ORLANDO, Fla. — A well known Hollywood producer, who helped create hit shows like Dexter, was remembered during a memorial at St. James Catholic Cathedral in downtown Orlando over the weekend.

Manny Coto, 62, died in July from pancreatic cancer at his home in Pasadena. Coto had deep roots in Central Florida and moved to Los Angeles in the early 1980s to pursue a movie making career.

Fast forward — and as they say — the rest is history.

Through hard work, he became a highly sought after Emmy-winning writer/producer and director of film and television. 

He won an Outstanding Drama Series Emmy for the iconic show “24,” worked on its sequel series, co-created Fox’s AI drama NeXt, and was an EP on Dexter, Star Trek: Enterprise, American Horror Story and so many others.

His brother, Juan Carlos Coto — also a renowned executive producer — the Coto family and about two hundred community leaders packed the pews for a memorial mass at St. James Catholic Cathedral, officiated by Father Miguel Gonzalez.

Juan spoke during the service and reminisced about how Manny, the oldest of four siblings, would poke fun at his brother during band practice at Bishop Moore Catholic High School.

During the hour long service, Juan shared he had recently discovered a script of sorts that his now late brother penned when he was just 13-years-old. Holding back tears, he read out loud how Manny described as a teen that he wanted “to do more exercise and do better at school,” prompting the crowd to chuckle at the light anecdotes from a then-teen Manny.

The Cathedral was packed with many Bishop Moore High School alums and current and past staff who hold the Coto family dear to their heart.

One attendee said with a heavy heart, “Pancreatic cancer. It’s like a Russian roulette. You never know what you are going to get.” Many in attendance are in disbelief that Coto is now gone. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer just 13 months ago.

Manny was born in Cuba, but his parents Norma and Dr. Manuel J. Coto raised him in Orlando. Manuel, a renowned urologist and leader in the Cuban-American community, passed away from complications of stomach cancer in 2018.

Spectrum News would often interview Dr. Coto for health related stories or any news having to do with the growing Hispanic community in the area.

Manny is survived by his wife Robin and their four kids, his mother Norma, who still lives in Orlando; as well as his brother Juan Carlos and his sister Normi and eight nieces and nephews.