Robert Towne is a screenwriter, producer, director, and actor from the United States. He was a member of the New Hollywood filmmaking movement. Towne is most known for writing the Oscar-winning original screenplay for Roman Polanski’s Chinatown (1974), which is largely regarded as one of the finest scripts ever written. He also penned the sequel, The Two Jakes, in 1990, as well as the Hal Ashby comedy dramas The Last Detail (1973), Shampoo (1975), and the first two Mission: Impossible films. Towne has previously directed the sports dramas Personal Best (1982) and Without Limits (1998), as well as the criminal thriller Tequilla Sunrise (1988) and the love drama Ask the Dust (2006).
Quick Facts
| Real Name | Robert Towne |
| Nick Name | Robert |
| Date Of Birth | November 23, 1934 |
| Age | 88 years old |
| Birthplace | Los Angeles, California, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Screenwriter, Producer, Director |
| Height | 5 feet 9 inches |
| Weight | 64 kg |
| Hair Color | White |
| Eye color | Brown |
| Net Worth | $40 million |
Robert Towne Age & Early Life
Robert Bertram Schwartz was born on November 23, 1934, in Los Angeles, California, USA. His nationality is American, and he is Jewish. Towne grew up in the seaside village of San Pedro. His big break came when he was in his early twenties and penned a script called The Last Woman on Earth (1960), which was taken up by famed director/producer Roger Corman. Towne was born in Romania on his mother’s side and in Russia on his father’s; his family was Jewish. He was born in San Pedro, Los Angeles, to Helen and Lou Schwartz. His father owned the Towne Smart Shop, a ladies’ clothes store, and changed the family name to Towne.
Lou subsequently went into real estate and relocated his family to Palos Verdes’ upscale Rolling Hills, a gated enclave where Robert attended Chadwick School. He has a younger brother who is six years his junior. Towne received his bachelor’s degree from Pomona College in Claremont, California.
Robert Towne Height & Weight
Robert Towne is 5 feet 9 inches tall. He weighs approximately 64 kg. Robert has white hair and dark brown eyes. There is also no information about his physique measurements.
Robert Towne’s Net Worth
How much is Robert Towne’s net worth? There is no information about his income, but as of February 2024, he has a net worth of $40 million.
Career
By the 1970s, Robert Towne was well known in Hollywood as a talented screenwriter, having received his first Oscar nomination and a BAFTA Film Award in 1974 for the film The Last Detail (1973). The next year, he received not only an Oscar for Best Screenplay for Chinatown (1974) but also a Golden Globe and a BAFTA Film Award. He was nominated for two more Oscars, for Shampoo (1975) and Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes (1984). Towne made his movie directorial debut with Best (1982), which he also wrote, and was followed by Tequila Sunrise (1988), starring Mel Gibson and Michelle Pfeiffer.
Without Limits (1998), his next film was a box office success that he co-wrote and directed. Towne adapted John Fante’s Depression-era book, Ask the Dust (2006), starring Farrell and Salma Hayek, as well as directing the film. Towne’s next project is a recreation of Alfred Hitchcock’s 1935 thriller The 39 Steps. Towne’s filmography includes the following titles: The 39 Steps (2007), Ask the Dust (2006), Without Limits (1998), Tequila Sunrise (1988), and Personal Best (1982).
Robert Towne Wife & Marriage
Who is Robert Towne’s wife? Robert Towne was formerly married to actress Julie Payne (November 1997-1982), with whom he had a daughter, Katherine Towne. He is Charlie Hunnam’s ex-father-in-law. Towne has been married to Luisa Gaule since October 17, 1984. They have one kid as a couple. Towne is now married and happy with his marriage.
