 Robert Townsend is acknowledged as one of today's most multi-faceted and innovative talents. A complete visionary, actor, producer, writer, director and comedian, Townsend exercises his innate sense for comedy and storytelling to create timeless bodies of work. In 1987, Townsend wrote, directed and starred in "Hollywood Shuffle," largely financed by credit cards. The semi-autobiographical lampoon of the struggles of African-Americans in the industry received critical and audience acclaim, firmly establishing him as a ground-breaking filmmaker. In 1991, Townsend again performed writing, directing, and acting duties on the critically acclaimed American Classic, "The Five Heartbeats." This tale of the rise and fall of an African-American singing group during rock `n roll's adolescence also spawned a highly successful soundtrack album and 20-city nationwide tour with the Dells. The versatile filmmaker created the first-ever inner-city fairy tale in MGM's 1993 release, "The Meteor Man." The star, writer, and director brought together an all-star cast, including veterans: James Earl Jones, Bill Cosby, Marla Gibbs, and Robert Guillaume, for this very special children's film. On the small screen, Townsend received two Cable Ace Awards and multiple N.A.A.C.P. Image Awards for his popular HBO comedy specials, "Robert Townsend and his Partners In Crime." His innovative variety show series, "Townsend Television," broke traditional network television ground, bringing together a rich array of singers, actors, and comedians for ten very unique hours of television for the Fox network. Also in the works is a stage version of the popular film, "The Five Heartbeats." As a workshop, "The Five Heartbeats - The Musical" played locally to sold out audiences in Los Angeles and is currently in preparation for a national tour. Townsend continues to create new avenues for talent -- earning acclaim as a quality storyteller who provides entertainment while sending a positive, albeit, subtle, message. A highly sought after speaker, Townsend shares his motivational message of self empowerment in a challenging industry with national and local organizations, as well as college campuses nationwide from NYU to USC. With a solid foundation built on integrity, Robert Townsend continues to explore new ground with his work.
|
