What happened to Benedict Fitzgerald?

Benedict Fitzgerald, renowned for his co-writing role in Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ,” passed away at the age of 74 on Wednesday, January 17. According to the writer’s cousin, Nancy Morgan Ritter, Fitzgerald succumbed to a prolonged illness at his residence in Marsala, Sicily, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.

Fitzgerald’s journey in the world of cinema began with his screenplay adaptation of Flannery O’Connor’s novel, “Wise Blood,” a collaborative effort with his brother Michael. The film, produced in 1979 by Michael and Kathy Fitzgerald and directed by John Huston, featured notable performances by Brad Dourif, Harry Dean Stanton, and Ned Beatty. As the son of the renowned poet Robert Fitzgerald, Benedict primarily focused on literary adaptations. In 1993, he contributed to a television movie adaptation of Joseph Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness,” starring Tim Roth as Marlow and John Malkovich as Kurtz.

Among his notable works was “Zelda,” a television movie that depicted the relationship between author F. Scott Fitzgerald and his wife Zelda, starring Natasha Richardson and Timothy Hutton. However, Fitzgerald’s most significant achievement came in 1999 when Mel Gibson approached him to write the script for “The Passion of the Christ.” Released independently through Icon in February 2004, the film became a global box office phenomenon, grossing over $600 million with a modest $30 million budget. Benedict Fitzgerald is survived by his wife Karen, daughters Eugenie, Helena, and Olimpia, as well as three grandchildren. He is also remembered by his siblings Ughetta, Maria, Michael, Barnaby, and Caterina.