Robert Towne
Biography
Robert Towne was an American screenwriter, producer, director, and actor. He was part of the New Hollywood wave of filmmaking. Born Robert Bertram Schwartz on November 23, 1934, in San Pedro, Los Angeles, California, Towne is best known for his work on several notable films. He wrote the screenplay for Roman Polanski's Chinatown, which is widely considered one of the greatest screenplays ever written. Towne also wrote the sequel, The Two Jakes, as well as The Last Detail and Shampoo. He is credited with writing or producing numerous other films, totaling 56 known credits. Towne passed away on July 1, 2024, at the age of 89.
Career overview
Robert Towne is a screenwriter, producer, director, and actor. He is known for his work on several films, including a screenplay that won an Academy Award. This screenplay was for the 1974 film Chinatown, which is widely considered one of the greatest screenplays ever written. Towne stated that his work on Chinatown was inspired by a chapter in Carey McWilliams's book Southern California Country: An Island on the Land and a West magazine article on Raymond Chandler's Los Angeles.
Towne also wrote the screenplay for The Two Jakes, a sequel to Chinatown, released in 1990. He wrote the screenplays for the Hal Ashby comedy-dramas The Last Detail, released in 1973, and Shampoo, released in 1975. Towne is also credited with writing the first two installments of a film series, although the title of this series is not specified in the provided information.
Towne's work as a screenwriter has resulted in 56 known credits, according to available information. His contributions to the film industry have been significant, particularly in the context of the New Hollywood wave of filmmaking.
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Career timeline
Full filmography
- What She Said: The Art of Pauline Kael (2019) as Self
- Salinger (2013) as Self - Screenwriter
- Welcome to the Basement (2012) Screenplay
- The Story of Film: An Odyssey (2011) as Self
- Mission: Remarkable - 40 Years of Creating the Impossible (2010) as Self
- You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story (2008) as Self
- Revolution! The Making of 'Bonnie and Clyde' (2008) as Self
- Mad Men (2007) Consulting Producer
- Ask the Dust (2006) Screenplay
- Ask the Dust (2006) Director
- Budd Boetticher: A Man Can Do That (2005) as Self
- Suspect Zero (2004) as Professor Dates (uncredited)
- A Decade Under the Influence (2003) as Self
- Reel Radicals: The Sixties Revolution in Film (2002) as Self (uncredited)
- Rescued from the Closet (2001) as Self
- A Sad Flower in the Sand (2001) as Self
- Mission: Impossible II (2000) Screenplay
- Without Limits (1998) Writer
- Without Limits (1998) Director
- Billy Wilder: The Human Comedy (1998) as Self
- Cadillac Desert (1997) as Self - Screenwriter, 'Chinatown'
- Mission: Impossible (1996) Screenplay
- Love Affair (1994) Screenplay
- The Firm (1993) Screenplay
- Halloween Monster Bash (1991) as Sparks Moran (archive footage)
- Days of Thunder (1990) Screenplay
- Days of Thunder (1990) Story
- The Two Jakes (1990) Writer
- The Two Jakes (1990) Characters
- Frantic (1988) Additional Writing
- Tequila Sunrise (1988) Screenplay
- Tequila Sunrise (1988) Director
- The Pick-up Artist (1987) as Stan
- The Bedroom Window (1987) Executive Producer
- Tough Guys Don't Dance (1987) Additional Writing
- 8 Million Ways to Die (1986) Additional Writing
- 8 Million Ways to Die (1986) Writer
- Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes (1984) Screenplay
- Deal of the Century (1983) Additional Writing
- Personal Best (1982) Director
- Personal Best (1982) Producer
- Personal Best (1982) Writer
- Heaven Can Wait (1978) Additional Writing
- Shampoo (1975) as Party Guest (uncredited)
- Shampoo (1975) Writer
- Chinatown (1974) Writer
- The Parallax View (1974) Additional Writing
- The Yakuza (1974) Screenplay
- The Last Detail (1973) Screenplay
- The Godfather (1972) Story Editor
- The New Centurions (1972) Additional Writing
- Cisco Pike (1972) Additional Writing
- McCabe & Mrs. Miller (1971) Additional Writing
- Drive, He Said (1971) as Richard
- Drive, He Said (1971) Additional Writing
- The Zodiac Killer (1971) as Man in Bar #3
- Villa Rides (1968) Screenplay
- Bonnie and Clyde (1967) Additional Writing
- The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1964) Writer
- The Tomb of Ligeia (1964) Screenplay
- The Outer Limits (1963) Writer
- The Lloyd Bridges Show (1962) Writer
- Creature from the Haunted Sea (1961) as Sparks Moran / Agent XK150 / Narrator
- Last Woman on Earth (1960) as Martin Joyce
- Last Woman on Earth (1960) Screenplay
- Robert Towne
- Battle of Britain Screenplay