Robert Townsend (actor) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robert Townsend
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Townsend in 2018
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| Born | February 6, 1957 |
| Education | Illinois State University |
| Alma mater | Austin High School |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1974–present |
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Notable work
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| Spouse(s) |
Cheri Jones
(m. 1990; div. 2001) |
| Children | 3, including Skye |
Robert Townsend (born February 6, 1957) is a multi-talented American star. He is known for his work as an actor, director, comedian, and writer. Many people know him for directing popular movies like Hollywood Shuffle (1987) and The Five Heartbeats (1991). He also directed the famous comedy special Eddie Murphy Raw (1987).
Townsend also created and starred in the TV sitcom The Parent 'Hood. He played the main character, Robert Peterson. The show was on the air from 1995 to 1999. Later, he made a documentary called Making the Five Heartbeats (2018). It showed how the original movie was created.
Over his long career, Townsend has worked with many famous stars. These include Halle Berry, Morgan Freeman, Beyoncé, and Denzel Washington.
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Early Life and First Steps in Acting
Robert Townsend was born in Chicago, Illinois. He was the second of four children. His mother, Shirley, raised him and his siblings by herself. He grew up on the city's west side and went to Austin High School.
He became interested in acting when he was a teenager. In high school, he impressed a local theater group called The Experimental Black Actors Guild. He started performing in local plays. He also studied comedy at a famous workshop called Second City.
In 1975, he had a very small, uncredited part in the movie Cooley High. Even though the role was small, Townsend said the movie "changed his life." He felt it showed a realistic view of people like him. After high school, he studied at Illinois State University for a year. He then moved to New York to study acting. He soon left college to focus completely on his acting career.
Building a Career in Hollywood
Townsend tried out for Saturday Night Live in 1980 but was not chosen. Instead, the show picked Eddie Murphy. He appeared in a PBS series called Another Page in 1982. The show helped adults learn to read. He also had small roles in movies like A Soldier's Story (1984).
Making His Own Movies
In 1987, Townsend wrote, directed, and produced Hollywood Shuffle. The movie is a comedy about the challenges that African-American actors face in Hollywood. The film was a big success and helped him become well-known in the movie industry.
Another famous film he directed was The Five Heartbeats. It tells the story of a 1960s R&B music group. Townsend also created TV shows. He made the award-winning Robert Townsend and His Partners in Crime for HBO. He also created the variety show Townsend Television for Fox.
Success on Television
From 1995 to 1999, Townsend created and starred in the sitcom The Parent 'Hood. He played the dad, Robert Peterson. The show was a popular family comedy on The WB network.
More recently, he has directed episodes for TV shows like American Soul, which is about the creator of the music show Soul Train. He also started The Robert Townsend Foundation. This organization helps new filmmakers get their start in the industry.
Awards and Notable Works
Townsend has directed many successful TV movies. In 2001, he directed Livin' for Love: The Natalie Cole Story. The movie's star, Natalie Cole, won an NAACP Image Award for her performance.
That same year, he directed Carmen: A Hip Hopera, starring Beyoncé. In 2002, he directed 10,000 Black Men Named George. In 2013, he was nominated for an Ovation Award for his acting in the musical Next to Normal.
Personal Life
Townsend was married to Cheri Jones from 1990 to 2001. Together, they have three children. One of his daughters, Skye Townsend, is also an actress and singer.
Selected Filmography
Here are some of Robert Townsend's most well-known projects as a director and actor.
As a Director
- Hollywood Shuffle (1987)
- Eddie Murphy Raw (1987)
- The Five Heartbeats (1991)
- The Meteor Man (1993)
- B*A*P*S (1997)
- Carmen: A Hip Hopera (2001)
- 10,000 Black Men Named George (2002)
As an Actor
- A Soldier's Story (1984) as Corporal Ellis
- American Flyers (1985) as Jerome
- Hollywood Shuffle (1987) as Bobby Taylor
- The Mighty Quinn (1989) as Maubee
- The Five Heartbeats (1991) as Donald "Duck" Matthews
- The Meteor Man (1993) as Jefferson Reed / Meteor Man
- The Parent 'Hood (1995–1999) as Robert Peterson
- Up, Up and Away (2000) as Jim Marshall / Bronze Eagle
- The Bear (2023) as Emmanuel Adamu
