Biography
Multi-talented figure who graduated from stand-up comedy to eilm, making his screen acting debut in Paul Mazursky's "Willie and Phil" (1980) and contributing a fine dramatic performance in "A Soldier's Story" (1984).
Frustrated at the dearth of significant screen roles for blacks, Townsend scraped together some $100,000 (putting most of it on his assortment of credit cards) to produce, direct, write and star in his witty lampoon of the …
Latest Tv Credits
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Career Milestones
2001 | Was director of the MTV special "Carmen: A Hip Hopera" | |
2000 | Helmed the TV biopic "The Natalie Cole Story" (NBC) | |
2000 | Directed the NBC biopic "The Little Richard Story" | |
1998 | Hosted the syndicated weekly series "Mowtown Live" | |
1995 | Co-starred in and co-executive produced "The Parent 'Hood" (The WB) | |
1993 | Executive produced, hosted, and wrote for "Townsend Television", a variety series on Fox | |
1990 | Purchased Hollywood Professional School and renamed it Tinsel Townsend Studios to turn into a mini-studio (date approximate) | |
1987 | First film as director-writer-producer "Hollywood Shuffle" (also star) | |
1980 | Film acting debut in "Willie and Phil" | |
1979 | Early TV movie appearance in the CBS docudrama, "Women at West Point" | |
1979 | New York stage debut in "Take It from the Top" at the Henry Street Settlement | |
| Stand-up comic with Second City and at NY's Improvisation | ||
1974 | Film debut (bit part) in "Cooley High" | |
| Worked with Experimental Black Actors Guild in Chicago at age 16 | ||
Awards
1988 | Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature in Hollywood Shuffle |