Published: : May 14, 2025, 08:15 PM
Robert Benton, the acclaimed director and screenwriter behind the Oscar-winning Kramer vs. Kramer, passed away on Sunday in Manhattan at the age of 92, as confirmed by his assistant and manager, Marisa Forzano, to The New York Times.
Benton, a three-time Academy Award winner, was celebrated for his emotionally resonant dramas and collaborations with major Hollywood talent. His directing credits include The Late Show, Places in the Heart, and Nobody’s Fool. He also co-wrote the landmark 1967 film Bonnie and Clyde, which helped reshape American cinema.
Originally an art director at Esquire, Benton partnered with fellow alum David Newman to launch a screenwriting career. Their work on Bonnie and Clyde—after multiple rejections—found life when Arthur Penn directed and Warren Beatty came aboard. The film’s critical and commercial success earned them an Oscar nomination and jumpstarted Benton’s move into directing.
Benton debuted as a director with 1972’s Bad Company, which, despite praise, failed at the box office. Redemption came with 1977’s The Late Show, a detective story produced by Robert Altman. But it was Kramer vs. Kramer (1979), starring Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep, that solidified Benton’s legacy. The film won five Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director for Benton, and Best Screenplay.
He followed that with Still of the Night (1982) and Places in the Heart (1984), which earned Oscars for Sally Field and Benton’s script. Though subsequent films like Nadine and Billy Bathgate underperformed, Benton regained acclaim with 1994’s Nobody’s Fool, starring Paul Newman, and later directed the noir Twilight and The Human Stain.
His last notable work was co-writing The Ice Harvest (2005), directed by Harold Ramis. Though not commercially successful, the film gained a cult following.
Benton appeared in several documentaries on filmmaking and received prestigious honors from the Writers Guild of America, including the Ian McLellan Hunter Award (1995) and the Laurel Award (2007).
Born in Waxahachie, Texas, Benton earned a BFA from the University of Texas and later attended Columbia University, initially aspiring to be a painter. After a stint in the Army, he returned to Esquire as art director. His early collaborations with Newman included the satirical “non-book” Extremism and a failed Superman musical before striking gold with Bonnie and Clyde.
Benton leaves behind a profound cinematic legacy, marked by humanist storytelling, memorable performances, and a dedication to craft that shaped the careers of countless actors and writers.
