Ugly Betty creator Silvio Horta ‘could never keep up with his own success’, says producer

Ugly Better creator Silvio Horta ‘wasn’t happy in his own skin’, the popular show’s executive producer revealed after the 45-year-old’s apparent suicide.

Ben Silverman, who acquired US rights to the Spanish-language hit ‘Yo Soy Betty La Fea’ in 2006 and hired Horta to adapt it, described the creator as ‘an incredible voice and talent and a rare person, a gay Cuban writer who hit the mainstream as a kid and never could quite keep up with his own success’. 

‘It’s sad that he wasn’t happy in his own skin,’ Silverman told USA Today. 

Horta was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in a Miami motel room on Tuesday, according to law enforcement sources.  

Ugly Betty creator Silvio Horta ‘never could quite keep up with his own success’, the popular show’s executive producer revealed after the 45-year-old died of an apparent suicide. Horta is pictured holding his Golden Globe for Best Television Comedy Series in 2007

Ben Silverman (pictured), who acquired US rights to the Spanish-language hit 'Yo Soy Betty La Fea' in 2006 and hired Horta to adapt it, described the show-runner as 'an incredible voice and talent and a rare person, a gay Cuban writer who hit the mainstream as a kid and never could quite keep up with his own success'

Horta was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in a Miami motel room on Tuesday, according to law enforcement sources. He is pictured in an Instagram photo from May 2019

Ben Silverman (left), who acquired US rights to the Spanish-language hit ‘Yo Soy Betty La Fea’ in 2006 and hired Horta (right) to adapt it, described the show-runner as ‘an incredible voice and talent and a rare person, a gay Cuban writer who hit the mainstream as a kid and never could quite keep up with his own success’

Horta served as Ugly Betty's show-runner and head writer. The show picked up two Golden Globes during its run, one for Best Comedy Series and the other for America Ferrera, Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy (pictured 2007 with the Ugly Betty cast)

Horta served as Ugly Betty’s show-runner and head writer. The show picked up two Golden Globes during its run, one for Best Comedy Series and the other for America Ferrera, Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy (pictured 2007 with the Ugly Betty cast)

Horta had previously spoken about being overwhelmed by the demands of his job, revealing in a 2008 interview that the success of Ugly Betty was not all that he thought it would be. 

‘My first year doing this, people would constantly ask me, “Aren’t you happy? You must be thrilled. You’ve got a hit show. You must be having the time of your life.” Well, no, I’m not. It’s all consuming,’ he said.  

‘I was so exhausted by the time I got home on Friday night, I was just paralyzed. I didn’t want to go out. I didn’t want to socialize and I had so much work to do. That was it. That was my life.’ 

Ugly Betty star America Ferrera led celebrity tributes to the late show-runner, who she described as a ‘joy and light’.

‘I’m stunned and heartbroken to hear the devastating news of Ugly Betty creator, Silvio Horta’s death’, Ferrera, 35, wrote in an Instagram post. 

‘His talent and creativity brought me and so many others such joy and light. I’m thinking of his family and loved ones who must be in so much pain right now- and of the whole Ugly Betty family who feel this loss so deeply.’ 

Actress Vanessa Williams, who played Wilhelmina Slater on the show, which ran for four seasons from 2006 to 2010, also took to social media to share a photograph of herself and Horta. 

‘Still in shock after hearing the tragic news of our Ugly Betty creator Silvio Horta.

‘His creativity and passion will be missed by so many of us that worked with him. May he Rest In Peace’.

'I'm stunned and heartbroken to hear the devastating news of Ugly Betty creator, Silvio Horta's death,' Ugly Betty star America Ferrera said in an Instagram tribute to Horta on Tuesday

‘I’m stunned and heartbroken to hear the devastating news of Ugly Betty creator, Silvio Horta’s death,’ Ugly Betty star America Ferrera said in an Instagram tribute to Horta on Tuesday

Vanessa Williams took to her Instagram and shared a photo of her and Horta in her tribute

Vanessa Williams took to her Instagram and shared a photo of her and Horta in her tribute

Christopher Gorham, who played Henry Grubstick in Ugly Betty, added: 'Silvio Horta gave me two of the greatest opportunities in my career with Jake 2.0 and Ugly Betty'

