He wrote the screenplays for Hollywood films such as “Chinatown,” “Tequila Sunrise” and “Mission: Impossible” – now Oscar winner Robert Towne has died at the age of 89.
Screenwriter and Oscar winner Robert Towne has died. The Californian, who provided the basis for films such as “Chinatown,” “Tequila Sunrise” and “Mission: Impossible,” died “peacefully” on Monday in the presence of his family, his spokeswoman Carri McClure said. He was 89 years old.
Towne was one of the most sought-after screenwriters in Hollywood. His most famous work is the screenplay for the crime film “Chinatown” (1974), about power, corruption and affairs in 1930s Los Angeles. Roman Polanski directed it, and Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway played the leading roles. The film was nominated for an Oscar eleven times, but only Towne won the trophy for the original screenplay.
Collaboration with famous actors
Towne wrote several screenplays for films starring Tom Cruise, including “Days of Thunder,” “The Firm,” and “Mission: Impossible.” He also worked with Warren Beatty (“Shampoo,” “Heaven Can Wait”) and Jack Nicholson on several occasions. Towne was also hired to put the finishing touches to screenplays, for example in the production of classics such as “Bonnie and Clyde” and “The Godfather.”
The author also stepped behind the camera as a director. He made the action film “Tequila Sunrise” (1988) with Mel Gibson, Michelle Pfeiffer and Kurt Russell. In 2006 he brought stars such as Salma Hayek, Colin Farrell and Donald Sutherland in front of the camera for the immigrant drama “Ask the Dust”.
Oscar nomination under pseudonym
In addition to his Oscar triumph with “Chinatown”, Towne had three more Oscar chances with the screenplays for “The Last Command”, “Shampoo” and for “Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes”.
Towne had spent several years writing the script for the Tarzan comedy, but then fell out with the producers. He withdrew his author's name and instead entered the name of his dog – “PH Vazak” – in the film's credits. Towne was in the Oscar race under this pseudonym in 1985. The award ultimately went to the screenplay for “Amadeus”.
