Robert Towne Net Worth | Celebrity Net Worth

What was Robert Towne’s Net Worth?

At the time of his passing, Robert Towne had an estimated net worth of $20 million. Born in November 1934 in Los Angeles, California, Towne passed away on July 1, 2024, at the age of 89.

Robert Towne gained prominence as the screenwriter behind the critically acclaimed film “Chinatown,” directed by Roman Polanski. This film earned multiple awards, including the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay in 1975. “Chinatown” is frequently hailed as one of the greatest screenplays ever crafted, and Towne is celebrated as a master of dialogue and one of the preeminent film writers of his era.

In addition to his Oscar-winning work on “Chinatown,” Towne’s career in Hollywood was both diverse and impactful. He provided uncredited rewrites for iconic films such as “The Godfather” and “Bonnie and Clyde.” Towne was responsible for the screenplays of notable films like “The Last Detail” and “Shampoo,” in addition to blockbuster hits like “Mission: Impossible” and “Days of Thunder.” He also directed films such as “Personal Best” and “Tequila Sunrise,” and served as a consulting producer for the acclaimed TV series “Mad Men.”

Real Estate

In 1982, Towne purchased an impressive mansion in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles for $2.5 million. He initially listed the property for $14 million in 2011 but sold it for $9.65 million in July 2015. The same home later sold for $22 million in 2021.

Early Years

Robert Bertram Schwartz was born on November 23, 1934, in Los Angeles, California. He was the son of Lou Schwartz, a property developer and clothing store owner, and his wife Helen, both of Jewish heritage. Towne completed his education at Chadwick School in Los Angeles County and later studied philosophy and literature at Pomona College, a private liberal arts institution in Claremont, California.

After serving in the United States Army, Towne worked as a tuna fisherman before pursuing a career in writing and acting.

Writing for Film

After enrolling in an acting class taught by filmmaker Roger Corman, Towne wrote the screenplay for the 1960 science fiction film “Last Woman on Earth,” which Corman both produced and directed. He also landed the role of Martin Joyce in the film. In 1961, Towne featured in another Corman-produced film, the horror comedy “Creature from the Haunted Sea,” and later contributed the screenplay for the 1965 British horror film “The Tomb of Ligeia,” also directed by Corman.

In 1967, Towne penned the script for the Corman-financed western “A Time for Killing,” which caught the attention of actor-director Warren Beatty, who subsequently hired him to consult on the script for the crime drama “Bonnie and Clyde.” In 1975, Towne collaborated with Beatty on the screenplay for “Shampoo,” making a cameo appearance as a party guest in the film.

Though Towne worked on many screenplays, several remain uncredited due to his dissatisfaction with the final product, such as the 1972 crime film “The New Centurions.”

In 1990, he wrote the screenplay for the sports action drama “Days of Thunder,” starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, and continued to write for other Cruise films, including “The Firm” in 1993, “Mission: Impossible” in 1996, and “Mission: Impossible II” in 2000.

Chinatown

The 1974 film “Chinatown,” which Towne wrote and Polanski directed, was inspired by real-life conflicts over water rights between farmers and ranchers in California’s Owens Valley and the city of Los Angeles. Starring Jack Nicholson as J.J. Gittes and Faye Dunaway as Evelyn Cross-Mulwray, the film was distributed by Paramount Pictures. It received 11 Oscar nominations and won four Golden Globe Awards for Best Drama, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Screenplay. In 1991, the Library of Congress preserved the film in its National Film Registry for its cultural, historical, or aesthetic significance.

Writing for Television

In the early 1960s, specifically 1963 and 1964, Towne wrote episodes for the American anthology drama series “The Lloyd Bridges Show.” He later contributed to other TV shows, including the medical drama “Breaking Point” and the espionage series “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.,” both airing in 1964.

Acting

Following his participation in Corman’s films, Towne secured a role in the slasher film “The Zodiac Killer” in 1971. Other notable appearances include the 1987 romantic comedy-drama “The Pick-up Artist” featuring Molly Ringwald and Robert Downey Jr., as well as the 2004 psychological thriller “Suspect Zero.”

Directing

In 1982, Towne wrote, produced, and directed the drama “Personal Best,” starring Mariel Hemingway, which explored the romantic relationship between two track teammates. Despite receiving high praise from critics Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel, who ranked it among the year’s top ten, the film did not perform well at the box office. During its production, Towne was involved in a lawsuit against producer David Geffen, seeking $110 million, and production was interrupted due to a Screen Actors Guild strike. Though it underperformed financially, the American Film Institute recognized it as one of America’s top ten sports films, and in 2024, The Observer labeled it one of the 20 best sports movies of all time.

In 1988, he directed the romantic crime drama “Tequila Sunrise,” starring Michelle Pfeiffer, Mel Gibson, and Kurt Russell.

Accolades

For his work on “Chinatown,” Towne received the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay in 1975. The film also garnered a Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay and an Edgar Award for Best Motion Picture. That same year, Towne was honored with BAFTA Awards for Best Screenplay for both “Chinatown” and “The Last Detail.”

In 1997, the Writers Guild of America recognized him with a Laurel Award for Screenwriting Achievement. He received a Screenwriters Tribute Award at the Nantucket Film Festival in 2015.

In the book “Fifty Filmmakers: Conversations with Directors from Roger Avary to Steven Zaillian,” journalist Andrew Rausch referred to Towne as possibly the most talented film writer in history.

In 2006, artist Sarah Morris created the film “Robert Towne,” focused on his life and career. That same year, she was commissioned to create an installation titled “Robert Towne” in the lobby of the Lever House office building on Park Avenue in Manhattan.

Nominations

Robert Towne received a nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay at the 1973 Academy Awards for “The Last Detail.” He was again nominated for Best Original Screenplay for “Shampoo” in 1976 and received another nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay for “Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan” in 1985.

Addiction

In “The Big Goodbye: Chinatown and the Last Years of Hollywood,” author Sam Wasson highlights the widespread cocaine use in the entertainment industry during the 1970s. He discusses how both Jack Nicholson and Robert Towne were involved in the drug culture of the time, with Towne’s addiction impacting his finances and leading to the dissolution of his marriage.

Personal Life

Robert Towne was married to actress Julie Anne Payne from 1977 until their divorce in 1982, which culminated in a custody battle over their daughter Katharine. Katharine Towne pursued a career in acting and married actor Charlie Hunnam shortly after meeting him at an audition for “Dawson’s Creek” in 1999, but they divorced in 2002.

In 1984, Towne married Luisa Gaule, with whom he had a daughter named Chiara.

Robert Towne passed away on July 1, 2024, at his residence in Los Angeles, California.