David Angell

David Angell

Angell in 2000
Born David Lawrence Angell
April 10, 1946(1946-04-10)
West Barrington, Rhode Island, USA
Died September 11, 2001(2001-09-11) (aged 55)
New York City, U.S.,
North Tower
Cause of death Airplane Hijacking and Crash (American Airlines Flight 11)
Residence Chatham, Massachusetts
Nationality American
Citizenship United States
Alma mater Providence College
Occupation Television producer
Home town Barrington
Television Produced:
Cheers,
Frasier,
Wings
Spouse Lynn Edwards (1971–2001)
Parents Henry Angell,
Mae (nee Cooney) Angell
Relatives Kenneth Anthony Angell (brother)
Awards 24 Emmy Awards

David Lawrence Angell (April 10, 1946 – September 11, 2001) was an American producer of sitcoms. Angell won multiple Emmy Awards as the creator and executive producer, along with Peter Casey and David Lee, of the comedy series Frasier. Angell and his wife Lynn both died aboard American Airlines Flight 11, the first plane to hit the World Trade Center, during the September 11 attacks.[1]

Contents

Early life and career

Angell was born in West Barrington, Rhode Island to Henry Angell and Mae (nee Cooney). He received a bachelor's degree in English Literature from Providence College. He entered the army upon graduation and served at the Pentagon until 1972. He then moved to Boston and worked as a methods analyst at an engineering company and later at an insurance firm in Rhode Island.

His brother, Kenneth Anthony Angell, is the former Roman Catholic bishop of Burlington, Vermont.

Career

Angell moved to Los Angeles in 1977. His first script was sold to the producers of the Annie Flynn series. Five years later, he sold his second script to Archie Bunker's Place. In 1983, he joined Cheers as a staff writer. In 1985, Angell joined forces with Peter Casey and David Lee as Cheers supervising producers/writers. The trio received 37 Emmy Award nominations and won 24 Emmy Awards, including the above-mentioned for Frasier, as well as an Outstanding Comedy Series Emmy for Cheers, in 1989, which Angell, Casey, Lee and the series' other producers shared, and Outstanding Writing/Comedy Emmy for Cheers, which Angell received in 1984. After working together as producers on Cheers, Angell, Casey and Lee formed Grub Street Productions. In 1990, they created and executive-produced the comedy series Wings.

Death

He and his wife, Lynn, died in the attacks of 9/11 as passengers on American Airlines Flight 11.[2][1]

In delivering his eulogy, David Lee credited Angell with coining the word "boinking" as a euphemism for sex on Cheers. He cited this as an example of one of the comedic contributions he made. Kelsey Grammer and Ted Danson also spoke at the funeral.

Legacy

In the Frasier series finale in 2004, the characters Daphne and Niles have a son, named David (in dedication to Angell).

In 2006, a film based on the attacks on the WTC, World Trade Center, was released by Paramount Pictures, whose television division had produced Cheers, Frasier, and Wings.

The American Screenwriters Association gives out an annual David Angell Humanitarian Award, in honor of Angell. The award is given to an individual in the entertainment industry who contributes to global well-being through donations of time, expertise or other support to improve the human condition.[3]

At the National 9/11 Memorial, Angell and his wife are memorialized at the North Pool, on Panel N-1, along with other passengers from Flight 11.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b "US terrorism victims". The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/pictures/image/0,8543,-10404256105,00.html. Retrieved 2009-08-06. 
  2. ^ "Angell, Olson among industry victims". The Hollywood Reporter. 2001-09-12. 
  3. ^ David Angell Humanitarian Award
  4. ^ David Lawrence Angell. Memorial Guide: National 9/11 Memorial. Retrieved December 11, 2011.

External links

Rhode Island portal
Biography portal
Television portal