Robert Towne (born November 23, 1934) is an American actor, screenwriter and director. He is the author of many notable film scripts, including Chinatown (1974), for which he received an Oscar, its sequel, The Two Jakes (1990), and Shampoo (1975), as well as the first two Mission Impossible films. He is also noted as an uncredited script doctor. After working for years on a script of Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan (1984) he grew dissatisfied with the production and credited his dog, P.H. Vazak, with the script. Vazak became the first dog nominated for an Oscar for screenwriting, but did not win. Towne also directed Personal Best (1982).
His father-in-law was once actor John Payne.
Ask the Dust (2006)
