Robert Benton
Robert Benton won his first Oscars for writing and directing Kramer vs. Kramer which was adapted from the novel by Avery Corman. He subsequently won an Oscar for his original screenplay Places in the Heart which also earned him a best director nomination. His writing has earned two other Academy Award nominations, for The Late Show and Nobody's Fool both of which he directed, as well. Benton's most recent directorial effort was the crime drama Twilight starring
Paul Newman,
Susan Sarandon and
Gene Hackman.
Benton's auspicious entry into the film business came as co-writer, with David Newman, of the screenplay for the 1967 classic Bonnie and Clyde which earned 10 Academy Award nominations including Best Screenplay. He followed this with scripts for the off-beat western There Was a Crooked Man and the comedy What's Up Doc? He made his directorial debut with the highly praised Civil War yarn Bad Company which he also wrote with Newman. His next effort as a director was the stylish suspense drama The Late Show.
Other films Benton has directed include Nadine and Still of the Night, both of which he wrote - the latter from his original story - and Billy Bathgate adapted by E.L. Doctorow and Tom Stoppard from Doctorow's novel. That film brought a little-known Australian actress, Nicole Kidman, her first Golden Globe nomination. He also wrote the screenplay for the 1978 box office record-breaker Superman with David & Leslie Newman.
Robert Benton Facts
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