RIP: Robert Towne

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Robert Towne died peacefully at his home on Monday, July 1, 2024.  Mr. Towne was 89.

Robert Towne was a writer, actor, director and producer.  He was nominated for four Academy Awards and won one:

  • nominee 1974 Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium – The Last Detail
  • winner 1975 Best Writing, Original Screenplay – Chinatown
  • nominee 1976 Best Original Screenplay – Shampoo (shared with: Warren Beatty)
  • nominee 1985 Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium – Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes (shared with Michael Austin)

After graduating from Pomona College in Claremont, California, Robert Towne decided to pursue a career as an actor and writer.  In one of Mr. Towne’s acting classes he met Jack Nicholson (who became his roommate), Roger Corman, Irvin Kershner and Sally Kellerman.

Roger Corman financed and directed Robert Towne’s first feature film, Last Woman on Earth.  Mr. Town also served as one of the film’s stars.  The following year, Robert Towne was one of the stars (but not the writer) of the Corman directed, Creature from the Haunted Sea.  Robert Towne then began to get work writing for television.  As his reputation as a “script doctor” grew, Mr. Towne would often be called in to beef up a script, many times with no credit, but a nice payday.  Mr. Towne moved away from acting and television writing to focus on feature films with occasional directing and producing duties for the rest of his career.

Television projects that feature Robert Towne’s writing include: The Lloyd Bridges Show (4 episodes); Breaking Point; The Outer Limits; The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and Welcome to the Basement (2 episodes).

Feature film projects that feature Robert Towne’s writing include: Last Woman on Earth; The Tomb of Ligeia; Bonnie and Clyde (uncredited); Villa Rides; McCabe & Mrs. Miller (uncredited); Cisco Pike (uncredited); The New Centurions (uncredited); The Last Detail; The Parallax View (uncredited); Chinatown; The Yakuza; Shampoo; The Missouri Breaks (uncredited); Orca (uncredited); Heaven Can Wait (uncredited); Personal Best; Deal of the Century (uncredited); Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes (as P.H. Vazak); 8 Million Ways to Die (uncredited); Tough Guys Don’t Dance (uncredited); Frantic (uncredited); Tequila Sunrise; Days of Thunder; The Two Jakes; The Firm; Love Affair; Mission Impossible II and Ask the Dusk.

Some of Robert Towne’s acting projects include: Last Woman on Earth; Creature from the Haunted Sea; The Zodiac Killer; Drive, He Said; Shampoo; The Pick-up Artist and Suspect Zero.

Projects that feature Robert Towne’s directing include: Personal Best; Tequila Sunrise; Without Limits and Ask the Dust.

My favorite films featuring writing by Robert Towne include Chinatown; The Yakuza; Tequila Sunrise and Mission Impossible II.  I’m also a fan of Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes.  Mr. Towne hoped to direct it, but things didn’t work out and so he had his credit changed to P.H. Vazak (his dog’s name).  Until today, I didn’t realize just how many uncredited projects were on Robert Towne’s resume.  It’s testament to his talent that he was often called in when there was trouble with a script.

Out thoughts and prayers go out to Robert Towne’s family, friends and fans.