:Roberto Orci
{{Short description|American screenwriter and producer (1973–2025)}}
{{good article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Roberto Orci
| image = Roberto Orci by Gage Skidmore.jpg
| caption = Orci in 2014
| birth_name = Roberto Gaston Orcí
| birth_date = {{birth date|1973|7|20}}
| birth_place = Mexico City, Mexico
| death_date = {{death date and age|2025|2|25|1973|7|20}}
| death_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S.
| nationality =
| other_names = Bob Orci
| alma_mater = University of Texas at Austin Spring Woods Senior High School
| occupation = Screenwriter, producer
| spouse = {{ubl|{{marriage|Melissa Blake||2020|end=div}}|{{marriage|Adele Heather Taylor|2020|2022|end=sep}}}}
| yearsactive = 1997–2025
| relatives = J. R. Orci (brother)
}}
Roberto Gaston Orcí (July 20, 1973 – February 25, 2025) was a Mexican-American film and television screenwriter and producer.
Born in Mexico City, Orci began his longtime collaboration with Alex Kurtzman while at school in California. Together they were employed on television series such as Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess. In 2008, together with J. J. Abrams, they created Fringe. In 2013, they created Sleepy Hollow alongside Phillip Iscove. Orci and Kurtzman's first film project was Michael Bay's The Island, and due to that partnership they went on to write the scripts for the first two films of the Transformers film series. Orci first became a film producer with 2008's Eagle Eye and again with 2009's The Proposal.
Orci and Kurtzman subsequently returned to working with Abrams on Mission: Impossible III and both Star Trek and Star Trek Into Darkness. Between 2005 and 2011, Kurtzman and Orci's film projects took revenues of more than $3 billion. In April 2014, Orci and Kurtzman announced that they would only collaborate on television projects, and Orci worked on the third Star Trek film, Star Trek Beyond, until being replaced the following December. Orci created the television series Matador for the El Rey Network, but after this was initially renewed, it was cancelled at the end of the first season. Orci continued and Kurtzman continues to work as producers on the television series Limitless and Scorpion. Orci was awarded the Norman Lear Writer's Award and the Raul Julia Award for Excellence, in addition to shared awards and nominations including The George Pal Memorial Award.
Early life
Roberto Gaston Orcí was born in Mexico City on July 20, 1973,{{cite web|title=Roberto Orci|url=https://uk.ign.com/stars/roberto-orci|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150220183201/http://uk.ign.com/stars/roberto-orci|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 20, 2015|publisher=IGN|access-date=February 20, 2015}} to a Mexican father and a Cuban mother.{{cite web|url=http://trekmovie.com/2010/07/01/star-trek-writer-roberto-orci-reveals-personal-connection-to-spock |title=Star Trek Writer Roberto Orci Reveals Personal Connection To Spock |publisher=TrekMovie.com |last=Pascale |first=Anthony |date=July 1, 2010 |access-date=December 28, 2014}} Orci grew up in Mexico, and moved with his family to the United States at the age of 10.{{cite news|last1=Castellanos|first1=Melissa|title=Roberto Orci Reinvents the American Hero, Busts Stereotypes with 'Latin James Bond' in 'Matador' on Robert Rodriguez's El Rey Network|url=http://www.latinpost.com/articles/16872/20140710/el-rey-network-matador-roberto-orci-robert-rodriguez-el-rey-from-dusk-till-dawn.htm|access-date=March 5, 2016|work=Latin Post|date=July 10, 2014}}
He met his longtime friend and collaborator Alex Kurtzman when both were 17-year-old students at Crossroads, a private school in Santa Monica, California. The first time they came across each other was in a film class, where they discovered each other's love for films and in particular the Steven Soderbergh film Sex, Lies, and Videotape.{{cite news|last1=Boucher|first1=Geoff|title='Star Trek' scribes have a partnership that has lived long and prospered|url=http://herocomplex.latimes.com/uncategorized/star-trek-scrib/|access-date=March 5, 2016|work=Los Angeles Times|date=March 29, 2009}} The duo found that they had a number of things in common, as Kurtzman had previously lived in Mexico City and the two could relate. Orci later called him an "honorary Hispanic". Orci went on to attend the University of Texas at Austin.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/02/fashion/02night.html?_r=0|title=A Night Out With Alex Kurtzman and Bob Orci|work=The New York Times|last=Schoeneman|first=Deborah|date=July 31, 2009|access-date=December 28, 2014}} The duo got together once again, and began to write scripts. These included one called Misfortune Cookies which Orci described as "loosely autobiographical", and Last Kiss, which Kurtzman said was their version of The Breakfast Club but was set in a lunatic asylum.
