Richard Benner (1943 – December 2, 1990) was an American film director and screenwriter who worked predominantly in Canada.
was entered into the 28th Berlin International Film Festival, where Craig Russell won the Silver Bear for Best Actor.
[2] Benner grew up in Kentucky, studied drama in California and England, and moved to 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).
In addition to his films, he directed several episodes of the Canadian television series 9B, Monsters, Street Legal and Road to Avonlea.