Born in Waxahachie, TX; educated at the University of Texas and Columbia. Benton began writing screenplays with colleague David Newman while a contributing editor at Esquire magazine. They scored a huge success with their first effort, BONNIE AND CLYDE (1967), which director Arthur Penn put into production after it had been rejected by over a dozen producers. Benton was encouraged to move into directing in 1972 by Stanley Jaffe, then president of Paramount, and has subsequently enjoyed substantial critical and popular success. Writing alone or in collaboration, his credits include THERE WAS A CROOKED MAN (1970), WHAT'S UP, DOC? (1972), OH! CALCUTTA! (1972, contributions), BAD COMPANY (1972, also director), SUPERMAN (1978), STILL OF THE NIGHT (1982, also director), NADINE (1987, also director), NOBODY'S FOOL (1994, also director), TWILIGHT (1998, also director). He directed screenplays by others for BILLY BATHGATE (1991) and THE HUMAN STAIN (2003). Benton wrote and produced THE ICE HARVEST (2005), which was directed by Harold Ramis.  Nominated for Writing (Best Story and Screenplay written directly for the screen) 1967: BONNIE AND CLYDE (w. David Newman)  Nominated for Writing (Best Story and Screenplay written directly for the screen) 1977: THE LATE SHOW  Directing 1979: KRAMER VS. KRAMER  Writing (Best Screenplay based on material from another medium) 1979: KRAMER VS. KRAMER  Nominated for Directing 1984: PLACES IN THE HEART  Writing (Best Screenplay written directly for the screen) 1984: PLACES IN THE HEART 6 nominations, 3 Awards