Oscar winner Robert Towne is dead
In Hollywood, Robert Towne is a sought-after man behind the scenes of the Dream Factory. For numerous successful films such as "Chinatown" or "Mission: Impossible," he writes the script, even earning an Oscar. At 89 years old, he is now deceased.
Oscar-winning screenwriter Robert Towne, one of the most sought-after in Hollywood, is dead. The California native, who provided the source material for films like "Chinatown," "Tequila Sunrise," and "Mission: Impossible," passed away peacefully on Monday, surrounded by his family, according to his spokesperson Carri McClure. He was 89.
His most famous work is the script for the crime film "Chinatown" (1974) about power, corruption, and affairs in 1930s Los Angeles. Roman Polanski directed the film, with Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway as the leads. The film received eleven Oscar nominations, and Towne was the only nominee to win the trophy for the original screenplay.
Towne wrote several scripts for films featuring Tom Cruise, including "Days of Thunder," "The Firm," and "Mission: Impossible." He also worked with Warren Beatty ("Shampoo," "Heaven Can Wait") and Jack Nicholson multiple times. Towne was also hired to polish scripts, such as for the classics "Bonnie and Clyde" and "The Godfather."
The author also directed behind the camera. With Mel Gibson, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Kurt Russell, he made the action film "Tequila Sunrise" (1988). For the immigrant drama "Ask the Dust," he brought Salma Hayek, Colin Farrell, and Donald Sutherland before the cameras in 2006.
Besides his Oscar triumph with "Chinatown," Towne had three other Oscar chances with the scripts for "The Last Command," "Shampoo," and for "Greystoke – The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes." Towne worked on the script for the Tarzan comedy for several years but then fought with the producers. He withdrew his author name and instead gave his pseudonym "P.H. Vazak" credit in the film's closing credits. Under this pseudonym, Towne was in the running for an Oscar in 1985. The award eventually went to the script for "Amadeus."
The entertainment industry mourns the passing of Robert Towne, known for his work on movies like "Chinatown" and "Mission: Impossible." Despite his success in Hollywood, the celebrated screenwriter also faced controversies, such as his disagreement with producers over the Tarzan comedy, "Greystoke – The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes."
Robert Towne, with his Oscar-winning script for "Chinatown," left an indelible mark in the world of Hollywood movies and the broader entertainment industry.