Career
=Television and film screenwriting=
File:Alex Kurtzman SDCC 2014.jpg
Orci and Kurtzman began their writing collaboration on the television series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, after being hired by Sam Raimi.{{cite news|title=The Wonderful World of Orci & Kurtzman|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-1873282801.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150329181630/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-1873282801.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 29, 2015|access-date=February 20, 2015|work=Empire|date=August 1, 2009|url-access=subscription}} After actor Kevin Sorbo suffered a stroke, the duo were required to come up with inventive ideas to minimize his appearances on screen. Due to this work, they became show runners at the age of 24. They were also involved in the sister-series to Hercules, Xena: Warrior Princess. They sought to move to writing for a network-based television series, but found this difficult. After receiving a series of negative responses, they met with J. J. Abrams who was starting work on Alias at the time. The meeting went well, and resulted in them working on the series.{{cite news|last1=Littleton|first1=Cynthia|title=Abrams keeps it all in the fan family|url=https://variety.com/2009/film/features/abrams-keeps-it-all-in-the-fan-family-1118010053/|access-date=March 5, 2016|work=Daily Variety|date=October 16, 2009}} They would go on to work together again on the Fox science fiction series Fringe where all three were listed as co-creators.{{cite news|last1=Kit|first1=Borys|title=Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci Splitting Up as Movie Team|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/alex-kurtzman-roberto-orci-splitting-698159|access-date=February 19, 2015|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=April 22, 2014}}
Orci and Kurtzman received their break in writing for films in 2004, with the Michael Bay film The Island, for which they developed the spec script by Caspian Tredwell-Owen.{{cite news|title=McGregor hopping to 'Island'|url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-120379592.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160503104839/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-120379592.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 3, 2016|access-date=February 27, 2016|work=Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service|date=August 10, 2004|url-access=subscription}} When Kurtzman and Orci first met Bay, he asked the pair "Why should I trust you?", to which Orci replied "You shouldn't yet. Let's see what happens."{{cite web|last1=Fernandez|first1=Jay A.|title=The Scribes of Summer|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/scribes-summer-177534|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=February 27, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120613182415/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/scribes-summer-177534|archive-date=June 13, 2012|date=April 14, 2011}} While the film was not an overwhelming success, they were brought back for Bay's following film, Transformers, after producer Steven Spielberg asked them to come in for a meeting.{{cite web|last1=Gilchrist|first1=Todd|title=Exclusive Interview: Roberto Orci|url=https://uk.ign.com/articles/2007/07/02/exclusive-interview-robert-orci|publisher=IGN|access-date=March 5, 2016|date=July 2, 2007}} The movie took in $710 million at the box office.
