Worked with Experimental Black Actors Guild in Chicago at age 16

Film debut (bit part) in "Cooley High"

Stand-up comic with Second City and at NY's Improvisation

New York stage debut in "Take It from the Top" at the Henry Street Settlement

Early TV movie appearance in the CBS docudrama, "Women at West Point"

Film acting debut in "Willie and Phil"

First film as director-writer-producer "Hollywood Shuffle" (also star)

Purchased Hollywood Professional School and renamed it Tinsel Townsend Studios to turn into a mini-studio (date approximate)

Executive produced, hosted, and wrote for "Townsend Television", a variety series on Fox

Co-starred in and co-executive produced "The Parent 'Hood" (The WB)

Hosted the syndicated weekly series "Mowtown Live"

Directed the NBC biopic "The Little Richard Story"

Helmed the TV biopic "The Natalie Cole Story" (NBC)

Was director of the MTV special "Carmen: A Hip Hopera"