Bloody Disgusting has learned this evening that Emmy winning writer/producer/director Manny Coto has passed away at the age of 62 after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

THR reports, “Coto, whose childhood love of Star Trek and Super-8 moviemaking led to a 40-year career in film and television, died Sunday at his home in Pasadena after a 13-month battle with pancreatic cancer, a family spokesperson announced.”

Here in the horror world, Manny Coto is known for directing the 1992 slasher movie Dr. Giggles, which recently found new life thanks to a Blu-ray release from Scream Factory.

Manny Coto co-wrote the script and directed the 1990s horror movie, which starred the late Larry Drake as the title character, a night-prowling surgical psychopath.

Drew Dietsch shared his love for Dr. Giggles here on Bd a few years back, writing: “It’s easy to see why Dr. Giggles didn’t click with audiences at the time.