Robert Benton, Oscar-winning director of ‘Kramer vs. Kramer', dies at 92
Robert Benton, the three-time Academy Award-winning filmmaker known for directing the 1979 best picture winner Kramer vs. Kramer and co-writing the groundbreaking Bonnie and Clyde, died Sunday in Manhattan. He was 92. His death was confirmed by his assistant and manager, Marisa Forzano.
Benton's career spanned more than four decades, during which he earned acclaim for both his writing and directing. Beginning his professional life as art director at Esquire magazine, Benton partnered early with colleague David Newman. Their writing collaboration led to the 1967 film Bonnie and Clyde, which, after initial rejections, became a cultural landmark and earned them an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay.
Benton made his directorial debut with 1972's Bad Company and gained wider recognition with The Late Show (1977), a noir-tinged detective film starring Art Carney and Lily Tomlin. His major breakthrough came with Kramer vs. Kramer, a drama about divorce and fatherhood starring Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep. The film won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Director for Benton, and Best Adapted Screenplay.
He continued to write and direct several character-driven dramas. Places in the Heart (1984), inspired by his Texas upbringing, earned him another Oscar for Best Original Screenplay and brought Sally Field her second Best Actress win. Later films included Nobody's Fool (1994), Twilight (1998), and The Human Stain (2003). While not all were box office successes, they were often praised for their strong performances and thoughtful writing.
Throughout his career, Benton was recognized for his contributions to film. He received the Writers Guild of America's Ian McLellan Hunter Award in 1995 and the Laurel Award for screenwriting in 2007.
Born in Waxahachie, Texas, Benton studied at the University of Texas and Columbia University. Before moving into film, he worked in publishing and aspired to be a painter. He is survived by his son, John.
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