Robert Benton


Robert Douglas Benton is a retired American screenwriter and film director. He has won numerous awards for both writing and directing in film.

Early life

Benton was born in Waxahachie, Texas, the son of Dorothy and Ellery Douglass Benton, a telephone company employee. He attended the University of Texas and Columbia University.

Career

In 1959, he co-wrote the book The IN and OUT Book with Harvey Schmidt, published by The Viking Press. He was the art director at Esquire in the early 1960s.
Benton won the Academy Awards for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Director for Kramer vs. Kramer and Best Original Screenplay for Places in the Heart.
Benton garnered three additional Oscar nominations: two for Best Original Screenplay for both Bonnie and Clyde and The Late Show and one for Best Adapted Screenplay for Nobody's Fool.
He also directed Twilight and Feast of Love, and co-wrote the screenplays for Superman and The Ice Harvest.
In 2006, he appeared in the documentary Wanderlust.

Personal life

He married artist Sallie Rendig in 1964.

Filmography

Directing

Writing

Film awards

Wins