In one of his earliest forays into acting, Townsend played a small but stirring role in the military drama A Soldier's Story (1984). Still, he remained largely dissatisfied with the types of roles traditionally offered to black actors.
To fill what he saw as a void of opportunity, Townsend began financing his own projects. He went on to write, direct, produce and star in several films, including Hollywood Shuffle (1987) and The Five Heartbeats (1991) and co-created the sitcom "The Parent 'Hood," in which he starred for five seasons. Other notable directing credits include Eddie Murphy: Raw (1987).
The Five HeartbeatsRhythm-and-blues artists such as the Temptations and Sam Cooke served as the inspiration for filmmaker Robert Townsend's ambitious movie about five urban friends who climb the stairway to stardom. On their journey to the zenith of the 1960s music scene, the group overcomes rigged talent contests,... Read More
Of Boys and MenWhen his wife (Angela Bassett) dies in a tragic car accident, Chicago dad Holden Cole (Robert Townsend) suddenly has his hands full raising three anguish-stricken boys while simultaneously trying to cope with his own grief and regret. Turning to his kid sister Janay (Victoria Rowell) for help,... Read More
Hollywood ShuffleRobert Townsend (in his directorial debut) stars as Bobby Taylor, who wants to be a respected actor. He has the talent, but he needs to convince Hollywood casting agents that gangstas, slaves and "Eddie Murphy types" aren't the sum of his talents. When Bobby wins a stereotypically black role as a... Read More
The Meteor ManWhile being chased by neighborhood thugs, weak-kneed high school teacher Jefferson Reed (Robert Townsend) is struck by a meteor and suddenly develops superhuman strength and abilities: He can fly, talk to dogs and absorb knowledge from any book in 30 seconds! his mom creates a costume, and he begins... Read More
Odd JobsMax (Paul Reiser), Dwight (Robert Townsend), Woody (Scott McGinnis), Roy (Rick Overton) and Byron (Paul Provenza) are tired of working the same old summer jobs -- and even if they weren't, they just got fired. But while their plan to start a moving business seems like the answer to all their woes,... Read More
Why We Laugh (2009) | NR | |
Of Boys and Men (2008) | PG-13 | |
Phantom Punch (2008) | R | |
Tao of the Golden Mask (2007) | NR | |
The Robins Harris Story (2004) | NR | |
R | ||
Book of Love (2002) | NR | |
Black Listed (2002) | R | |
I Was a Teenage Faust (2002) | NR | |
Carmen: A Hip Hopera (2001) | PG-13 | |
Jackie's Back (2001) | NR | |
Holiday Heart (2000) | R | |
Little Richard (2000) | NR | |
Love Songs (1999) | NR | |
Taxman (1999) | R | |
Joseph's Gift (1998) | NR | |
B.A.P.S. (1997) | PG-13 | |
The Meteor Man (1993) | PG | |
The Five Heartbeats (1991) | R | |
TV-MA | ||
The Mighty Quinn (1989) | R | |
R | ||
Hollywood Shuffle (1987) | R | |
Odd Jobs (1986) | PG | |
A Soldier's Story (1984) | PG | |
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