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Robert Townsend

Acting Born Feb 6, 1957 Chicago, Illinois, USA 24 credits

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.

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Known for

The Bear

as Emmanuel Adamu

M*A*S*H

as Patient

Hollywood Squares

as Self - Panelist

Black Lightning

as Dr. Napier Frank
Film

The Warriors

as Baseball Fury (uncredited)
Film

Undercover Brother

as Mr. UB

Full filmography

  • The Bear (2022) as Emmanuel Adamu
  • M*A*S*H (1972) as Patient
  • Hollywood Squares (1998) as Self - Panelist
  • Amazing Stories (1985) as Billy Burliss
  • Black Lightning (2018) as Dr. Napier Frank
  • Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child (1995) as Rumpelstiltskin (voice)
  • The Parent 'Hood (1995) as Robert Peterson
  • Before (2024) as Jackson
  • The Warriors (1979) as Baseball Fury (uncredited)
  • Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man! (2026) as Self - Comedian & Filmmaker
  • Streets of Fire (1984) as The Sorels - Lester
  • Motown Live (1998) as Self - Host
  • Black in the 80s (2005) as Self
  • Undercover Brother (2002) as Mr. UB
  • I'm Gonna Git You Sucka (1988) as Minor Role (uncredited)
  • The Carol Burnett Show (1991)
  • The Meteor Man (1993) as Jefferson Reed
  • Scooby-Doo! Music of the Vampire (2012) as Vampire Actor #1 (voice)
  • The Five Heartbeats (1991) as Duck
  • A Soldier's Story (1984) as Corporal Ellis
  • The Mighty Quinn (1989) as Maubee
  • Jackie's Back! (1999) as Robert Townsend
  • Odd Jobs (1986) as Dwight
  • Cooley High (1975) as Basketball Player in Gym Class