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 Manhattan, New York City, home. He was 92 years old.
His death was confirmed by his longtime assistant and manager, Marisa Forzano, to The New York Times.
Benton was born on September 29, 1932, in Dallas, Texas. He faced challenges with dyslexia, a condition that was not well known at the time, which led him to develop a visual approach to storytelling. Instead of focusing on books, he learned storytelling techniques from the movies, where his father would take him instead of doing homework.
“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 childhood difficulties.
After attending the University of Texas at Austin, where he studied alongside 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 joining Esquire magazine as an assistant to the art director.
While at Esquire, Benton met David Newman, leading to a partnership that helped transform American cinema. They spent almost a decade writing scripts before achieving success with “Bonnie and Clyde” (1967), a film that changed Hollywood with its mix of violence, humor, and empathy for its protagonists. The script was inspired by stories Benton’s father shared about the infamous duo, having attended their funerals in Dallas in 1934.
Benton and Newman continued their collaboration on several films, including “There Was a Crooked Man…” (1970), the comedy “What’s Up, Doc?” (1972), and “Superman” (1978), co-written with Mario Puzo and Leslie Newman.
Benton made his directorial debut with “Bad Company” (1972), an unconventional Western starring Jeff Bridges. He followed it with “The Late Show” (1977), a film noir with Art Carney and Lily Tomlin, before achieving major success with “Kramer vs. Kramer.”
The 1979 drama about divorce and parental relationships earned Benton Academy Awards for directing and adapted screenplay. Starring Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep, the film became the highest-grossing of the year and highlighted shifts in American family dynamics.
Benton received his third Oscar for the screenplay of “Places in the Heart” (1984), an autobiographical tale based on his grandmother’s experiences during the Depression in Texas. The film earned Sally Field her second Best Actress Oscar.
Benton gained a reputation as an “actor’s director,” drawing top talent. He directed Paul Newman to an Oscar nomination in “Nobody’s Fool” (1994) and worked with him again in “Twilight” (1998). His later works included “The Human Stain” (2003) and “Feast of Love” (2007).
Despite his success, Benton remained modest, focusing on storytelling. He said the common theme in his work was family, evident in his personal and noted films.
Benton’s filmmaking approach emphasized dialogue and character development, allowing actors to naturally unveil character motivations.
His directing skills resulted in eight Oscar nominations for performances in his films, with three wins. Benton’s understanding of human relationships, especially in “Kramer vs. Kramer,” was notable.
Benton was married to Sallie Rendig Benton, a fashion illustrator turned painter, for 60 years until her passing in 2023 at age 88. He is survived by their son, John.
His passing signifies the loss of a filmmaker whose character-driven approach to cinema produced significant American films that continue to influence with authentic portrayals of human relationships.