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Robert Towne
American screenwriter, producer, director and actor (1934–2024) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Robert Towne (born Robert Bertram Schwartz;[1][2] November 23, 1934 – July 1, 2024) was an American screenwriter, producer, director and actor.
Quick Facts Born, Died ...
Robert Towne | |
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![]() Towne in 2009 | |
Born | Robert Bertram Schwartz (1934-11-23)November 23, 1934 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
Died | July 1, 2024(2024-07-01) (aged 89) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
Occupation(s) | Writer, director, producer, actor |
Years active | 1960–2024 |
Spouse(s) | Julie Payne (m. 1977; div. 1982?) Luisa Gaule (m. 1984) |
Children | 2 |
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Towne was part of the New Hollywood wave of filmmaking. He is best known for his Academy Award-winning original screenplay for Roman Polanski's Chinatown (1974). Towne also wrote the sequel, The Two Jakes (1990).
Towne was also known for his screenplays for The Last Detail (1973) and Shampoo (1975); and the first two Mission: Impossible movies.
Towne directed the sports dramas Personal Best (1982) and Without Limits (1998), the crime thriller Tequila Sunrise (1988), and the romantic crime drama Ask the Dust (2006).
Towne died on July 1, 2024 at the age of 89, at his home in Los Angeles, California.[3]