Robert Townsend

Career timeline

1. 1957 · Born

   Born in Chicago, Illinois, USA

2. 1972 · Screen debut

   M*A*S*H (TV)

3. 1979 · Breakthrough

   The Warriors (Movie)

4. 1987 · Directing debut

   Hollywood Shuffle (Movie)

5. 1987 · First production

   Hollywood Shuffle (Movie)

6. 1993 · Writing debut

   The Meteor Man (Movie)

7. 2024 · Latest release

   Before (TV)

Career in numbers

6 1970s

16 1980s

7 1990s

15 2000s

3 2010s

6 2020s

• Drama28
• Comedy28
• Tv Movie10
• Action8
• Crime6
• Romance5

Highest-rated title Power Book IV: Force 2022 8.3 Most popular title M*A*S*H 1972 8.0

Frequent collaborators

People who appear most often alongside Robert Townsend in our catalogue.

John Witherspoon

5 titles together

Walter C. Miller

4 titles together

Franklyn Ajaye

4 titles together

Anne-Marie Johnson

3 titles together

Leon

3 titles together

Steve James

3 titles together

Michael Schultz

3 titles together

Loretta Devine

2 titles together

Theresa Randle

2 titles together

Stanley Clarke

2 titles together

1. 2024 Before as Jackson 6.5 TV
2. 2018 Black Lightning as Dr. Napier Frank 6.9 TV
3. 2012 Scooby-Doo! Music of the Vampire as Vampire Actor #1 (voice) 7.6 Movie
4. 2009 Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy as Self Movie
5. 2008 Of Boys and Men as Holden Cole Movie
6. 2002 I Was a Teenage Faust as Mr. Five Movie
7. 2002 Undercover Brother as Mr. UB 5.9 Movie
8. 2002 Book of Love: The Definitive Reason Why Men Are Dogs Movie
9. 2000 Sidney Poitier: One Bright Light Movie
10. 2000 Up, Up, and Away as Jim Marshall / Bronze Eagle 5.5 Movie
11. 1999 Jackie's Back! as Robert Townsend Movie
12. 1995 Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child as Rumpelstiltskin (voice) TV
13. 1995 The Parent 'Hood as Robert Peterson TV
14. 1993 The Meteor Man as Jefferson Reed 5.8 Movie
15. 1991 The Carol Burnett Show TV
16. 1991 The Five Heartbeats as Duck 7.2 Movie
17. 1989 Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 4 Movie
18. 1989 Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 3 Movie
19. 1989 The Mighty Quinn as Maubee 6.0 Movie
20. 1989 That's Adequate as Standup Comic Movie
21. 1988 I'm Gonna Git You Sucka as Minor Role (uncredited) 6.4 Movie
22. 1987 Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 1 Movie
23. 1987 Hollywood Shuffle as Bobby Taylor 6.5 Movie
24. 1986 Ratboy as Manny Movie
25. 1986 Rodney Dangerfield: It's Not Easy Bein' Me as Self Movie
26. 1985 American Flyers as Jerome 6.2 Movie
27. 1984 A Soldier's Story as Corporal Ellis 6.8 Movie
28. 1984 Streets of Fire as The Sorels - Lester 6.9 Movie
29. 1982 In Love with an Older Woman as James Movie
30. 1981 Senior Trip as Randy Movie
31. 1980 Willie & Phil as Thin Boy Movie
32. 1979 Women at West Point as Russell Baker Movie
33. 1979 The Warriors as Baseball Fury (uncredited) 7.7 Movie
34. 1976 The Monkey Hustle as Musician Movie
35. 1975 Mahogany as Extra (uncredited) 5.9 Movie
36. 1975 Cooley High as Basketball Player in Gym Class 7.0 Movie
37. 1972 M*A*S*H as Patient 8.0 TV

1. 2024 Poppa's House 5.4 TV
2. 2022 Ms. Pat: Y'all Wanna Hear Something Crazy? Movie
3. 2022 Power Book IV: Force 8.3 TV
4. 2021 Colin in Black and White 6.8 TV
5. 2021 The Wonder Years 7.0 TV
6. 2018 Love Is___ TV
7. 2018 Black Lightning 6.9 TV
8. 2009 Diary of a Single Mom Movie
9. 2009 Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy Movie
10. 2008 Phantom Punch Movie
11. 2005 South of Nowhere 7.2 TV
12. 2002 10,000 Black Men Named George Movie
13. 2001 Carmen: A Hip Hopera 6.5 Movie
14. 2000 Holiday Heart 7.1 Movie
15. 2000 Livin' for Love: The Natalie Cole Story Movie
16. 2000 Little Richard Movie
17. 2000 Up, Up, and Away 5.5 Movie
18. 1999 Jackie's Back! Movie
19. 1997 B.A.P.S 5.4 Movie
20. 1995 The Parent 'Hood TV
21. 1993 The Meteor Man 5.8 Movie
22. 1991 The Five Heartbeats 7.2 Movie
23. 1989 Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 4 Movie
24. 1989 Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 3 Movie
25. 1987 Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 1 Movie
26. 1987 Eddie Murphy Raw 7.2 Movie
27. 1987 Hollywood Shuffle 6.5 Movie

1. 2008 Of Boys and Men Movie
2. 1995 The Parent 'Hood TV
3. 1993 The Meteor Man 5.8 Movie
4. 1991 The Five Heartbeats 7.2 Movie
5. 1987 Hollywood Shuffle 6.5 Movie

1. 1995 The Parent 'Hood TV

1. 1993 The Meteor Man 5.8 Movie

1. 1991 The Five Heartbeats 7.2 Movie
2. 1989 Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 4 Movie
3. 1989 Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 3 Movie
4. 1987 Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 1 Movie
5. 1987 Hollywood Shuffle 6.5 Movie
6. 1986 Rodney Dangerfield: It's Not Easy Bein' Me Movie

1. 1989 Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 4 Movie
2. 1989 Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 3 Movie

Photos

Quick facts