Robert Towne, Oscar-Winning Screenwriter of 'Chinatown' Dead at 89

Robert Towne, the acclaimed writer-director known for his Oscar-winning screenplay "Chinatown," has died at 89 at his Los Angeles home, according to publicist Carrie McClure, Variety reported.

Beginning his screenwriter career in the 1960s with Roger Corman, Towne became famous as a top script doctor in Hollywood, sought after for fixing story structures and creating memorable scenes in others' films.

He gained prominence in the 1970s with hits like "The Last Detail," "Chinatown," and "Shampoo," all earning Oscar nominations, with "Chinatown" winning.

Robert Towne Early Career

Robert Towne, known for his thoughtful demeanor and meticulous approach to writing, disliked studio meetings and script notes, often disappearing for months to perfect scenes, according to Deadline.

The legendary screenwriter cherished his relationships with stars like Nicholson and Warren Beatty, adeptly capturing their personas in iconic characters such as those in "Chinatown" and "The Parallax View.

When faced with a writers' strike delaying "The Parallax View," he famously sent his large dog with a note saying, "This is all that I can give."

Born on November 23, 1934, Towne began his career with scripts like 1960's "Last Woman on Earth" and wrote for TV shows such as "The Outer Limits" and "The Man from U.N.C.L.E."

He collaborated with Roger Corman on films like "The Tomb of Ligeia" (1964). He co-wrote the 1968 film "Villa Rides" with Sam Peckinpah, starring Yul Brynner, Robert Mitchum, and Charles Bronson.

Robert Towne's pivotal moments included script enhancements for films like "The Godfather" and "Bonnie and Clyde." Still, he gained prominence with "The Last Detail" (1973).

Starring Nicholson, the military dramedy set the stage for Towne's career-defining screenplay the following year.

During the 1970s, Robert Towne worked as a script doctor on Warren Beatty's debut film "Heaven Can Wait". He contributed to scripts for movies like "Orca," "The Missouri Breaks," and "The Parallax View."

In 1982, Towne wrote, directed, and produced his first film, "Personal Best," a sports drama starring Mariel Hemingway and Patrice Donnelly as lesbian athletes striving for Olympic success, much to the dismay of their coach played by Scott Glenn.

It was recognized among AFI's top 300 sports movies. Towne later directed and co-wrote another sports drama, 1998's "Without Limits," featuring Billy Crudup as the tragic distance runner Steve Prefontaine.

Throughout the 1980s and '90s, Towne continued to write screenplays, including the 1990 sequel to "Chinatown," "The Two Jakes," and the screenplay for the 1984 Tarzan film "Greystoke."

Initially set to direct "Greystoke," Robert Towne removed his name from the script after "Personal Best" did not perform well, attributing it to P.H. Vazak, his sheepdog.

Vazak surprisingly received an Oscar nomination for Adapted Screenplay, a first for any Tarzan film and a unique honor for a canine.

Robert Towne's Early Life

Legendary screenwriter Robert Towne, born Robert Bertram Schwartz in Los Angeles, relocated to San Pedro after the Great Depression forced his father's dress shop to close, prompting a family name change to Towne, AP noted.

He developed a passion for writing, inspired by the nearby Warner Bros. Theater and the writings of critic James Agee.

Towne briefly worked on a tuna boat, an experience he likened to the creative writing process.

"I've identified fishing with writing in my mind to the extent that each script is like a trip that you're taking - and you are fishing," he told the Writers Guild Association in 2013. "Sometimes they both involve an act of faith ... Sometimes it's sheer faith alone that sustains you, because you think, 'God damn it, nothing - not a bite today. Nothing is happening.'"

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Written by: Ross Key

WATCH: Robert Towne Wins Best Original Screenplay for 'Chinatown' | 47th Oscars (1975) - From Oscars