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Theatre, Film, and Television Biographies
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Jules Tasca to Sam Trammell
Robert Townsend Biography (1957-)
Born February 6, 1957, in Chicago, IL; son of Robert and Shirley (maiden name, Jenkins) Townsend. Addresses: Office: Creative Artists Agency, 9830Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90212-1825.
- Gender
- Male
- Occupation
- Actor, director, producer, writer
- Birth Details
- February 6, 1957
- Chicago, Illinois
Famous Works
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CREDITS
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Film Appearances
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Cooley High, American International, 1975
- (Uncredited) Musician, Monkey Hustle, 1977
- Thin Boy, Willie & Phil, 1980
- Lester, Streets of Fire, Universal, 1983
- Corporal Ellis, Soldier's Story, Columbia, 1983
- Jerome, American Flyers, Warner Bros., 1985
- Dwight, Odd Jobs, TriStar, 1986
- Manny Espanoza, Ratboy, Warner Bros., 1986
- Bobby Taylor, Jasper, Speed, and Sam Ace, Hollywood Shuffle, Samuel Goldwyn, 1987
- (Uncredited) I'm Gonna Git You Sucka, 1988
- Standup comic, That's Adequate, 1989
- Maubee, The Mighty Quinn, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)/United Artists, 1989
- Duck, The Five Heartbeats, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1991
- Jefferson Reed, The Meteor Man (also known as Meteor Man: An Urban Fairy Tale), MGM, 1993
- Thompson, Joseph's Gift, 1998
- Peyton Cody, The Taxman, Phaedra Cinema, 1999
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Book of Love, Artisan Entertainment, 2000
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Film Director
- (And producer) Hollywood Shuffle, Samuel Goldwyn, 1987
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Eddie Murphy: Raw, 1987
- (And executive producer) The Five Heartbeats, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1991
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The Meteor Man (also known as Meteor Man: An Urban Fairy Tale), MGM, 1993
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B*A*P*S (also known as B.A.P.S), 1997
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Fraternity Boys, 1999
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Television Appearances
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Movies
- Baker, The Bounty Man, ABC, 1972
- Russell Baker, Women at West Point, CBS, 1979
- Randy, Senior Trip!, CBS, 1981
- James, In Love with an Older Woman, CBS, 1982
- Charlie Love, Mercenary II: Thick & Thin, 1997
- Champ, Love Songs, Showtime, 1999
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Jackie's Back! (also known as Jackie's Back: Portrait of a Diva), Lifetime, 1999
- Jim/bronze eagle, Up, Up and Away, The Disney Channel, 2000
- Mr. Five, I Was a Teenage Faust, 2001
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Series
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The Great American Dream Machine, 1971
- Skit characters, The Carol Burnett Show, 1991
- Host, Townsend Television (also known as The Robert Townsend Variety Show), Fox, 1993
- Robert Peterson, The Parent `Hood, The WB, 1995
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Episodic
- Patient, "Bombshells," M*A*S*H, 1982
- Rotating host, The Late Show, Fox, 1986
- Also appeared in Another Page, PBS.
