Silvio Hora, feature film writer, series creator, and television producer was found dead on Tuesday from what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was 45 years old.
Who Was Silvio Horta?
Born August 14, 1974, Horta was a native of Miami Florida and a graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. Though primarily known for the ABC dramedy serial Ugly Betty – his Americanized adaption of the hit Colombian telenovela Yo soy Betty, la fea – Horta had already proven himself to be a magnetic, creative force.
While working as a perfume spritzer by day, Horta had sweated over a screenplay he titled Urban Legend. It was a satirical teen slasher that would prove to be an enormous hit for eventual film distributors TriStar Pictures, who released the film in 1998.
Horta followed the film with a sequel – Urban Legends: The Final Cut – an unproduced script co-written with Ryan Murphy and two, one-season-and-done science fiction programs – The Chronicle and Jake 2.0.
The later program starred actor Christopher Gorham, who followed Horta to his next major project – Ugly Betty. The America Ferrera staring series concerned the trials and tribulations of Betty Suarez, an “ugly duckling” who finds herself swimming with corporate sharks when she lands a plum job at an upscale women’s fashion magazine.
Stars Remember Silvio Horta
Following the news of Horta’s tragic passing, a number of actors who had portrayed characters on various programs penned by the writer took to their respective social media channels to share their condolences and pay tribute to their former boss.
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On Instagram, Ferrera posted in part, “I’m stunned and heartbroken to hear the devastating news…his talent and creativity brought me and so many others such joy & light.”
On the same platform, actress Vanessa Williams, who played scheme queen Wilhelmina Slater on Betty offered, “Still in shock after hearing the tragic news of our #uglybetty creator #siviohorta. His creativity and passion will be missed by so many of us that worked with him. May he rest in peace.”
Performer Michael Urie, also of Betty fame, released the following bittersweet tribute via Twitter, “I will be forever indebted to this sweet brilliant man.”
Frequent collaborator Gorham also took to Instagram with the post, “Silvio Horta gave me two of the greatest opportunities in my career…I will be forever grateful for his creativity, his enormous heart and his friendship…”
Soap Hub sends its deepest and most sincere condolences to Horta’s co-workers, friends, and family during this very difficult time.
I will be forever indebted to this sweet, brilliant man. 💔 https://t.co/M8MYuDle6I
— Michael Urie (@michaelurie) January 8, 2020
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