Following their work on that film, the duo were brought in to revise the script for Zack Snyder's Watchmen,{{cite web|title=New Watchmen Writers?|url=https://uk.ign.com/articles/2007/10/02/new-watchmen-writers|publisher=IGN|date=October 2, 2007|access-date=March 21, 2015}} in an uncredited capacity.{{cite web|title=Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci Re-Writing 'Amazing Spider-Man' Sequel|url=http://www.hitfix.com/articles/alex-kurtzman-and-roberto-orci-re-writing-amazing-spider-man-sequel|work=HitFix|date=April 24, 2012|access-date=March 21, 2015}} They worked once more with Abrams, on Mission: Impossible III.{{cite news|title='Lost' creator boldly takes on 'Star Trek' XI|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2006/04/22/lost-creator-boldly-takes-on-star-trek-xi/|access-date=March 21, 2015|work=Chicago Tribune|date=April 22, 2006}} When they collaborated once more with Bay for Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, they were under significant time pressures due to the 2007–08 Writers Guild of America strike. Kurtzman and Orci had two weeks to outline the film, and after the strike Bay had them moved into the Hotel Casa del Mar. The hotel was six blocks away from his office, enabling Bay to conduct surprise inspections.{{cite news|last1=Fennessey|first1=Sean|title=Blow-Up: An Oral History of Michael Bay, the Most Explosive Director of All Time|url=https://www.gq.com/story/michael-bay-oral-history|access-date=March 5, 2016|work=GQ|date=June 27, 2011}}
In the period between 2005 and 2011, the films written by Kurtzman and Orci grossed more than $3 billion, leading to Forbes describing them as "Hollywood's secret weapons".{{cite news|title=Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman: Hollywood's Secret Weapons|url=https://www.forbes.com/2011/05/17/celebrity-100-11-roberto-orci-alex-kurtzman-films-secret-weapons.html|access-date=February 19, 2015|work=Forbes|date=May 18, 2011}} The busyness of their screenwriting careers required them to collaborate with other writers due to the number of projects they were involved in. For example, on Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, they teamed up with Ehren Kruger, who took over from them on the writing duties for the Transfomers franchise from Transformers: Dark of the Moon onwards.{{cite web|last1=Goldberg|first1=Matt|title=Ehren Kruger Returns to Write TRANSFORMERS 4; Shia LaBeouf Definitely Out|url=https://collider.com/transformers-4-screenwriter-ehren-kruger/|publisher=Collider|access-date=February 20, 2015|date=April 26, 2012|url-access=subscription}}
=Becoming a producer=
Orci's first credit solely as a producer came with the film Eagle Eye, where he worked once again alongside Kurtzman. He said in an interview with the magazine Extra that he had previously been involved in productions where the producers had writing backgrounds and had looked to them for help, and he was happy to provide that same support to the writers on Eagle Eye. The director of the film, D. J. Caruso, praised the duo saying that "What's unusually cool about them is that they have maintained the producer-writer power that they earned in television and carried that over into the feature film area, and that is extremely rare."{{cite news|last1=Boucher|first1=Geoff|title='Star Trek' pair cling to writing partnership|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2009/04/05/star-trek-pair-clings-to-writing-partnership/|access-date=March 21, 2015|work=Chicago Tribune|date=April 5, 2009}} Following their work on Eagle Eye, they were executive producers on the Sandra Bullock film, The Proposal.
