Birthday boy Robert Benton started as an art director at Esquire in the early 1960s. He transitioned to film in 1867 as a co-writer of Bonnie and Clyde, receiving an Academy Award nomination for his work with David Newman

In 1979, he wrote and directed the film Kramer vs. Kramer, winning the Academy Award for Best Director and the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. He later won a third Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for the 1984 film Places in the Heart.

Other films of his include What’s Up, Doc?, The Late Show, Billy Bathgate, Nobody’s Fool, Twilight, The Human Stain, and Feast of Love. Catch as many as you can!

This article is part of a special year-long series of anecdotes, reflections and thoughts about the Academy Awards.