Benedict Fitzgerald

{{Infobox person

| name = Benedict Fitzgerald

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1949|3|9}}

| birth_place = New York, U.S.

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2024|1|17|1949|3|9}}

| death_place = Marsala, Sicily, Italy

| alma_mater = Harvard College

| nationality =

| other_names =

| occupation = Screenwriter

| years_active =

| known_for =

| father = Robert Fitzgerald

| spouse = {{marriage|Karen Mason|1991}}

| notable_works = The Passion of the Christ
Wise Blood

}}

Benedict Fitzgerald (March 9, 1949 – January 17, 2024) was an American screenwriter who co-wrote the screenplay for the 2004 film The Passion of the Christ with its director, Mel Gibson. His other writing credits include an uncredited television screenplay for Moby Dick in 1998 and Wise Blood in 1979. He was a consulting producer on the Paramount+ television series Evil.

Early life

Fitzgerald was born in New York on March 9, 1949. He was the son of Sally and poet/critic Robert Fitzgerald. When he was a child, one of his babysitters was novelist Flannery O'Connor.{{Cite journal |last=Dittrich |first=Luke |date=July 25, 2014 |title=The Greatest Story Never Told |url=https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/movies/interviews/a23749/the-greatest-story-never-told-0814/ |journal=Esquire}}

Lawsuit

On February 11, 2008, Fitzgerald filed a lawsuit against Mel Gibson and the production company Icon Productions, alleging the unfair deprivation of compensation and deception on the overall expense of the film production budget after the box office success of the film The Passion of the Christ, including, but not limited to, "fraud, breach of contract & unjust enrichment" seeking unspecified damages.{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7240487.stm|title = Gibson sued over Passion payments|website=BBC News|date = 12 February 2008|access-date=21 January 2024}} He also sued Vicki Christianson, Icon Distribution, Marquis Films, and Airborne Productions.{{cite web | title=Mel Gibson Cheated Him To Make 'The Christ,' Screenwriter Says | website=Courthouse News Service | date=12 Feb 2008| url=https://www.courthousenews.com/mel-gibson-cheated-him-to-makethe-christ-screenwriter-says/ | access-date=14 January 2025}}

According to his lawsuit, Fitzgerald says he "accepted a salary substantially less than what he would have taken had he known the true budget for the film," agreeing to an undisclosed "relatively small salary," a $75,000 production bonus, another $75,000 if the film broke even, and five percent of revenues.{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2008-02-13/gibson-sued-over-passion-payments/1041048|title=Gibson sued over Passion payments|website=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=12 February 2008|access-date=21 January 2024}} Fitzgerald received a loan of $200,000 from Gibson in December 2003 backed by his share of the film's future profits as collateral.

In May 2009, Gibson agreed to an undisclosed settlement with Fitzgerald. Details of the settlement, agreed at Los Angeles Superior Court, were not released. Gibson's representatives did not comment on the settlement.{{cite web|title=Mel Gibson settles Passion of Christ Script lawsuit|date=19 May 2009|url=http://www.contactmusic.com/news/mel-gibson-settles-passion-of-the-christ-script-lawsuit_1103829|website=Contactmusic.com|accessdate=21 January 2024}}

Death

Fitzgerald died in Marsala, Sicily, on January 17, 2024, at the age of 74.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2024/01/benedict-fitzgerald-dead-screenwriter-the-passion-of-the-christ-was-74-obituary-1235799987/|title=Benedict Fitzgerald Dies: Screenwriter For 'The Passion of the Christ' Was 74|website=Deadline|date=21 January 2024|access-date=21 January 2024}}{{cite web|url=

https://variety.com/2024/film/news/benedict-fitzgerald-dead-the-passion-of-the-christ-1235881121/|title=Benedict Fitzgerald, 'The Passion of the Christ' Co-Screenwriter, Dies at 74|website=Variety|date=21 January 2024|access-date=21 January 2024}}

Filmography

=Film=

Wise Blood (1979)
The Passion of the Christ (2004)
Mary Mother of Christ (TBA)
A Good Man Is Hard to Find (TBA)

=Television=

Heart of Darkness (1993)
Zelda (1993)
In Cold Blood (1996)
Moby Dick (1998) (uncredited)
Evil (2020) (consulting producer)

References

External links

{{IMDb name|280179|Benedict Fitzgerald}}
[http://archives.starbulletin.com/2004/02/22/features/story3.html Interview with Benedict Fitzgerald] Honolulu Star-Bulletin February 22, 2004

Category:1949 births

Category:2024 deaths

Category:American male screenwriters

Category:Harvard College alumni