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Robert Townsend

Award-Winning Filmmaker & Former CEO of the Black Family Channel

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Robert Townsend Biography

Raised by a single mom on the rough West Side of Chicago, Robert Townsend transcended his environment to become an actor, writer, director, comedian, producer and ultimately, the President and CEO of the Black Family Channel.

As the second oldest of four children, Townsend entertained his mother doing impressions of TV personalities, including Jimmy Stewart, James Cagney, Humphrey Bogart, Alfred Hitchcock and Bill Cosby. His remarkable talent eventually caught the attention of Chicago’s Experimental Black Actors Guild X-Bag Theatre, and he soon became a stand-up comedian at The Improvisation, New York’s premier comedy club. Hollywood came calling, and Townsend found himself performing on television comedy specials, including "Rodney Dangerfield: It’s Not Easy Bein’ Me" and "Uptown Comedy Express." Then came roles opposite Denzel Washington in A Soldier’s Story, Diane Lane in Streets of Fire and Kevin Costner in American Flyers.

When Townsend became an independent filmmaker, things really started happening. Without formal film education or outside funding (he used his own credit cards), Townsend co-wrote, directed and starred in the critically acclaimed Hollywood Shuffle, followed by the inner-city fable The Meteor Man (which starred James Earl Jones and Eddie Griffin). The popular soul musical, The Five Heartbeats, reminiscent of 60s R&B groups was his next cinematic accomplishment. Townsend went on to direct many amazing performers, including Eddie Murphy, Halle Berry, Martin Landau, Louis Gossett, Jr. and Beyonce Knowles. In addition to recounting these funny and moving experiences, Townsend teaches audiences to empower themselves, discusses the image of African Americans in Hollywood and talks about how to find success.

The energetic and gregarious Townsend always makes time to participate in humanitarian efforts. As a longtime speaker for the United Negro College Fund, his concern for inner-city youth takes him across the country to inspire young people to follow their dreams. As a testament to his versatility, Townsend shares his business expertise with various Fortune 500 companies. During the first five months of his tenure as President and CEO of Productions for the Black Family Channel, he produced eight new television programs.

Speaking Topics
  • Robert Townsend: From the Hood to Hollywood

    Growing up in a rough neighborhood is a disadvantage to some. Others, like Townsend, used his environment as a motivator to escape. Each day after school, he ran home—past the pimps, dealers and gangbangers—to watch television. He connected with the amazing stories he saw coming through that little black and white TV, and preferred the TV fantasies to the harsh realities of the West Side of Chicago. In fact, he watched so much TV, his family nicknamed him “TV Guide.” Townsend discovered that he had a gift to do impressions of the actors he saw on television (over 30 voices). In fact, his talent revealed itself in elementary school while reading the classic “Oedipus Rex.” One day, he dazzled the class with his ability to transform effortlessly into a character, and in that moment, he knew he was going to be in show business.

    Townsend has gone on to act, write, direct and produce television shows and films, including projects starring Academy Award winners Halle Berry, Denzel Washington and Michael Clarke Duncan, as well as a who’s who of comedy superstars, like Eddie Murphy, Keenan Ivory Wayans and Chris Tucker. Without formal film education or outside funding, Townsend became part of Hollywood legend when he used his credit cards to finance his first film—a satire depicting the trials and tribulations of African American actors in Hollywood. The film of course, was the critically acclaimed Hollywood Shuffle, which he co-wrote with Keenan Ivory Wayans, and starred in, directed and produced. Townsend’s body of work truly shows his range as an artist. From comedies such as Eddie Murphy Raw; BAP*S with Halle Berry; musicals like Carmen: A HipHopera starring Beyonce; The Natalie Cole Story with Natalie Cole; dramas like 10,000 Black Men Named George, which garnered Charles Dutton an Image Award for best supporting actor; as well as Holiday Heart, in which Townsend directed Alfre Woodard in a Golden Globe-nominated performance. Additionally, Townsend created, starred, produced and directed the first African American superhero action-comedy The Meteor Man and produced the beloved film, The Five Heartbeats Townsend. For his efforts to improve portrayals of African Americans in film and television, he has been nominated for over 30 NAACP Image Awards.

    Forever the visionary, Townsend even ran a small television network called the Black Family Channel and created over 15 original series as President and CEO. Today, he continues to create films and TV shows—as well as lecture on “Images of Color in Hollywood,” “The Spirit of an Entrepreneur” and “How to Develop and Create Stories from the Script to the Screen.” Townsend knows that he wouldn’t have gotten where he is today without faith, determination and strength. In this presentation, he discusses how he got out of the inner city and created the life he wanted. The famous funnyman tailors his talks to each organization; but no matter which type of audience attends, they are sure to be inspired and changed by his uplifting positive message.

