Variety reports that Roberto Orci, the writer-producer of “Star Trek” and “Transformers” reboots and “Fringe,” died Tuesday in his Los Angeles home from kidney failure. He was 51.
Orci co-wrote “Transformers” and “Star Trek” with Alex Kurtzman. Orci also produced “Now You See Me,” “Ender’s Game,” and “The Amazing Spider-Man 2” and wrote “Mission Impossible 3.” The 2010 relaunch of “Hawaii Five-0” by Orci and Kurtzman aired over 200 episodes. For Fox, he created “Sleepy Hollow” and “Fringe”.
At Crossroads School in Los Angeles, Mexican-born Orci met cinema aficionado Kurtzman. After developing scripts for “Hercules: The Legendary Journeys,” they became showrunners at 24. After writing for J.J. Abrams’ “Alias,” they created Fox’s five-season sci-fi series “Fringe.”
After the pair stated they would no longer collaborate on films in 2014, Orci created “Matador” for El Rey.
Orci was sued in August 2024 for hitting and sexually assaulting his wife, “Hail, Caesar!” actress Adele Heather Taylor. She claimed in the suit that Orci was a bipolar alcoholic who attacked her.
Taylor sued in response to Orci’s June complaint. He claimed in the suit that Taylor had abused him and misled him for money during his drinking.
Orci’s spokesperson Sallie Hofmeister said, “Ms. Taylor’s counterclaim is an attempt to retaliate against her husband with fabricated allegations after he got a restraining order against her, filed for divorce, and sued her in June for assault, battery, and financially abusing him when he was vulnerable and trying to get alcoholism treatment.”
His parents, Macuqui Robau-Garcia and Roberto Orci Sr., stepmother, Jeanine Orci, and three siblings, Courtney Ford, J.R. Orci, and Taylor Orci, survive him.
Roberto Orci shaped Hollywood from “Star Trek” to “Fringe.” His death ends a successful career. Visit our website for more in-depth coverage of cinema, TV, and the people behind them.
