Phantom Punch

Robert Townsend is an American actor, comedian, film director, and writer. Townsend was born in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Shirley and Ed Townsend. Raised by a single mother with four children, Townsend became an actor, comedian, writer, producer, director, and network programming CEO. He has... two daughters: Sierra and Skylar, both entertainers. He has a son named Isiah. During a reading of Sophocles' Oedipus Rex at school, Robert captured the class and effortlessly transformed into a character which captured the attention of Chicago’s X Bag Theatre. His start began at the Improvisation launching his career as a comedian. In 1974, Townsend auditioned for parts at Chicago's Experimental Black Actors' Guild and performed in local plays studying at the famed Second City comedy workshop for improvisation. Townsend enrolled at Illinois State University, studied a year and later moved to New York to study at the Negro Ensemble Company. Townsend's mother believed that he should complete his college education, Townsend felt college took time away from his passion for acting. He soon dropped out of school to pursue an acting career full time.
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