Robert Towne, Oscar-winning writer of Chinatown, passes away at 89

Towne's excellence was acknowledged in a rare moment during the 1973 Oscars when Francis Ford Coppola thanked him in his acceptance speech for creating the heartfelt garden scene between Al Pacino and Marlon Brando in "The Godfather."

Robert Towne, an esteemed writer-director celebrated for his masterful screenwriting and best known for his Oscar-winning original script for "Chinatown," has passed away at the age of 89.

Publicist Carrie McClure confirmed that Towne died on Monday at his residence in Los Angeles.

Towne's extensive career commenced in the 1960s, where he initially worked as an actor and writer under the direction of B-movie filmmaker Roger Corman. His talent and versatility soon made him one of the most respected and in-demand script doctors in the industry. Renowned for his ability to fix structural issues and add memorable scenes to various films, Towne's contributions were invaluable, even if they often went uncredited.

The 1970s marked Towne's rise to fame with a trio of successful and critically acclaimed films released within just 14 months: "The Last Detail" (1973), "Chinatown" (1974), and "Shampoo" (1975). Each screenplay earned an Oscar nomination, with "Chinatown" winning the prestigious award. Additionally, Towne played a crucial role in enhancing the 1967 film "Bonnie and Clyde" as a "special consultant" for Warren Beatty, reshaping the narrative to highlight the outlaws' looming fate and transforming a mundane family reunion scene with Beatty and Faye Dunaway into a poignant moment.

Despite his significant contributions to numerous films such as "The Parallax View" (1974), "Marathon Man" (1976), "The Missouri Breaks" (1976), and "Heaven Can Wait" (1978), Towne often did not receive formal credit for his work. However, his excellence was acknowledged in a rare moment during the 1973 Oscars when Francis Ford Coppola thanked him in his acceptance speech for creating the heartfelt garden scene between Al Pacino and Marlon Brando in "The Godfather," a moment absent from Mario Puzo's original novel.

In recognition of his contributions to the film industry, Towne was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from the American Film Institute in June 2014. He is survived by his two daughters: Katherine, from his marriage to Julie Payne, and Chiara, from his subsequent marriage to Luisa Gaule.

Robert Towne's legacy as a screenwriting virtuoso and his influence on the art of filmmaking will be remembered and cherished.