Robert Benton: Movies, Awards & Box Office

Robert Douglas Benton was born on September 29, 1932, in Waxahachie, Texas. The son of Dorothy and Ellery Douglass Benton, he worked for a telephone company before pursuing an academic journey at both the University of Texas and Columbia University. His initial steps into the creative world began with writing a book titled 'The IN and OUT Book' with Harvey Schmidt, published by The Viking Press in 1959. His occupation at Esquire as an art director marked his footprints into the world of art and creativity during the early 1960s. Benton's career catapulted with his maiden screenplay for the 1967 film Bonnie and Clyde, written in collaboration with David Newman. His efforts were recognized with an Academy Award nomination. The awards momentum continued for Benton as he added three more Academy Awards to his name. He was presented with the Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay awards for the film Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) and later won the Best Original Screenplay award for the film Places in the Heart (1984). Benton's creative saga stretches to his directorial ventures such as Twilight (1998), Feast of Love (2007) and co-writing experiences in successful screenplays like Superman (1978) and The Ice Harvest (2005).