Oscar-Winning Director Robert Benton Dies Age 92

Robert Benton, the Oscar-winning filmmaker and screenwriter, died at age 92. He was best known for his work on Kramer vs. Kramer, for which he won Academy Awards for Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay, and the film also won Best Picture, with Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep receiving acting Oscars. Benton also won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for Places in the Heart (1984) and was nominated for others, including for Nobody's Fool (1995). Early in his career, Benton collaborated with David Newman on the influential screenplay for Bonnie and Clyde (1967), as well as other films such as There Was a Crooked Man, What’s Up, Doc?, and Superman (1978). Benton began his career as an art director at Esquire magazine before transitioning to screenwriting and directing, gaining a reputation for well-crafted, character-driven films. His death was confirmed by his longtime assistant and manager, Marisa Forzano, but no cause of death has been released.