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Specials
- "Rodney Dangerfield: It's Not Easy Bein' Me," On Location, HBO, 1986
- "Robert Townsend and His Partners in Crime," HBO Comedy Hour, HBO,1987
- "Uptown Comedy Express," On Location, HBO, 1987
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That's What Friends Are For: AIDS Concert '88, Showtime, 1988
- "Take No Prisoners: Robert Townsend and His Partners in Crime II," HBOComedy Hour, HBO, 1988
- Host, Freedomfest: Nelson Mandela's 70th Birthday Celebration, Fox, 1988
- "The Mutiny Has Just Begun: Robert Townsend and His Partners in Crime III," HBO Comedy Hour, HBO, 1989
- "Playing the Nutroll: Robert Townsend and His Partners in Crime IV," HBO Comedy Hour, HBO, 1989
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All-Star Tribute to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, NBC, 1989
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16th Annual Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame, syndicated, 1989
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Motown 30: What's Goin' On!, CBS, 1990
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Cutting Edge with Maria Shriver, NBC, 1990
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A Party For Richard Pryor, CBS, 1991
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Go Party!, Disney, 1991
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A Comedy Salute to Michael Jordan (also known as Los Angeles and Chicago Salute to Michael Jordan), NBC, 1991
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Celebrate the Soul of American Music, syndicated, 1991
- Host, Ray Charles: 50 Years in Music, Uh-Huh!, Fox, 1991
- Host, The Movie Awards, CBS, 1991
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Magic Johnson's All-Star Slam 'N Jam, syndicated, 1992
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The Issue Is Race, PBS, 1992
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Comic Relief V, HBO, 1992
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Back to School '92 (also known as Education First!), CBS, 1992
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Laughing Matters (also known as Funny Business), Showtime,1993
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Count on Me, PBS, 1993
- Host, Met Life Presents the Apollo Theatre Hall of Fame, NBC, 1994
- Co-host, An Evening of Stars: A Celebration of Educational Excellence, syndicated, 2001
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Miniseries
- Dr. Barry Sullivan, Bliss, 1995
- Host (volume 2: Route 66), Great Drives, PBS, 1996
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Awards Presentations
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The 2nd Annual American Comedy Awards, ABC, 1988
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The 20th Annual NAACP Image Awards, NBC, 1988
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MTV's 1989 Video Music Awards, MTV, 1989
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The 22nd Annual NAACP Image Awards, NBC, 1990
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The 24th Annual NAACP Image Awards, NBC, 1992
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Television Director
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Movies
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Love Songs, 1999
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Jackie's Back (also known as Jackie's Back: Portrait of a Diva), Showtime, 1999
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The 20th Century: From behind Closed Doors, 1999
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Up, Up, and Away!, The Disney Channel, 2000
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Little Richard, NBC, 2000
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Livin' for Love: The Natalie Cole Story (also known as The Natalie Cole Story), 2000
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Holiday Heart, 2000
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Carmen: A Hip Hopera, 2001
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10,000 Black Men Named George, 2001
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Series
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The Parent `Hood, The WB, 1995
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Specials
- "Robert Townsend and His Partners in Crime," HBO Comedy Hour, HBO,1987
- "The Mutiny Has Just Begun: Robert Townsend and His Partners in Crime III," HBO Comedy Hour, HBO, 1989
- "Playing the Nutroll: Robert Townsend and His Partners in Crime IV," HBO Comedy Hour, HBO, 1989
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Townsend Television (also known as The Robert Townsend VarietyShow), Fox, 1993
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Television Executive Producer
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Specials
- "Robert Townsend and His Partners in Crime," HBO Comedy Hour, HBO,1987
- "Take No Prisoners: Robert Townsend and His Partners in Crime II," HBOComedy Hour, HBO, 1988
- "The Mutiny Has Just Begun: Robert Townsend and His Partners in Crime III," HBO Comedy Hour, HBO, 1989
- "Playing the Nutroll: Robert Townsend and His Partners in Crime IV," HBO Comedy Hour, HBO, 1989
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Townsend Television (also known as The Robert Townsend VarietyShow), Fox, 1993
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Stage Appearances
- (New York debut) Calvin, Take It from the Top, Henry Street Settlement, 1979
- Charley Soul, Bones, Riverside Church, New York City, 1980
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WRITINGS
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Screenplays
- (With Keenan Ivory Wayans) Hollywood Shuffle, Samuel Goldwyn, 1987
- (With Wayans) The Five Heartbeats, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1991
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The Meteor Man (also known as Meteor Man: An Urban Fairy Tale), MGM, 1993
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Television Specials
- "Take No Prisoners: Robert Townsend and His Partners in Crime II," HBOComedy Hour, HBO, 1988
- "The Mutiny Has Just Begun: Robert Townsend and His Partners in Crime III," HBO Comedy Hour, HBO, 1989
- "Playing the Nutroll: Robert Townsend and His Partners in Crime IV," HBO Comedy Hour, HBO, 1989
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Television Series
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Townsend Television (also known as The Robert Townsend VarietyShow), Fox, 1993
Further Reference
OTHER SOURCES
Periodicals
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Hollywood Reporter, January 26, 1988, pp. S27-28
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Interview, February, 1991, pp. 75-76
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