  • Robert Townsend: Shakespeare, Pimps and Hollywood

    Acclaimed director, writer and actor Townsend will take you on a hilarious rollercoaster ride through life’s failures, roadblocks and triumphs. In this riotous one-man show, Townsend recounts growing up on Chicago’s rough West Side. You’ll hear about how he escaped gangbangers, thugs and pimps by running home to watch TV and hone impressions of popular actors. He blossomed into a young theater actor and then a New York City comedian—and learned life lessons that changed him forever.

    In this performance, Townsend shares his Hollywood journey. He’ll recount how he: funded his first film entirely on credit cards while running from the police; screened his film Hollywood Shuffle in a disastrous way for Eddie Murphy; attended Frank Sinatra’s 77th birthday party; found himself heckled by Don Rickles; and almost lost his life while meeting Elia Kazan. You’ll also hear about the phone call from Sidney Poitier that nearly broke his heart. This unforgettable evening will inspire the dreamer in all of us.

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FAQs
  • How do I book Robert Townsend to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Robert Townsend for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Robert Townsend, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Robert Townsend or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for Robert Townsend

    Speaking fees for Robert Townsend, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Robert Townsend are available upon request for live events and available upon request for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Robert Townsend, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Robert Townsend speak about?

    Robert Townsend is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Actors, Comedians.
  • Where does Robert Townsend travel from?

    Robert Townsend generally travels from an undisclosed location, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is Robert Townsend’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Robert Townsend for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Robert Townsend for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Robert Townsend or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
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This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

Award-Winning Filmmaker & Former CEO of the Black Family Channel

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Robert Townsend Biography

Raised by a single mom on the rough West Side of Chicago, Robert Townsend transcended his environment to become an actor, writer, director, comedian, producer and ultimately, the President and CEO of the Black Family Channel.

As the second oldest of four children, Townsend entertained his mother doing impressions of TV personalities, including Jimmy Stewart, James Cagney, Humphrey Bogart, Alfred Hitchcock and Bill Cosby. His remarkable talent eventually caught the attention of Chicago’s Experimental Black Actors Guild X-Bag Theatre, and he soon became a stand-up comedian at The Improvisation, New York’s premier comedy club. Hollywood came calling, and Townsend found himself performing on television comedy specials, including "Rodney Dangerfield: It’s Not Easy Bein’ Me" and "Uptown Comedy Express." Then came roles opposite Denzel Washington in A Soldier’s Story, Diane Lane in Streets of Fire and Kevin Costner in American Flyers.

When Townsend became an independent filmmaker, things really started happening. Without formal film education or outside funding (he used his own credit cards), Townsend co-wrote, directed and starred in the critically acclaimed Hollywood Shuffle, followed by the inner-city fable The Meteor Man (which starred James Earl Jones and Eddie Griffin). The popular soul musical, The Five Heartbeats, reminiscent of 60s R&B groups was his next cinematic accomplishment. Townsend went on to direct many amazing performers, including Eddie Murphy, Halle Berry, Martin Landau, Louis Gossett, Jr. and Beyonce Knowles. In addition to recounting these funny and moving experiences, Townsend teaches audiences to empower themselves, discusses the image of African Americans in Hollywood and talks about how to find success.

The energetic and gregarious Townsend always makes time to participate in humanitarian efforts. As a longtime speaker for the United Negro College Fund, his concern for inner-city youth takes him across the country to inspire young people to follow their dreams. As a testament to his versatility, Townsend shares his business expertise with various Fortune 500 companies. During the first five months of his tenure as President and CEO of Productions for the Black Family Channel, he produced eight new television programs.

Robert Townsend Speaking Topics

  • Robert Townsend: From the Hood to Hollywood

    Growing up in a rough neighborhood is a disadvantage to some. Others, like Townsend, used his environment as a motivator to escape. Each day after school, he ran home—past the pimps, dealers and gangbangers—to watch television. He connected with the amazing stories he saw coming through that little black and white TV, and preferred the TV fantasies to the harsh realities of the West Side of Chicago. In fact, he watched so much TV, his family nicknamed him “TV Guide.” Townsend discovered that he had a gift to do impressions of the actors he saw on television (over 30 voices). In fact, his talent revealed itself in elementary school while reading the classic “Oedipus Rex.” One day, he dazzled the class with his ability to transform effortlessly into a character, and in that moment, he knew he was going to be in show business.

