Ugly Betty creator Silvio Horta struggled with depression, drug addiction and the ups and downs of Hollywood success

The Hollywood Reporter

Horta, who ended his life at age 45 earlier this month, was successful early in his career, writing a hit horror comedy and five scripts as TV pilots that went straight to series -- before his Ugly Betty success. But amid the rise and fall of Ugly Betty, Horta stumbled into meth addiction and his TV career spiraled, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Recently, he was living with his mom in Miami in the house he bought her with his Ugly Betty earnings and with his sister Hilda, who inspired the Ugly Betty character. He was in treatment as recently as last month. "When you're successful, there's an expectation that you're happy and on top of the world," says his former assistant Brian Tanen, who credits Horta with giving him his first break and who this year became a showrunner in his own right with ABC's Grand Hotel. "But what people don't talk a lot about," he continues, "is how incredibly difficult and stressful this business can be. I'm so deeply, deeply sad and heartbroken that Silvio felt he needed to end his life."