Los Angeles – Directors Guild of America President Lesli Linka Glatter made the following statement upon learning of the passing of Robert Benton.
“The DGA mourns the passing of the brilliant Robert Benton, known for his deft touch in eliciting sterling performances, including the beloved film Kramer Vs. Kramer, for which he won the DGA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film in 1979. In addition to his legacy in leading so many actors to well-deserved award nominations throughout his career, Robert’s background as an editor strongly influenced his work. As he stated in his DGA Visual History, ‘What I want – is to make movies end five minutes before the audience wants them to end.’ Robert was passionate about working to protect the creative and economic rights of all directors, dedicating his time to serve on the Eastern Directors Council, and sharing his knowledge of the craft with fellow members. He will be greatly missed.”
Service and Awards:
Robert Benton joined the DGA in 1971. He won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film for Kramer Vs. Kramer (1979) and was nominated for Places in the Heart (1984). He served on the DGA’s Eastern Directors Council from 1972-1974 and 2007-2013.
Click here to view Robert Benton's DGA Visual History Interview.
