Robert Townsend

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.

Robert Townsend ist ein US-amerikanischer Schauspieler, Regisseur, Komiker und Autor. In den 1980er und frühen 1990er Jahren erlangte Townsend landesweite Bekanntheit durch seine Stand-up-Comedy-Auftritte und Gastrollen in der „Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson“. Vor allem populär wurde er durch seine Regiearbeit an Filmen wie „Hollywood Shuffle“ (1987), „Eddie Murphy Raw“ (1987), „Meteor Man“ (1993) und „The Five Heartbeats“ (1991) sowie diversen anderen Filmen und Stand-up-Specials. Seine Produktionsfirma Townsend Entertainment hat Filme wie „Playin' for Love“ und „In the Hive“ produziert.