    Townsend has gone on to act, write, direct and produce television shows and films, including projects starring Academy Award winners Halle Berry, Denzel Washington and Michael Clarke Duncan, as well as a who’s who of comedy superstars, like Eddie Murphy, Keenan Ivory Wayans and Chris Tucker. Without formal film education or outside funding, Townsend became part of Hollywood legend when he used his credit cards to finance his first film—a satire depicting the trials and tribulations of African American actors in Hollywood. The film of course, was the critically acclaimed Hollywood Shuffle, which he co-wrote with Keenan Ivory Wayans, and starred in, directed and produced. Townsend’s body of work truly shows his range as an artist. From comedies such as Eddie Murphy Raw; BAP*S with Halle Berry; musicals like Carmen: A HipHopera starring Beyonce; The Natalie Cole Story with Natalie Cole; dramas like 10,000 Black Men Named George, which garnered Charles Dutton an Image Award for best supporting actor; as well as Holiday Heart, in which Townsend directed Alfre Woodard in a Golden Globe-nominated performance. Additionally, Townsend created, starred, produced and directed the first African American superhero action-comedy The Meteor Man and produced the beloved film, The Five Heartbeats Townsend. For his efforts to improve portrayals of African Americans in film and television, he has been nominated for over 30 NAACP Image Awards.

    Forever the visionary, Townsend even ran a small television network called the Black Family Channel and created over 15 original series as President and CEO. Today, he continues to create films and TV shows—as well as lecture on “Images of Color in Hollywood,” “The Spirit of an Entrepreneur” and “How to Develop and Create Stories from the Script to the Screen.” Townsend knows that he wouldn’t have gotten where he is today without faith, determination and strength. In this presentation, he discusses how he got out of the inner city and created the life he wanted. The famous funnyman tailors his talks to each organization; but no matter which type of audience attends, they are sure to be inspired and changed by his uplifting positive message.

  • Robert Townsend: Shakespeare, Pimps and Hollywood

    Acclaimed director, writer and actor Townsend will take you on a hilarious rollercoaster ride through life’s failures, roadblocks and triumphs. In this riotous one-man show, Townsend recounts growing up on Chicago’s rough West Side. You’ll hear about how he escaped gangbangers, thugs and pimps by running home to watch TV and hone impressions of popular actors. He blossomed into a young theater actor and then a New York City comedian—and learned life lessons that changed him forever.

    In this performance, Townsend shares his Hollywood journey. He’ll recount how he: funded his first film entirely on credit cards while running from the police; screened his film Hollywood Shuffle in a disastrous way for Eddie Murphy; attended Frank Sinatra’s 77th birthday party; found himself heckled by Don Rickles; and almost lost his life while meeting Elia Kazan. You’ll also hear about the phone call from Sidney Poitier that nearly broke his heart. This unforgettable evening will inspire the dreamer in all of us.

Robert Townsend Videos

  • Strong Black Legends: Robert Townsend | Strong Black Lead | Netflix
    This week, Tracy speaks with the multi-talented actor and director Robert Townsend. They talk about the classic "Hollywood Shuffle," his love of...
  • Robert Townsend Speaks on New Documentary ‘Making The Five Heartbeats'
    Exclusive interviews from Sway Calloway and the Sway In The Morning/ SwaysUniverse.com team with some of today's biggest celebrities, like Kevin...
  • On Story 811: A Conversation with Robert Townsend
    Writer, director, producer, actor, and comedian Robert Townsend has over 30 years of experience working in film and television. With credits such as...

Speaker Lists Featuring Robert Townsend

FAQs on booking Robert Townsend

  • How do I book Robert Townsend to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Robert Townsend for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Robert Townsend, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Robert Townsend or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for Robert Townsend

    Speaking fees for Robert Townsend, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Robert Townsend are available upon request for live events and available upon request for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Robert Townsend, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Robert Townsend speak about?

    Robert Townsend is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Actors, Comedians.
  • Where does Robert Townsend travel from?

    Robert Townsend generally travels from an undisclosed location, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is Robert Townsend’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Robert Townsend for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Robert Townsend for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Robert Townsend or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.

Robert Townsend is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Robert Townsend: From the Hood to Hollywood and Robert Townsend: Shakespeare, Pimps and Hollywood. The estimated speaking fee range to book Robert Townsend for your event is available upon request. Robert Townsend generally travels from and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Spike Lee, Will Packer, Charles S. Dutton, Tyler Perry and F. Gary Gray. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Robert Townsend for an upcoming live or virtual event.

