Richard Benner (1943 â€" December 2, 1990) was an American film
director and screenwriter who worked predominantly in Canada. His 1977
film Outrageous! was entered into the 28th Berlin International Film
Festival, where Craig Russell won the Silver Bear for Best
Actor.Benner, who grew up in Kentucky and studied drama in California
and England, landed in Toronto in the early 1970s. Writing for the
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, he pitched an idea for a film about
a gay hairdresser with dreams of New York City success to the Canadian
Film Development Corporation (now Telefilm Canada). Approved, he was
able to secure financing with the help of Toronto producers, and
Outrageous!, the first film to feature Craig Russell, an openly gay
cabaret performer, went on to critical success at the 1977 Cannes Film
Festival. Funny and sympathetic, Outrageous! is considered a landmark
film in Canadian Queer cinema. Ten years later Benner talked Russell
into doing a sequel (1987), which fared not nearly as well. Benner
died from complications due to AIDS in 1990. In addition to his films,
he directed several episodes of the Canadian television series 9B,
Monsters, Street Legal and Road to Avonlea.
director and screenwriter who worked predominantly in Canada. His 1977
film Outrageous! was entered into the 28th Berlin International Film
Festival, where Craig Russell won the Silver Bear for Best
Actor.Benner, who grew up in Kentucky and studied drama in California
and England, landed in Toronto in the early 1970s. Writing for the
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, he pitched an idea for a film about
a gay hairdresser with dreams of New York City success to the Canadian
Film Development Corporation (now Telefilm Canada). Approved, he was
able to secure financing with the help of Toronto producers, and
Outrageous!, the first film to feature Craig Russell, an openly gay
cabaret performer, went on to critical success at the 1977 Cannes Film
Festival. Funny and sympathetic, Outrageous! is considered a landmark
film in Canadian Queer cinema. Ten years later Benner talked Russell
into doing a sequel (1987), which fared not nearly as well. Benner
died from complications due to AIDS in 1990. In addition to his films,
he directed several episodes of the Canadian television series 9B,
Monsters, Street Legal and Road to Avonlea.
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