Renowned Screenwriter Robert Towne Passes Away at 89

He lived a long life and will be remembered for some of greatest films we’ve seen.

Robert Towne, the celebrated screenwriter renowned for his Academy Award-winning work on “Chinatown,” has passed away at the age of 89. Towne died peacefully at his Los Angeles home on Monday, surrounded by his family, according to his publicist Carri McClure.

“If you’ve ever been on a film that didn’t quite work out, you know how much you owe to the people on a film that did.”

Robert Towne accepting the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay (CHINATOWN) at the 47th Academy Awards. pic.twitter.com/58SxavHAbF

— The Academy (@TheAcademy) July 3, 2024

Towne’s illustrious career is marked by several acclaimed films, including “Chinatown” (1974), which featured Jack Nicholson as a private investigator hired by Faye Dunaway’s character to look into her husband’s activities. This film, for which Towne received an Academy Award, is often cited as a pinnacle of screenwriting excellence. Additionally, Towne was recognized with Academy Award nominations for “The Last Detail” (1973) and “Shampoo” (1975), the latter starring Warren Beatty.

Reflecting on “Chinatown,” author Sam Wasson, who penned “The Big Goodbye: Chinatown and the Last Years of Hollywood,” described the film as more than just a geographical reference. He wrote, “Chinatown is a state of mind… a condition of total awareness almost indistinguishable from blindness.”

Lee Grant, who starred in “Shampoo,” expressed her deep sorrow upon hearing of Towne’s death. She shared her sentiments on social media, describing Towne as an incisive and original creative force who gifted the world with unforgettable characters and stories.

This is a great moment from the Chinatown commentary wherein David Fincher geeks out with his fan theories on the film’s visual motifs and Robert Towne gives him his answer.

Robert Towne was one of the greatest screenwriters the medium has ever known. pic.twitter.com/5EFntKLJAV

— Will McCrabb (@mccrabb_will) July 3, 2024

The American Film Institute (AFI) also paid tribute to Towne, celebrating his lasting impact on the film industry. In a heartfelt message, they highlighted his masterpieces like “Chinatown” and “Shampoo,” noting his enduring influence and the honorary degree he received from AFI in 2014 for his contributions to cinema.

Towne reflected on his career in a 2009 interview, discussing his directorial work on “Ask the Dust” (2006). He acknowledged his share of regrets, particularly mentioning “Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes” (1984). Dissatisfied with the direction taken by Hugh Hudson, Towne used the pseudonym P.H. Vazak—his dog’s name—for the screenplay. Despite his reservations, the film earned him his fourth Oscar nomination.

A legend has left us.

RIP Robert Towne, one of the most prolific and accomplished screenwriters ever to work in Hollywood. We’ll have much more to say about Towne and his tremendous body of work next week, but for today, we simply say: Thank you, Robert. pic.twitter.com/enqgVWgOGd

— The Black List (@theblcklst) July 2, 2024

In 1997, Towne was honored with a lifetime achievement award by the Writers Guild of America, recognizing his exceptional contributions to the craft of screenwriting. Film critic Michael Sragow once praised Towne for his ability to use “sly indirection, canny repetition, unexpected counterpoint and a unique poetic vulgarity” to elevate his scripts to their emotional peaks. Sragow also lauded Towne’s visual artistry and his capacity to create imagery that engages both hemispheres of the brain simultaneously.

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