Robert Towne, the Oscar-winning writer and director celebrated for his work on “Chinatown,” died in his Los Angeles home on Monday, as confirmed by his publicist Carrie McClure. In a statement to CBS News, Ms. McClure wrote that Mr. Towne “passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family.” He was 89.
Mr. Towne’s career began in the 1960s, working for B-movie director Roger Corman as an actor and writer. Over the decades, he became one of Hollywood’s most sought-after script doctors, known for fixing structural issues and creating iconic scenes in films.
