"Generational screenwriting talent" — Hollywood reacts to Roberto Orci's death

Roberto Orci, screenwriter and producer, is dead. The Star Trek co-writer and executive producer, who also collaborated on the scripts of Mission Impossible III and Transformers, passed away on February 25 of kidney disease.

Orsi broke into the industry alongside Alex Kurtzman, and their first jobs were writing for popular cult series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess.

The 51-year-old’s impressive writing credits include 2005’s Antonia Bendaras and Catherine Zeta-Jones starrer, The Legend of Zorro, Tom Cruise’s ultra-popular series Mission Impossible’s third installment, and 2011’s Cowboys and Aliens that brought together Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford.

Roberto Orci had also turned to executive production with series such as Alias, Fringe, Hawaii Five-0 and Sleepy Hollow, all of which he co-wrote as well.

Tributes for Roberto Orci

As the news of Orci’s death broke on the internet, his colleagues from Hollywood began writing heartfelt tributes on X. Joe Russo, screenwriter of The Inheritance and The Locksmith penned a long tribute to Orci, writing:

“My first boss in Hollywood said the script for STAR TREK was the best he’d ever read — and he wasn’t kidding. Roberto Orci was a generational screenwriting talent and his death at only 51 is a tragic loss, because I’m sure there were more masterworks to come. RIP to one of the greats.”

Writer Zack Stentz, known for co-writing X-Men: First Class and Thor, and producing the series The Fringe and The Flash, described his association with Orci. Stentz expressed regret about not keeping in touch with the Star Trek writer. He wrote on X:

“I got to know Bob a bit while working on Fringe, an earlier version of the movie that became Star Trek Beyond & a couple other things and always found him to be kind and generous to a fault. I'd been meaning to check in on him for a while but life got in the way. Now I regret it.”

Continuing, Stentz explained why he liked Orci,

“I always felt a connection with Bob because we both loved Star Trek & cut our teeth on writing teams writing for Kevin Sorbo syndicated action hours. Here's my favorite thing he & Alex wrote...the slam bang grab you by the throat opening of Star Trek 2009”

Lucy Lawless, who played Xena in Xena: Warrior Princess, mourned Roberto Orci’s passing on X. She wrote:

“Desperately sorry to hear of Bob’s passing. A beautiful, sweet man and outrageously talented. I send my heartfelt condolences to all the many people who loved him.”

Juan Carlos Coto, executive producer of Maggies Q starrer Nikita and producer of the series 9-1-1, took to X to acknowledge Orci. He wrote:

"We lost a great talent #robertoorci”

Eugene Roddenberry, the son of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, took to Instagram to acknowledge Orci's talent. He wrote:

"Very sorry to see the news about the passing of Roberto Orci. Bob was somebody I really respected, and viewed as an ally in the Star Trek universe. I’ll never forget when he invited me to the studio to read what I think was the script for the second Trek movie he wrote with Alex Kurtzman and Damon Lindelof. Bob trusted me to read it and not tell anyone I did, and I trusted him, too. He was a great talent, and we will miss him. My thoughts are with his family and loved ones.”

Damaine Radcliff, director of A Hip Hop Story, shared an emotional tribute on Instagram, writing:

“To my friend, mentor, and business partner thank you for all you have given to this world. You have made your mark in history. You believed in me until your last breath and I will never forget you. The block buster tycoon, the great Roberto Orci.”

Roberto Orci was estranged from his wife Adele Heather Taylor and had counter-sued her after she sued him for alleged s*xual assault in 2024, according to Variety.

It is no doubt that Roberto Orci has inspired generations of fans who adore the cinematic fruits his writing bore. After all, it is no small matter that the writer was named one of The Hollywood Reporter’s Top 25 Latinos in Entertainment in 2014.

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