Robert Townsend Speaking Topics

  • Robert Townsend: From the Hood to Hollywood

    Growing up in a rough neighborhood is a disadvantage to some. Others, like Townsend, used his environment as a motivator to escape. Each day after school, he ran home—past the pimps, dealers and gangbangers—to watch television. He connected with the amazing stories he saw coming through that little black and white TV, and preferred the TV fantasies to the harsh realities of the West Side of Chicago. In fact, he watched so much TV, his family nicknamed him “TV Guide.” Townsend discovered that he had a gift to do impressions of the actors he saw on television (over 30 voices). In fact, his talent revealed itself in elementary school while reading the classic “Oedipus Rex.” One day, he dazzled the class with his ability to transform effortlessly into a character, and in that moment, he knew he was going to be in show business.

    Townsend has gone on to act, write, direct and produce television shows and films, including projects starring Academy Award winners Halle Berry, Denzel Washington and Michael Clarke Duncan, as well as a who’s who of comedy superstars, like Eddie Murphy, Keenan Ivory Wayans and Chris Tucker. Without formal film education or outside funding, Townsend became part of Hollywood legend when he used his credit cards to finance his first film—a satire depicting the trials and tribulations of African American actors in Hollywood. The film of course, was the critically acclaimed Hollywood Shuffle, which he co-wrote with Keenan Ivory Wayans, and starred in, directed and produced. Townsend’s body of work truly shows his range as an artist. From comedies such as Eddie Murphy Raw; BAP*S with Halle Berry; musicals like Carmen: A HipHopera starring Beyonce; The Natalie Cole Story with Natalie Cole; dramas like 10,000 Black Men Named George, which garnered Charles Dutton an Image Award for best supporting actor; as well as Holiday Heart, in which Townsend directed Alfre Woodard in a Golden Globe-nominated performance. Additionally, Townsend created, starred, produced and directed the first African American superhero action-comedy The Meteor Man and produced the beloved film, The Five Heartbeats Townsend. For his efforts to improve portrayals of African Americans in film and television, he has been nominated for over 30 NAACP Image Awards.

    Forever the visionary, Townsend even ran a small television network called the Black Family Channel and created over 15 original series as President and CEO. Today, he continues to create films and TV shows—as well as lecture on “Images of Color in Hollywood,” “The Spirit of an Entrepreneur” and “How to Develop and Create Stories from the Script to the Screen.” Townsend knows that he wouldn’t have gotten where he is today without faith, determination and strength. In this presentation, he discusses how he got out of the inner city and created the life he wanted. The famous funnyman tailors his talks to each organization; but no matter which type of audience attends, they are sure to be inspired and changed by his uplifting positive message.

  • Robert Townsend: Shakespeare, Pimps and Hollywood

    Acclaimed director, writer and actor Townsend will take you on a hilarious rollercoaster ride through life’s failures, roadblocks and triumphs. In this riotous one-man show, Townsend recounts growing up on Chicago’s rough West Side. You’ll hear about how he escaped gangbangers, thugs and pimps by running home to watch TV and hone impressions of popular actors. He blossomed into a young theater actor and then a New York City comedian—and learned life lessons that changed him forever.

    In this performance, Townsend shares his Hollywood journey. He’ll recount how he: funded his first film entirely on credit cards while running from the police; screened his film Hollywood Shuffle in a disastrous way for Eddie Murphy; attended Frank Sinatra’s 77th birthday party; found himself heckled by Don Rickles; and almost lost his life while meeting Elia Kazan. You’ll also hear about the phone call from Sidney Poitier that nearly broke his heart. This unforgettable evening will inspire the dreamer in all of us.

Robert Townsend Speaker Videos

  • Strong Black Legends: Robert Townsend | Strong Black Lead | Netflix
    This week, Tracy speaks with the multi-talented actor and director Robert Townsend. They talk about the classic "Hollywood Shuffle," his love of superheroes, and directing Beyoncé in the cult...
    Robert Townsend Speaks on New Documentary ‘Making The Five Heartbeats'
    Exclusive interviews from Sway Calloway and the Sway In The Morning/ SwaysUniverse.com team with some of today's biggest celebrities, like Kevin Hart, Kanye West, Eminem, Usher, Jessica Alba, Steve...
  • On Story 811: A Conversation with Robert Townsend
    Writer, director, producer, actor, and comedian Robert Townsend has over 30 years of experience working in film and television. With credits such as Hollywood Shuffle, The Five Heartbeats, In the...

Robert Townsend News

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Speakers Similar to Robert Townsend

This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

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