Robert Benton, the 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 years old.
His long-serving assistant and manager, Marisa Forzano, confirmed his death to The New York Times.
Benton was born on September 29, 1932, in Dallas, Texas, and grew up in the nearby town of Waxahachie. During his early years, he faced challenges due to undiagnosed dyslexia, which led him to adopt a visual style of storytelling. Rather than learning stories through reading, Benton developed his narrative skills by watching films at the theater, a practice encouraged by his father.
“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 about his childhood difficulties.
After completing his studies at the University of Texas at Austin, where he was classmates with actors Rip Torn and Jayne Mansfield, Benton earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1953. He served in the U.S. Army from 1954 to 1956 before briefly attending Columbia University. He then secured a position at Esquire magazine as an assistant to the art director.
It was at Esquire that Benton met David Newman, initiating a partnership that would transform American cinema. They spent nearly 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 outlaws. The script was inspired by stories Benton’s father shared about attending the funerals of the notorious duo in Dallas in 1934.
Benton and Newman continued their collaboration on films such as “There Was a Crooked Man…” (1970), the comedy “What’s Up, Doc?” (1972), and “Superman” (1978), which they co-wrote with Mario Puzo and Leslie Newman.
Benton made his directorial debut with “Bad Company” (1972), an unconventional Western featuring Jeff Bridges. He followed this with the film noir “The Late Show” (1977), starring Art Carney and Lily Tomlin, before achieving major success with “Kramer vs. Kramer.”
The 1979 film about divorce and parenting earned Benton Academy Awards for directing and adapted screenplay. Featuring Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep, both of whom won Oscars, the movie became the highest-grossing film of the year and reflected changes in American family life.
Benton received his third Oscar for the screenplay of “Places in the Heart” (1984), based on his grandmother’s experiences during the Great Depression in Texas. The film, which led to Sally Field winning her second Best Actress Oscar, highlighted Benton’s deep ties to Texas.
Throughout his career, Benton was regarded as an “actor’s director” who attracted 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 films included “The Human Stain” (2003), starring Anthony Hopkins and Nicole Kidman, and “Feast of Love” (2007), with Morgan Freeman and Radha Mitchell.
Despite his achievements, Benton remained modest and focused on storytelling. He once stated that family was the common theme in his work, a theme evident in his most notable films.
Benton’s filmmaking style emphasized dialogue and character development, allowing actors to naturally reveal their characters’ motivations, resulting in genuine emotional moments.
His skill in directing actors led to eight Oscar nominations for performances in his films, with three wins. Benton’s work demonstrated an empathetic understanding of human relationships, particularly evident in “Kramer vs. Kramer.”
Benton was married to artist Sallie Rendig Benton, a fashion illustrator turned painter, for 60 years until her death in 2023 at age 88. He is survived by their son, John.
Benton’s passing signifies the loss of a filmmaker whose character-driven approach to cinema produced notable American films of the late 20th century, influencing current filmmakers with their authentic portrayals of human relationships and family dynamics.
