Benton began his directing career in 1972 with
Bad Company, then further honed his directing skills on
The Late Show which he also wrote (and for which he received an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay), before writing and directing the critical and box office success
Kramer Vs. Kramer that won him a DGA Award for Best Director, as well as Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay. In the 1980’s and ‘90’s, Benton directed such films as
Still of the Night,
Places in the Heart (nominated for a DGA Award and Oscar for directing, and winning him an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay),
Nobody’s Fool (Oscar-nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay),
The Human Stain, and most recently
Feast of Love.
Robert Benton has served on the DGA’s Eastern Directors Council for three consecutive terms since 2007.