Robert Towne, the Oscar-winning screenwriter known for “Chinatown,” passed away at 89 in his Los Angeles home, as confirmed by his publicist. Towne started his career in the 1960s as an actor and writer, often collaborating with B-movie director Roger Corman. He wrote for Corman’s “The Last Woman on Earth” in 1960 and appeared in “Creature From the Haunted Sea” in 1961.

Towne gained a reputation as a skilled script doctor in Hollywood, contributing uncredited work to notable films. He is perhaps best known for his uncredited contributions to “The Godfather,” for which Francis Ford Coppola thanked him during his Best Screenplay Oscar acceptance speech.

Other films that benefited from Towne’s script-doctoring skills include “Drive, He Said” (1971), “Cisco Pike” (1972), and “The New Centurions” (1972). He also assisted with the script for the 1967 classic “Bonnie and Clyde.”

The 1970s were a defining decade for Towne, during which he wrote an impressive series of screenplays: “The Last Detail” (1973), “Chinatown” (1974), and “Shampoo” (1975). Each of these scripts earned him an Oscar nomination, with “Chinatown” winning him the award. These works showcased Towne’s distinctive view of Los Angeles and solidified his place in Hollywood history. His work on these films has left an enduring legacy.

In addition to his screenwriting, Towne also directed several films, including “Personal Best” (1982) and “Tequila Sunrise” (1988). He took on uncredited directing roles in various films throughout the 1980s, such as “Deal of the Century” (1983) and “Frantic” (1988).

Towne’s collaborations with actors like Jack Nicholson and Tom Cruise were significant, leading to memorable partnerships and successful projects, such as the “Mission: Impossible” films in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

More recently, Towne contributed to the hit AMC drama “Mad Men” and was working on a “Chinatown” prequel for Netflix with David Fincher. In a recent interview with Variety, he confirmed that all episodes for the project had been written. Towne is survived by his wife Luisa and two daughters, leaving behind a legacy of influential work in the film industry.