Vale Robert Benton: The Aussie-Inspired Wrap on a Hollywood Legend Who Couldn’t Spell But Sure Could Write
A Hollywood Script Worthy of Benton Himself
You couldn’t write a more poetic ending if you tried — Robert Benton, the Oscar-winning screenwriter and director whose career helped reshape modern Hollywood storytelling, has passed away at 92. His longtime assistant Marisa Forzano confirmed the news to The New York Times, and you better believe it’s shaken the film world more than a rogue boom mic on set.
Despite being dyslexic and famously saying, “I cannot spell or punctuate,” Benton gave the world some of its most iconic cinematic moments — a fact that proves even grammar can’t stop greatness.
Robert Benton’s Filmography: From Bonnie to Billy
| Film Title | Achievements | Box Office (USD) | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bonnie and Clyde | Oscar Nomination (Best Screenplay, co-written) | $70 million (on $2.5m budget) | 1967 |
| What’s Up, Doc? | 3rd highest-grossing film of the year | $66 million | 1972 |
| The Late Show | Oscar Nom (Original Screenplay) | Cult hit | 1977 |
| Superman (co-writer) | Huge critical + commercial hit | $300 million+ | 1978 |
| Kramer vs. Kramer | 5 Oscars (including Best Director & Best Adapted Screenplay) | $173 million | 1979 |
| Places in the Heart | Oscar for Best Original Screenplay | $34.9 million | 1984 |
| Billy Bathgate | Starred young Nicole Kidman & Dustin Hoffman | Mixed reviews | 1991 |
| The Human Stain | Hopkins & Kidman drama based on Philip Roth novel | $24 million | 2003 |
| Feast of Love | Benton’s final directorial work | $5.4 million | 2007 |
Fun Fact: His Career Began with a Firing
Benton’s leap into the film biz came after getting the boot from Esquire magazine, where he was the art director. Rather than sulk over a whiskey, he teamed up with David Newman and co-wrote Bonnie and Clyde, which became a genre-defining hit. Talk about failing upward.
“I sold him on the glamorous life of the Hollywood screenwriter,” Benton once said — proving that sometimes all you need is a good yarn and a mate who knows where the typewriter is.
Awards Cabinet: Dusty But Impressive
- 3 Academy Awards (2 for Kramer vs Kramer, 1 for Places in the Heart)
- 9 Oscar Nominations (for Kramer vs Kramer alone!)
- Films that grossed over $600 million worldwide collectively
- Was working on a memoir at the time of his passing — title unknown, but here’s hoping it’s something like “I Can’t Spell, But I Can Write You Under the Table”
Aussie Connections
Benton directed Nicole Kidman in Billy Bathgate, back when she was still just “that redhead from Dead Calm” to the American public. He saw her talent early — and put her on screen alongside Dustin Hoffman, no less.
Final Scene: A Life in Rewind
Robert Benton may be gone, but his work will continue to roll during late-night screenings and film school lectures for decades. Whether you were weeping through Kramer vs Kramer or fist-pumping during Bonnie and Clyde, Benton made sure cinema hit where it mattered — right in the feels.
He is survived by his son, John, and a towering legacy in storytelling.
