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Robert Benjamin

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For the journalist, see Robert Spiers Benjamin.

Robert Saul Benjamin (1909 – October 22, 1979)[1] was a founding partner of the movie-litigation firm Phillips, Nizer, Benjamin, Krim & Ballon, a former co‐chairman of United Artists, and a founding member of Orion Pictures.

Biography

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Robert Saul Benjamin was born to a Jewish family.[2]

Career

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Benjamin, along with his longtime friend and partner Arthur B. Krim, took over United Artists in 1951.[1] The deal that they struck with then-owners Charlie Chaplin and Mary Pickford was that if the company showed a profit in any one of the first three years of their management, the two would be able to purchase a 50% share of the company for one dollar.[3][1]

The Krim-Benjamin team quickly showed a profit, and they bought out Chaplin and Pickford to own the company outright in 1955. In 1957, they took the company public.

In 1975 Benjamin was a senior adviser to the United States delegation to the United Nations.[1]

Awards

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In 1979, Robert Benjamin won the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian award posthumously.[4] His wife Jean accepted the award on his behalf.[4]

Personal life

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Robert Benjamin married Jean Kortright.[1] They had two kids, Jonathan and Margret.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Robert Benjamin, 70, Executive Of Film Company and a Lawyer". The New York Times. October 23, 1979. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  2. ^ Brook, Vincent (December 15, 2016). From Shtetl to Stardom: Jews and Hollywood: Chapter 1: Still an Empire of Their Own: How Jews Remain Atop a Reinvented Hollywood. Purdue University Press. p. 17. ISBN 9781557537638.
  3. ^ Litwak, Mark (April 10, 1988). "Psst, Wanna Buy a Studio? : UNITED ARTISTS The Company That Changed the Film Industry". Los Angeles Times.
  4. ^ a b "Academy Awards Acceptance Speech Database". aaspeechesdb.oscars.org. April 14, 1980.
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