Despite their film careers, Orci and Kurtzman continued to create television series. These included Sleepy Hollow, which they developed alongside Phillip Iscove. They pitched the series to a number of networks,{{cite news|last1=Andreeva|first1=Nellie|title=Alex Kurtzman & Roberto Orci Shop 'Sleepy Hollow' Series; Len Wiseman Set To Direct|url=https://deadline.com/2012/07/sleepy-hollow-series-alex-kurtzman-roberto-orci-team-with-len-wiseman-fox-tv-304229/|access-date=February 19, 2015|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=July 20, 2012}} and it was picked up by Fox.{{cite web|last1=Radish|first1=Christina|title=Executive Producers Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci Talk SLEEPY HOLLOW, a New Version of Ichabod Crane, Making the Mythology Accessible, and More|url=https://collider.com/sleepy-hollow-alex-kurtzman-roberto-orci-interview/|publisher=Collider|access-date=February 19, 2015|date=September 16, 2013}} Orci took five years to bring the series Matador to television, with it originating from a conversation with his cousin Andrew. It was created for Robert Rodriguez's El Rey Network, and Rodriguez's one demand of the show was that he could direct the pilot episode. Orci later explained in an interview that it was an easy decision, and he needed to pretend to consider it.{{cite news|last1=Whittaker|first1=Richard|title=Roberto Orci Grabs the Bull by the Horns for 'Matador'|url=http://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/screens/2014-07-15/roberto-orci-grabs-the-bull-by-the-horns-for-matador/|access-date=February 19, 2015|work=Austin Chronicle|date=July 15, 2014}}
Orci and Kurtzman also worked together as executive producers on the animated television series, Transformers: Prime, due to their involvement with the live action movies. Following the end of the series they were hopeful to be involved in a future animated series based on the premise, which Orci saw less like a reboot of the show and more of a continuation in a different guise. He felt that while Prime was sophisticated, there were concerns that it was leaving younger viewers behind because of its complexity and intensity. In 2010 with Kurzman became producer of the reboot of Hawaii-50.
=''Star Trek'' reboot=
Orci and Kurtzman were asked to write the script for a new Star Trek film, but initially turned it down despite Orci being a fan of the series. Orci suggested rebooting the timeline as seen previously in the films and television series,{{cite web|last1=Ashley|first1=Kendall|title=Roberto Orci Continues To Attack Star Trek Fans Online Over His Reboot Choices|date=December 26, 2014 |url=https://www.cinemablend.com/new/Roberto-Orci-Continues-Attack-Star-Trek-Fans-Online-Over-His-Reboot-Choices-68854.html|publisher=Cinema Blend|access-date=February 19, 2015}} and adding the return of Leonard Nimoy as Spock from Star Trek: The Original Series. He considered the first two films in the reboot series to be the origin story for the crew, and that the third film would start where the crew was at the beginning of Star Trek: The Original Series.{{cite news|last1=Williams|first1=Owen|title=Roberto Orci Hints At Star Trek's Future|url=https://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=41410|access-date=February 19, 2015|work=Empire|date=June 27, 2014}} Orci felt that the relationship between the James T. Kirk and the younger Spock was reflective of the partnership of himself and Kurtzman, he said that "We didn't even realize we were writing about ourselves until we were halfway through the script-that was a little embarrassing.”
Star Trek was profitable at the domestic box-office, resulting in a sequel being greenlit by the studio and Kurtzman and Orci being asked to write it.{{cite web|last1=Weintraub|first1=Steve|title=Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman Talk Star Trek Sequel Villain Ideas and Cowboys and Aliens|url=https://collider.com/roberto-orci-and-alex-kurtzman-talk-star-trek-sequel-villain-ideas-and-cowboys-and-aliens/|publisher=Collider|date=June 19, 2009|access-date=March 21, 2015}} The studio set aside a larger budget for the sequel, which was revealed by Orci in an interview with TrekMovie.com.