Silvio Horta

Silvio Horta (August 14, 1974 – January 7, 2020) was an American screenwriter and television producer widely noted for adapting the hit Colombian telenovela Yo soy Betty, la fea into the ABC series Ugly Betty. Horta served as head writer and executive producer on the series.

Silvio Horta
Born(1974-08-14)August 14, 1974
Miami, Florida, U.S.
DiedJanuary 7, 2020(2020-01-07) (aged 45)
Miami, Florida, U.S.
Cause of deathSuicide by gunshot
Alma materNew York University
Occupation
  • Screenwriter
  • producer
Years active1998–2012
Notable work
Ugly Betty

Background & Death

Horta, a first-generation Cuban-American, was born and raised in Miami. He was a popular performer and playwright in high school, attending both International Baccalaureate Theater, and Experimental Theater programs at Coral Gables Senior in Miami. After graduating in 1992, he attended the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University, majoring in film.[1]

Horta was openly gay, coming out to his family at 19.[2] He was found dead in a Miami hotel room on January 7, 2020. Variety reported that he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was 45 years old.[3][4][5]

Career

Horta penned many as yet unproduced screenplays including "Even Exchange" and "The Furies" (with Nip/Tuck creator Ryan Murphy). Prior to Ugly Betty, Horta wrote the screenplay for the 1998 teen satirical hit slasher film Urban Legend and he can be heard on the DVD commentary. Before Legend, he was working as a perfume spritzer.[6]

Horta was also creator of two short lived sci-fi television shows Jake 2.0, which starred Christopher Gorham, who would later join the cast of Ugly Betty, and The Chronicle. In 2007, he accepted the Golden Globe for Best Comedy Series Ugly Betty, stating, "Like most of us up here, Betty is an immigrant and The American Dream is alive and well and in reach of anybody who wants it".

Horta started the production company "Silent H Productions", named as a tongue-in-cheek acknowledgement of the common mispronunciation of the silent H in Horta's last name. In 2011, his production company signed a deal with Sony.[7]

Filmography

Crew
Film
Year Film Distributor Credit Notes
1998 Urban Legend TriStar Pictures Writer Directed by Jamie Blanks
1999 The Furies N/A Writer Short film; co-written by Ryan Murphy
2012 Horror Movie: The Movie N/A Writer Short film
Television
Year Title Network Credit Notes
2001–2002 The Chronicle Sci-Fi Writer and executive producer One season: 22 episodes
2003–2004 Jake 2.0 UPN Series creator;
Writer and executive producer		 One season: 16 episodes
2006–2010 Ugly Betty ABC Series creator;
Writer, developer and executive producer		 Four seasons: 85 episodes;
Series recipient of forty-four wins and ninety-two nominations

References
  1. Jensen, Michael (September 30, 2008). "Interview with "Ugly Betty'"s Silvio Horta". Logo. Retrieved November 4, 2018.
  2. "USATODAY.com". usatoday30.usatoday.com. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  3. Oldham, Stuart (January 7, 2020). "Silvio Horta, 'Ugly Betty' Creator, Found Dead in Apparent Suicide". Variety. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
  4. "Ugly Betty Star America Ferrera Is 'Heartbroken' Over the Death of Show's Creator Silvio Horta". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  5. Petski, Denise (January 8, 2020). "'Ugly Betty' Cast Mourn Death Of Creator Silvio Horta". Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  6. "The LAist Interview: Silvio Horta". Gothamist. October 11, 2004. Archived from the original on January 11, 2020. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
  7. Wallenstein, Andrew (June 11, 2011). "Silvio Horta inks overall deal with Sony". Variety. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
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