Robert Townsend (born February 6, 1957) is an American actor, director, comedian, and writer. Townsend is best known for directing the films Hollywood Shuffle (1987), Eddie Murphy Raw (1987), The Meteor Man (1993), The Five Heartbeats (1991) and various other films and stand-up specials. He is especially known for his eponymous self-titled character, Robert Peterson as the starring role as on The WB sitcom The Parent 'Hood (1995–1999), a series which he created and of which directed select episodes. Townsend is also known for his role as Donald "Duck" Matthews in his 1991 film The Five Heartbeats. He later wrote, directed and produced Making The Five Heartbeats (2018), a documentary film about the production process and behind the scenes insight into creating the film. Townsend is also known for his production company Townsend Entertainment which has produced films Playin' for Love, In the Hive and more. During the 1980s and early–1990s, Townsend gained national exposure through his stand-up comedy routines and appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Townsend has worked with talent including Halle Berry, Morgan Freeman, Chris Tucker, Beyoncé, Denzel Washington and many more. 로버트 타운센드(1957년생, Chicago, Illinois, USA) 는 배우로, 대표작으로 솔저 스토리, 유성맞은 슈퍼맨, 더 파이브 하트비트가 있으며, 그 외에도 Hollywood Squares, M*A*S*H, 더 베어, 블랙 라이트닝, 어메이징 스토리, Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child, The Parent 'Hood, 멜 브룩스: 99세의 사나이!, '우리, 이전에' - Before, 워리어, 언더커버 브라더, 스트리트 오브 화이어 등 다양한 작품에 출연했다. 특히 2026년에는 멜 브룩스: 99세의 사나이!에도 참여해서 활동중이다. (오뜨랑에서 실시간으로 번역된 한글 프로필도 확인할 수 있어요) 2026년 AFI 평생공로상 시상식: 에디 머피를 기리며에 출연했다. 2026년 멜 브룩스: 99세의 사나이!에 출연했다. 2024년 '우리, 이전에' - Before에서 Jackson 역을 맡았다.