{{cite web|last1=Fowler|first1=Tara|title=Roberto Orci: 'Star Trek 2's budget will be bigger'|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/movies/news/a361481/roberto-orci-star-trek-2s-budget-will-be-bigger.html#~p7z87IkKC88HNg|publisher=Digital Spy|date=January 22, 2012|access-date=March 21, 2015}} Orci ruled out the "hero quitting" staple of a second movie, which had featured in the Transformers sequel, saying that the crew of the Enterprise were committed and that type of story does not have to apply to all sequels.{{cite web|last1=Anders|first1=Charlie Jane|title=Roberto Orci: Star Trek 2 Won't Follow Transformers 2 Formula|work=io9 |url=http://io9.com/5325779/roberto-orci-star-trek-2-wont-follow-transformers-2-formula|access-date=March 21, 2015|date=July 29, 2009}} During the buildup to the film, called Star Trek Into Darkness, Orci was one of the production team who did not give much away about the villain in the film and denied that Benedict Cumberbatch was to play Khan Noonian Singh.{{cite web|title=Star Trek 2 – Roberto Orci Talks Star Trek Sequel|url=https://uk.ign.com/videos/2011/04/05/roberto-orci-talks-star-trek-sequel|publisher=IGN|access-date=March 21, 2015|date=April 4, 2011}}{{cite web|last1=Woods|first1=Travis|title='Star Trek 2' Writer Denies Villain Reveal, Announces Trailer Release|url=http://screencrave.com/2012-07-16/star-trek-2-writer-denies-villain-reveal/|publisher=ScreenCrave|date=July 16, 2012|access-date=March 21, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141010064705/http://screencrave.com/2012-07-16/star-trek-2-writer-denies-villain-reveal/|archive-date=October 10, 2014}}
=Breakup of the partnership=
In April 2014, Orci and Kurtzman confirmed to Variety that they were no longer going to work together on film projects but will still collaborate on television.{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2014/biz/news/alex-kurtzman-roberto-orci-splitting-up-on-big-screen-exclusive-1201160542/|title=Alex Kurtzman & Roberto Orci Splitting Up on Bigscreen (EXCLUSIVE)|work=Variety |date=April 22, 2014|access-date=December 28, 2014}} Kurtzman wanted to work on the Spider-Man film franchise, while Orci was linked to the directorial role for Star Trek 3. Orci confirmed later that year in July that he was not involved in the production of The Amazing Spider-Man 3 alongside Kurtzman.{{cite web|last1=Alexander|first1=Susannah|title=The Amazing Spider-Man 3: Roberto Orci confirms departure|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/movies/news/a583902/the-amazing-spider-man-3-roberto-orci-confirms-departure.html#~p4MvigGtKpSWgc|publisher=Digital Spy|date=July 13, 2014|access-date=February 19, 2015}} Orci and Kurtzman's K/O Paper Products continues to operate as a production company within CBS Television Studios, and has created the series Scorpion inspired by the life of Walter O'Brien for the 2014–15 season and Limitless was created for the 2015–16 season from the 2011 film.{{cite news|last1=Goldberg|first1=Lesley|title=CBS Orders Genius Drama From EPs Scooter Braun, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/cbs-orders-genius-drama-eps-677254|access-date=March 5, 2016|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=February 4, 2014}}{{cite news|last1=Goldberg|first1=Leslie|title='Limitless' Remake Among CBS Pilot Orders|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/limitless-sequel-cbs-pilot-orders-768167|access-date=February 19, 2015|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=January 28, 2015}}
Prior to the split of Kurtzman and Orci, the duo were lined up to write the third film in the new Star Trek series.{{cite news|last1=Kroll|first1=Justin|title=Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci Return to Write 'Star Trek 3′|url=https://variety.com/2013/film/news/alex-kurtzman-and-roberto-orci-return-to-write-star-trek-3-1200574487/|access-date=February 19, 2015|work=Variety|date=August 5, 2013}} In May 2014, Skydance and Paramount Pictures announced that Orci was to direct the third installment of the Star Trek reboot franchise,{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/roberto-orci-to-direct-star-trek-3-1201180140/|title=Roberto Orci to Direct 'Star Trek 3' (EXCLUSIVE)|last=Kroll|first=Justin|work=Variety|date=May 13, 2014|access-date=December 28, 2014|postscript=none}} after Abrams moved on to direct Star Wars: The Force Awakens. This would have marked Orci's directorial debut, and he was to write the script alongside co-writers JD Payne and Patrick McKay.