Manny Coto was a screenwriter, director and producer known for his work on popular genre shows such as “American Horror Story,” “Star Trek: Enterprise,” “24,” and “Dexter.”
- Died: July 9, 2023 (Who else died on July 9?)
- Details of death: Died in Pasadena, California, of pancreatic cancer at the age of 62.
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Manny Coto’s legacy
In many ways, Coto seemed destined to bring stories to the screen. Born in Havana, Cuba, he fell in love with cinema at an early age, especially “Star Trek,” and used to make Super 8mm movies when he was young. After working in commercials and graduating from the American Film Institute, he began his career modestly, writing and directing an episode of “Tales from the Crypt,” the 1980s’ reboot of “Alfred Hitchcock Presents,” and co-writing an episode of the modern “The Outer Limits,” among other work.
Coto’s big break came in 2003, when he joined the crew of “Star Trek: Enterprise” in its third season. He wrote several well-received episodes, including “Chosen Realm” and “Azati Prime”; by the fourth season, he’d become executive producer alongside show creators Rick Berman and Brannon Braga. Fans applauded his fresh storytelling as exactly what the show had needed; for a lifelong Trekkie like Coto, it was his dream job.
A string of big gigs followed the completion of “Star Trek: Enterprise.” Coto was a writer and executive producer on the final four seasons of the hit show “24.” He then wrote and produced the serial killer drama “Dexter” for three seasons and wrote many episodes for the “American Horror Story” and “American Horror Stories” anthologies. He slowed down only after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2022. Over the years, Coto was nominated twice for an Emmy, winning one for “24,” and was also nominated for four Writers Guild of America Awards.
Tributes to Manny Coto
Full obituary: The Hollywood Reporter
