Roberto Orci, ‘Star Trek,’ ‘Transformers’ and ‘Hawaii Five-0’ writer-producer, dies at 51
51-year-old Roberto Orci, the creative mind behind “Star Trek,” “Transformers,” and numerous other action-adventure films as well as the modern revival of “Hawaii Five-0,” passed away on Tuesday at his residence in Los Angeles due to kidney disease.
His manager, Mike De Trana at Anvil Entertainment, confirmed Orci’s death to The Times.
In a statement, Orci’s brother, J.R. Orci, described him as an imaginative narrator with an endless capacity of kindness and purity of spirit. “More than just a gifted storyteller, he was a caring friend who would pause his life to aid a stranger and offer shelter to the least noticed dog at the shelter,” he added.
Movies
‘Star Trek’ writing pair cling on to their partnership
‘Star Trek’ writing pair cling on to their partnership
The individual who works as both a screenwriter and producer was born in Mexico City. For several years, he resided there with his family until they relocated to the United States when he turned nine. He pursued his education at the Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences, located near Santa Monica, where he struck up a long-term creative partnership with Alex Kurtzman in a film studies course.
They found a common interest in the 1989 indie movie “sex, lies, and videotape” directed by Steven Soderbergh, and swore to intertwine their artistic journeys.
As a cinephile looking back, I can’t help but marvel at the meteoric rise of the trio who once shared their dreams in the hallowed halls of high school. Fast forward to Hollywood, they transformed into one of the most prosperous screenwriting duos, churning out hit after hit within the “Star Trek,” “Transformers,” and “Spider-Man” film series.
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Orci began his career in collaboration with Kurtzman, diving headfirst into TV productions like “Alias,” “Hercules: The Legendary Journeys,” and “Xena: Warrior Princess.
Together, they penned the script for the 2007 blockbuster “Transformers,” a film that raked in over $700 million globally, as reported by Box Office Mojo.
In 2009, they took on the roles of executive producers and screenwriters for the exciting new version of “Star Trek,” propelling their careers to new heights.
In 2009, Orci admitted to The Times that as they progressed with the stories of Spock and Kirk’s adventures, they found themselves unconsciously penning aspects of their own experiences too.
As a fellow movie enthusiast, let me share my take on the original statement: “I hail from Mexico City, where I spent my early years, while Alex was born right here. Star Trek’s Kirk and Spock are a pair from disparate realms. Much like them, our backgrounds couldn’t be more different, yet we find ourselves drawn to each other. The plot of this movie revolves around two individuals who seem so antithetical that they could easily come to blows, but instead, they forge an unbreakable bond and flourish together. That’s our story. Just like those Starship Enterprise crew members, we can navigate the cosmos side by side.
Following the triumph of “Star Trek,” Orci and Kurtzman moved on to create numerous other successful movies, such as “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen,” “Locke & Key,” “Cowboys & Aliens” and “The Amazing Spider-Man 2.”
In April 2014, they parted ways agreeably, as reported by the Hollywood Reporter, each opting to concentrate on distinct movie series due to their preference for separate franchises.
After focusing on the “Star Trek” series, Orci was set to make his directorial debut with the third installment of the reboot. Nevertheless, he relinquished his writer-director responsibilities in December 2014, eventually receiving a producer credit for the 2016 film “Star Trek Beyond.
He kept thriving professionally as both an author and a producer, taking part in movie ventures like “The Mummy” and “Now You See Me 2”, as well as TV shows such as “Limitless.
He married actor and screenwriter Adele Heather Taylor in 2020.
The couple found themselves distant, and at the time of his demise, they were embroiled in simultaneous legal battles, each alleging physical violence against the other, as reported by Variety. In a lawsuit filed in 2024, Orci revealed his battle with alcoholism, highlighting numerous hospitalizations due to related health issues and multiple rehabilitation stays.
Orci is mourned by his dad, Roberto Orci Senior; his mom, Macuqui Robau-Garcia; as well as his siblings, J.R. Orci, Taylor Orci, and Courtney Ford.
Read More
- Cookie Run: Kingdom Pure Vanilla Cookie (Compassionate) Guide: How to unlock, Best Toppings, and more
- Reverse 1999 Willow Build Guide: Best Team, Psychubes, and more
- Cookie Run: Kingdom Black Sapphire Cookie Guide: How to unlock, Best Toppings, and more
- FC Mobile 25 Hero Chronicles event Guide and Tips
- Classic ’80s movie is finally getting sequel – and fans will be delighted
- Yellowstone and It Ends With Us star Brandon Sklenar lands next movie role
- MAFS Star’s Secret Split
- Monster Hunter Wilds director thinks the weapon balance is much closer this time: “They’re all hopefully nearly as viable as each other,” but he’s “confident, not cocky”
- Half-Life 2 and Dishonored Artist Viktor Antonov Has Passed Away
- Overwatch 2 Season 15 patch notes now live: Mythic, loot boxes, ranked, Perks, voice lines, and more
2025-02-26 07:01