Silvio Horta dies at the age of 45 in a Miami Hotel room due to self-inflicted gunshot.
(Photo : Wikipedia)

Silvio Horta, the creator of the Golden Globe-winning television series 'Ugly Betty', was found dead in a hotel room in Miami on Tuesday.  

It is with great sadness that the family of Silvio Horta announced his death. Silvio's family wrote in a statement: "Silvio had an ongoing struggle with addiction and depression, but through it all, he always found a way to turn his struggle into laughter ... He may be gone but his light will shine on." Horta was found dead due to an apparent suicide.  

Silvio Horta was known for adapting the Columbian hit Yo Soy Betty la fea for an American audience. The American version of the television series titled 'Ugly Betty' was lauded because it helped to change the television landscape in the country by proving that the presence of Latinos could be successful. 'Ugly Betty' was about an awkward, intelligent, Mexican woman who worked for a fashion magazine in Manhattan.

The lead role of Ugly Betty, America Ferrera, was also stunned after hearing the news. She wrote on her Instagram account that she was thinking of the family of Silvio Horta during their difficult times. 

In a report from Remezcla, Ferrera wrote: "His talent and creativity brought me and so many others such joy & light and 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."

The entire cast of 'Ugly Betty' mourn his death. Michael Urie, who played the coy personal assistant, tweeted "will forever be indebted to this sweet, brilliant man," Meanwhile, Vanessa Williams, who played the magazine editor, wrote that "his passion will be missed."

It's not only the cast who were saddened by the news of his death, but also the avid fans of the television series. One fan tweeted "Ugly Betty was a pivotal moment for me as a young Latina having never seen a family like mine portrayed on TV, so I'm eternally grateful for Silvio Horta's work."

One of the characters in the television series was Justin who comes out and kisses a boy during its last season. The show was praised by an advocacy group for LGBTQ for having a character that does not belong in the binary gender.

Dustin Lance Black, who is an LGBTQ activist, wrote, "Waking up in the UK to the heartbreaking news that my wonderful, sparkling, talented old pal of nearly 20 years is gone."

Silvio Horta will always be in the hearts of the LGBTQ family. He was openly gay and at the age of 19 he came out to his family. Horta worked as a perfume spritzer, wrote the screenplay for the horror film "Urban Legend" and created two science fiction television shows before he landed the American version of Yo Soy Betty la fea.  

The death of Silvio Horta is another tragic loss to the entertainment industry. Too soon for the young man to die.