(AFP) – Award-winning director and author of “Kramer vs Kramer,” Robert Benton, has died at the age of 92, as confirmed by his representative on Tuesday. He passed away at his home in the United States.
Benton is also recognized for his 1984 film “Places in the Heart,” and he made significant contributions to film from the 1960s through the 1970s.
According to The New York Times, Benton died on Sunday, with confirmation from Hillary Bibikov of the law firm Feig Finkel that represented him.
He co-wrote the iconic 1967 crime thriller “Bonnie and Clyde,” directed by Arthur Penn, alongside David Newman. However, Benton is perhaps most noted for his work on “Kramer vs Kramer,” a 1979 film that made waves regarding divorce and won numerous accolades.
The film garnered nine Oscar nominations, including Benton’s for Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and a Best Supporting Actress award for Meryl Streep, alongside the Grand Prize for Best Picture.
Benton and Newman also collaborated on the script for “What’s Up, Doc?”, which came out in 1972, the same year Benton made his directorial debut with “Bad Company.”
In 1978, he partnered again with Newman and Newman’s wife, Leslie, to write the script for “Superman,” featuring Christopher Reeve, Marlon Brando, and Margot Kidder.
Benton’s acclaimed performances owe a nod to the legendary cinematic traditions of the 20th century, though he was often seen in Hollywood as a self-deprecating director.
“We have directors who can elicit great performances from their actors. I’m not one of them,” he once remarked.
At a fan event in Hollywood in 2018, he remained humble about his successful career. “I found those actors, through luck, or the judgment of the casting director, or my own instincts— which, I think, were pretty good,” he shared with the audience.
“It’s like gambling. When you see it happen and it works, that’s fantastic.”
When questioned on how he attracted some of Hollywood’s biggest stars, he noted, “I made them go out of their way…It’s not simple.”
The Times mentioned that Benton is survived by his son, John. His wife of 60 years, Sally, passed away in 2023.
