Benedict Fitzgerald Obituary

Benedict Fitzgerald, renowned as the screenwriter of “The Passion of the Christ,” passed away at his residence in Marsala, Sicily, on January 17, 2024, following an extended illness. At the age of 74, Fitzgerald’s family did not disclose the specific cause of his death.

His initial recognition came with the screenplay adaptation of Flannery O’Connor’s novel “Wise Blood,” a collaborative effort with his brother, Michael. The 1979 film, produced by Michael and Kathy Fitzgerald and directed by John Huston, featured stellar performances by Brad Dourif, Harry Dean Stanton, and Ned Beatty.

Fitzgerald carved a niche in literary adaptations, including the 1993 film “Zelda” (starring Natasha Richardson and Timothy Hutton) and Joseph Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness” in the same year (featuring John Malkovich). Additionally, he worked on the television mini-series adaptation of Truman Capote’s “In Cold Blood” in 1996 (with Eric Roberts and Anthony Edwards, earning two Primetime Emmy nominations, including Outstanding Miniseries) and “Moby Dick” in 1998 (starring Patrick Stewart as Ahab, nominated for five Primetime Emmy Awards).

“The Passion of the Christ,” born out of a two-year collaboration with Mel Gibson, achieved unprecedented success, becoming the highest-grossing independent film of all time in 2004.

Benedict Fitzgerald, born on March 9, 1949, in New York, was the second child of Sally Fitzgerald (renowned for “The Habit of Being: Letters of Flannery O’Connor”) and the esteemed poet and translator Robert Fitzgerald, celebrated for definitive translations of Homer, Virgil, and Sophocles. Despite being raised in Italy, he attended boarding school in Rhode Island and graduated from Harvard University in 1972.

In 1991, Fitzgerald married Karen Mason. He leaves behind a legacy survived by his wife, daughters Eugenie, Helena, and Olimpia, three grandchildren, and siblings Ughetta, Maria, Michael, Barnaby, and Caterina.