Robert Townsend

Robert Townsend is a film director/writer/actor who has many credits to his name.

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He was one of the influential independent directors, to utilize the 'credit-card' method of film financing, primarily for his first venture, Hollywood Shuffle.

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His films tend to be light-hearted and family oriented, and has even delved into the television sitcom arena, with the Cosby Show-like 'The Parent-Hood,' which ran on the WB during 1995.

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Trivia:

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• Robert Townsend was originally to be part of the ill-fated Saturday Night Live 1980 cast, but, a couple months before the season went to air, Townsend was bumped in favor of another actor: Eddie Murphy. This was only allowed since Townsend had not yet been signed to a contract. Murphy soon became a major part of the series, being one of two survivors of the major cast turnover at the end of the season. The other survivor was Joe Piscopo.
 
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