{{cite news|last1=Geoghegan|first1=Kev|title=Simon Pegg hails new Star Trek director Roberto Orci|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-28410539|access-date=February 19, 2015|work=BBC News|date=August 11, 2014}} Due to his commitment to Star Trek 3, he dropped out of a new Power Rangers film, for which he would have been executive producer.{{cite news|last1=Fleming|first1=Mike Jr.|title=Roberto Orci's 'Star Trek 3' Commitment Knocks Him Out Of 'Power Rangers' Pic|url=https://deadline.com/2014/09/power-rangers-roberto-orcis-star-trek-3-837131/|access-date=February 19, 2015|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=September 19, 2014}} But on December 5, it was announced he would no longer be directing the Star Trek film.{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/roberto-orci-exits-star-trek-3-1201372245/|last=Kroll|first=Justin|title=Roberto Orci Will No Longer Direct 'Star Trek 3'|newspaper=Variety |date=December 5, 2014|access-date=December 28, 2014}} He remains credited as a producer on the film,{{cite magazine|last1=Kreps|first1=Daniel|title=Director Roberto Orci Drops Out of 'Star Trek 3'|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/news/director-roberto-orci-leaves-star-trek-3-20141206|access-date=February 19, 2015|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=December 6, 2014}} and was replaced by Doug Jung and cast member Simon Pegg as the script writers after Orci's initial script was dropped.{{cite web|last1=Wales|first1=George|title=Roberto Orci reveals Star Trek 3 will not use his script|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/roberto-orci-reveals-star-trek-3-will-not-use-his-script/|publisher=GamesRadar|date=December 28, 2014|access-date=February 19, 2015}} Orci was replaced as director by Justin Lin, who had previously directed films in The Fast and the Furious franchise.{{cite news|title=Simon Pegg to co-write Star Trek 3|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-30930693|access-date=February 19, 2015|work=BBC News|date=January 22, 2015}}
Orci created Matador with the idea that the main character would be a "soccer player by day who is a spy by night", and called him a "Latin James Bond". The series was broadcast on the El Rey Network created by Robert Rodriguez. It was renewed for a second season shortly before the pilot was broadcast, which had been directed by Rodriguez. But following the production of the first season, the series was cancelled despite the earlier renewal. This decision was blamed on poor international sales.{{cite news|last1=Khatchatourian|first1=Maane|title=El Rey's 'Matador' Cancelled|url=https://variety.com/2014/tv/news/el-reys-matador-cancelled-1201366874/|access-date=March 5, 2016|work=Daily Variety|date=November 29, 2014}}
In March 2020, it was reported that Roberto Orci was hired by Sony to write a script for an untitled Marvel film that would be set in Sony's Spider-Man Universe.{{cite news|first1=Roberto Orci|last1=writing a new script|title=Untitled Spider-Man project for SPUMC|url=https://collider.com/spider-man-spin-off-movie-roberto-orci/}}
Personal life and death
File:Hawaii Five-0 Honolulu.jpg
Orci's first wife was actress Melissa Blake. Blake filed for divorce in July 2016, and the divorce was settled in March 2020.{{cite web|url=https://trellis.law/case/bd643154/melissa-blake-vs-roberto-gaston-orci|title=Melissa Blake vs Roberto Gaston Orci|access-date=February 25, 2025|publisher=Trellis Law|language=En-US}} Orci married actress and screenwriter Adele Heather Taylor on June 6, 2020, in a private ceremony. They worked together as screenwriters and producers. Orci filed for divorce in January 2023.{{cite web|url=https://trellis.law/case/23stfl00068/orci-roberto-gaston-vs-taylor-adele-heather|title=Case Details for Orci, Roberto Gaston v. Taylor, Adele Heather|access-date=February 25, 2025|publisher=Trellis Law|language=En-US}}
In August 2024, Taylor filed a lawsuit accusing Orci of physical and sexual abuse. Orci, however, stated that Taylor was physically and financially abusive to him, having tased him, attacked him with a baseball bat, and attempted to strangle him, all in incidents reported to the police.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/roberto-orci-accused-beating-sexually-assaulting-wife-lawsuit-1235985577/|title='Star Trek' Screenwriter Roberto Orci Accused of Beating, Sexually Assaulting Wife in Lawsuit|date=August 28, 2024 |magazine=The Hollywood Reporter}}{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2024/film/news/roberto-orci-adele-heather-taylor-sexual-assault-lawsuit-1236119893/|title='Star Trek,' 'Transformers' Writer Roberto Orci Accused of Beating and Sexually Assaulting His Wife|date=August 27, 2024 |magazine=Variety}}