Christopher Gorham, who played Henry Grubstick in Ugly Betty, added: ‘Silvio Horta gave me two of the greatest opportunities in my career with Jake 2.0 and Ugly Betty’

'Silvio gave me my start at 11 years old and trusted me with a character that was so close to his heart,' said Mark Indelicato, known for his role as Betty's fashion savvy nephew Justin. 'He will be greatly missed by all'

‘Silvio gave me my start at 11 years old and trusted me with a character that was so close to his heart,’ said Mark Indelicato, known for his role as Betty’s fashion savvy nephew Justin. ‘He will be greatly missed by all’

In another tribute, Christopher Gorham, who played Henry Grubstick in Ugly Betty and also worked with Horta on Jake 2.0, wrote: ‘Silvio Horta gave me two of the greatest opportunities in my career with Jake 2.0 and Ugly Betty. 

‘I will be forever grateful for his creativity, his enormous heart, and his friendship. His family was his world and my heart goes out to them tonight. Let’s all take care of each other.’ 

The actor also shared Ferrera’s post to his Instagram story, writing ‘So grateful. So heartbroken’. 

‘Silvio gave me my start at 11 years old and trusted me with a character that was so close to his heart,’ added Mark Indelicato, known for his role as Betty’s fashion savvy nephew Justin Suarez. ‘He will be greatly missed by all.’ 

Perez Hilton also paid tribute to the producer on Twitter, writing: ‘I always felt such kinship with Silvio Horta. 

‘A fellow gay Cubanito from Miami who, like me, also went to NYU’s Tisch School Of The Arts. And we were around the same age. This is devastating!’

Favorite for all: Ugly Betty was a huge success - picking up 42 wins and 92 nominations at award ceremonies (pictured 2008)

Favorite for all: Ugly Betty was a huge success – picking up 42 wins and 92 nominations at award ceremonies (pictured 2008) 

Horta, a Cuban American born in Miami, was openly gay and came out to his family when he was 19. He studied film at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University. 

In 1998, Horta produced a screenplay for the teen satirical hit slasher Urban Legend. The film, which starred Jared Leto and Alicia Witt went on to make $72.5million at the box office.   

He was also the creator of two short-lived sci-fi television shows: Jake 2.0, which starred Christopher Gorham, and The Chronicle, which ran from July 2001 to March 2002. 

Horta is best known for his work on Ugly Betty – an American comedy-drama about Betty Suarez, who lands a job at a prestigious high fashion magazine despite her lack of style and physical appearance. 

Horta, a Cuban American born in Miami, was openly gay and came out to his family when he was 19. He studied film at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University

Horta, a Cuban American born in Miami, was openly gay and came out to his family when he was 19. He studied film at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University

The series starred Ferrera, Williams, Eric Mabius and Ana Ortiz. Salma Hayek was one of the executive producers.

Ugly Betty won 42 awards and 92 nominations during its four-season run, including two Golden Globes – one for Best Comedy Series and the other for Ferrera, who won Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy in 2007.  

Horta previously spoke about how elements from his personal life made it into the show.

‘I think elements of Justin’s character being gay and sort of struggling with his sexuality was definitely — I drew from my own life’, he told the Television Academy in 2016.

‘Though I was never quite as flamboyant or as into fashion or, you know, musical theater’. 

After Ugly Betty ended in 2010, Horta went on to develop multiple other shows, but none got to air. 

His latest project, an NBC television pilot released in 2015, starred Sônia Braga and the Following star Adan Canto. 

The Curse Of The Fuentes Women, which was produced by Horta’s company Silent H Productions and Warner Brothers, told the story of a man who mysteriously emerged from the ocean, TV Wise reported.   

Silvio’s last social media post was on June 21, 2019, when he posed with a friend while at the ArcLight cinemas in Hollywood.   

  • If you are in crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741-741.  
  •  For confidential support, call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local branch. See www.samaritans.org for details.
  • For confidential support in Australia LIFELINE: 13 11 14 www.lifeline.org.au  or Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800
Horta's last social media post was on June 21, 2019, when he posed with a friend while at the ArcLight cinemas in Hollywood

Horta’s last social media post was on June 21, 2019, when he posed with a friend while at the ArcLight cinemas in Hollywood

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