self - Panelist • 5 eps
1998 Series
M*A*S*H
as Patient • 1 eps
1972 Series
The Bear
as Emmanuel Adamu • 12 eps
2022 Series
Black Lightning
Director • 2 eps
2018 Series
Amazing Stories
as Billy Burliss • 1 eps
1985 Series
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
as Rumpelstiltskin (voice) • 1 eps
1995 Series
The Parent 'Hood
Director • 20 eps
1995 Series
Power Book IV: Force
Director • 2 eps
2022 Series
The Wonder Years
Director • 1 eps
2021 Series
Kaleidoscope
Director • 2 eps
2023 Series
South of Nowhere
Director • 5 eps
2005 Series
Before
as Jackson • 2 eps
2024 Series
Movies
Other Crew Work in Movies
Additional movie credits for Robert Townsend.
Of Boys and Men
Producer
2008 Movie
The Meteor Man
Screenplay
1993 Movie
Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 4
Executive Producer
1989 Movie
Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 3
Executive Producer
1989 Movie
Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 1
Writer
1987 Movie
Uptown Comedy Express
Writer
1987 Movie
Rodney Dangerfield: It's Not Easy Bein' Me
Writer
1986 Movie
Movies
Acting Appearances in Movies
Movie cast credits for Robert Townsend.
AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Eddie Murphy
as Self
2026 Movie
A Walk with Charles Burnett
as Self
2019 Movie
Playin' for Love
as Coach Banks
2015 Movie
Scooby-Doo! Music of the Vampire
as Vampire Actor #1 (voice)
2012 Movie
Directors on Directing
as Self
2009 Movie
Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
as Self
2009 Movie
Of Boys and Men
as Holden Cole
2008 Movie
Richard Pryor: I Ain't Dead Yet, #*%$#@!!
as Self
2003 Movie
Black Listed
as Alan Chambers
2003 Movie
I Was a Teenage Faust
as Mr. Five
2002 Movie
Undercover Brother
as Mr. UB
2002 Movie
Book of Love: The Definitive Reason Why Men Are Dogs
2002 Movie
Series
Acting Appearances in Series
Series cast credits for Robert Townsend.
Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man!
as Self - Comedian & Filmmaker • 1 eps
2026 Series
Before
as Jackson • 2 eps
2024 Series
The Bear
as Emmanuel Adamu • 12 eps
2022 Series
Black Lightning
as Dr. Napier Frank • 3 eps
2018 Series
Black in the 80s
as Self • 3 eps
2005 Series
Hollywood Squares
as Self - Panelist • 5 eps
1998 Series
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
as Rumpelstiltskin (voice) • 1 eps
1995 Series
The Parent 'Hood
as Robert Peterson • 90 eps
1995 Series
Amazing Stories
as Billy Burliss • 1 eps
1985 Series
M*A*S*H
as Patient • 1 eps
1972 Series