Robert Towne (born November 23, 1934) is an American screenwriter and director. 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 two Mission Impossible films. He is also noted as an uncredited script doctor.

After working for years on a script of (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 directed Personal Best (1982). His father-in-law was once actor John Payne.