Robert Benton, a distinguished filmmaker known for co-writing “Bonnie and Clyde” and winning three Academy Awards for “Kramer vs. Kramer” and “Places in the Heart,” passed away on Sunday, May 11, at his residence in Manhattan, New York City. He was 92.
His passing was confirmed by his longtime assistant and manager, Marisa Forzano, to The New York Times.
Benton was born in Dallas, Texas on September 29, 1932, and grew up in nearby Waxahachie. He faced difficulties in his early years due to dyslexia, a condition not widely understood at the time. This challenge led him to adopt a visual method of storytelling, influenced by the films his father took him to see, rather than through traditional reading.
“I was dyslexic before anybody knew what dyslexia was. I was called ‘slow’. It’s an awful feeling to think of yourself as ‘slow’ – it’s horrible,” Benton once reflected on his early experiences.
After completing his studies at the University of Texas at Austin, where he was a classmate of Rip Torn and Jayne Mansfield, Benton graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1953. He served in the U.S. Army from 1954 to 1956, and briefly attended Columbia University before taking a position at Esquire magazine as an assistant to the art director.
Benton met David Newman at Esquire, forming a partnership that altered American film. They spent nearly ten years writing spec scripts, culminating in the success of Bonnie and Clyde (1967). Inspired by Benton’s father’s stories about the notorious couple, this film blended violence and humor, reshaping Hollywood’s narrative style.
Benton and Newman continued their collaboration on other films, such as “There Was a Crooked Man…” (1970), “What’s Up, Doc?” (1972), and “Superman” (1978), which was co-written by Mario Puzo and Leslie Newman.
Benton’s directorial career began with “Bad Company” (1972), an unconventional Western featuring Jeff Bridges. He later directed “The Late Show” (1977), a film noir with Art Carney and Lily Tomlin, before achieving significant acclaim with “Kramer vs. Kramer.”
The 1979 film “Kramer vs. Kramer,” which focused on divorce and family dynamics, earned Benton Oscars for directing and adapted screenplay. Starring Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep, both of whom received Oscars, the film was the year’s highest-grossing and reflected changing American family norms.
Benton received his third Oscar for the screenplay of “Places in the Heart” (1984), a film inspired by his grandmother’s experiences during the Depression in Texas. This film, which secured Sally Field her second Best Actress Oscar, highlighted Benton’s connection to his Texas roots.
Known for his ability to attract top actors, Benton directed Paul Newman to an Oscar nomination for “Nobody’s Fool” (1994) and worked with him again in “Twilight” (1998). His later projects included “The Human Stain” (2003) with Anthony Hopkins and Nicole Kidman, and “Feast of Love” (2007) featuring Morgan Freeman and Radha Mitchell.
Despite his achievements, Benton remained focused on storytelling, emphasizing family themes throughout his career. He once remarked that family was a consistent element in his work.
Benton’s filmmaking was marked by careful attention to dialogue and character development. This allowed actors to express their characters’ motivations naturally, resulting in authentic emotional insights.
His talent for directing actors led to eight Oscar-nominated performances in his films, three of which won. Benton’s empathetic understanding of human relationships was especially evident in “Kramer vs. Kramer,” which showcased the complexities of divorce.
Robert Benton was married to artist Sallie Rendig Benton for 60 years until she died in 2023 at 88. He is survived by their son, John.
His passing signifies the loss of a filmmaker whose focus on character-driven stories produced impactful American films, influencing future generations with realistic portrayals of family and relationships.