Orci died from kidney disease at his Los Angeles home, on February 25, 2025, at the age of 51.{{cite news|url = https://deadline.com/2025/02/roberto-orci-dead-star-trek-transformers-writer-producer-1236301807/|title = Roberto Orci Dies: 'Star Trek', 'Transformers' & 'Hawaii Five-0' Writer-Producer Was 51|last = Andreeva|first = Nellie|date = February 25, 2025|accessdate = February 25, 2025|work = Deadline Hollywood}}
Awards and accolades
The Hollywood Reporter listed Orci as one of the 50 most powerful Latinos in Hollywood of 2007.{{cite web|title=THR's Latino Power 50|url=http://www.latingossip.com/eva-longoria/thrs-latino-power-50.html|publisher=Latin Gossip |date=July 31, 2007 |access-date=December 28, 2014}} His first solo accolade was the Norman Lear Writer's Award at the Imagen Awards in 2009. He described the experience of receiving an award without Kurtzman as "bizarre". Orci was also awarded the Raul Julia Award for Excellence by the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts.{{cite news|title=National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts Names Juanes as the Raul Julia Award|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-384238965.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150329181627/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-384238965.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 29, 2015|access-date=February 20, 2015|work=Entertainment Close-up|date=October 2, 2014|url-access=subscription}} Together with Kurtzman, Orci won The George Pal Memorial Award at the 2010 Saturn Awards.{{cite news|title=Saturn Awards open Pandora's box|url=https://variety.com/2010/film/news/saturn-awards-open-pandora-s-box-1118021047/|access-date=August 18, 2015|work=Variety|date=June 24, 2010}}
Orci and Kurtzman were both honored by the nonprofit organization Chrysalis at the Butterfly Ball on June 8, 2013. The organization raises money for homeless people and low-income families, Orci said that "When you hear the life stories from people right here in our own community, who are clients at Chrysalis, and when you come to learn of their lowest moments and how Chrysalis has led to their proudest triumphs, it's easy to see why this local organization is so impactful."{{cite news|last1=Flans|first1=Lindsay|title='Star Trek' Producers Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci to be Honored by Chrysalis Butterfly Ball|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/star-trek-producers-alex-kurtzman-518920|access-date=March 21, 2015|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=May 7, 2013}}
In 2017, Orci was the recipient of the Visionary Impact Award by the National Hispanic Media Coalition.{{Cite web|title=Roberto Orci accepts award at 2017 NHMC #ImpactAwards| date=March 2017 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08MT3NfEXxA |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/08MT3NfEXxA |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live|language=en|access-date=August 4, 2021}}{{cbignore}} This award is given out by the organization for "Latinos making outstanding contributions to the positive portrayals of Latinos in film and TV".{{Cite web|title=ADVISORY: Latino Celebrities to be Honored at Oscar-Weekend Impact Awards Gala by National Hispanic Media Coalition, NHMC National Hispanic Media Coalition|url=https://www.nhmc.org/advisory-latino-celebrities-honored-oscar-weekend-impact-awards-gala-national-hispanic-media-coalition/|access-date=August 4, 2021|publisher=NHMC National Hispanic Media Coalition|language=en-US}}
Filmography
=Film=
=Television credits=
References
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External links
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- {{IMDb name|649460}}
- {{Discogs artist|Roberto Orci}}
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{{The George Pal Memorial Award}}
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Category:20th-century American male writers
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Category:Crossroads School alumni
Category:Deaths from kidney disease
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Category:Screenwriters from Los Angeles
Category:Television producers from California