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).
AddHollywood 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
AddThe 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
AddThe 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
Add AllSoul Food: Season 3The close-knit African-American Joseph family consists of three sisters, their significant others and children. As they cope with problems large and small, the Chicago clan learns some important life lessons in this touching series. In the third season, they deal with a separation, a household... Read More
AddBlack ListedRobert Townsend (who also wrote and directed) stars as Alan Chambers, an industrious corporate lawyer and family man who becomes part of a vigilante force when he grows weary of watching known criminals escape the law. Chambers assembles a team of his fellow lawyers; together, they take to the... Read More
| Save | Why We Laugh (2009) | NR | |
| Save | Phantom Punch (2008) | NR | |
| Save | South of Nowhere: Season 3 (2007) | TV-PG | |
| Save | South of Nowhere: Season 2 (2006) | TV-PG | |
| Save | South of Nowhere: Season 1 (2005) | TV-PG | |
| Add | The Robins Harris Story (2004) | NR | |
| Add | Book of Love (2002) | NR | |
| Add | R | ||
| Add All | NR | ||
| Add | Black Listed (2002) | R | |
| Add | Carmen: A Hip Hopera (2001) | PG-13 | |
| Add | Jackie's Back (2001) | NR | |
| Add | I Was a Teenage Faust (2001) | NR | |
| Add | Holiday Heart (2000) | R | |
| Save | Little Richard (2000) | NR | |
| Add | Love Songs (1999) | NR | |
| Add | Taxman (1999) | R | |
| Add | Joseph's Gift (1998) | NR | |
| Add | B.A.P.S. (1997) | PG-13 | |
| Add | The Meteor Man (1993) | PG | |
| Add | The Five Heartbeats (1991) | R | |
| Save | NR | ||
| Save | NR | ||
| Save | NR | ||
| Save | NR | ||
| Add | The Mighty Quinn (1989) | R | |
| Add | R | ||
| Add | Hollywood Shuffle (1987) | R | |
| Add | Odd Jobs (1986) | PG | |
| Add | A Soldier's Story (1984) | PG | |
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