David Angell
Encyclopedia
David Lawrence Angell was an American
producer
of sitcoms. Angell won multiple Emmy Award
s 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.
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
.
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.
.
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.
and Niles
had 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.
At the National 9/11 Memorial, Angell is memorialized at the North Pool, on Panel N-1.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
producer
Television producer
The primary role of a television Producer is to allow all aspects of video production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking...
of sitcoms. Angell won multiple Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
s as the creator and executive producer, along with Peter Casey
Peter Casey
Peter Casey is an American television producer and screenwriter. He was a writer for the American sitcoms The Jeffersons, Cheers and Wings, as well as being a co-creator and writer for Frasier.-External links:...
and David Lee
David Lee (screenwriter)
David Lee is an American television producer, director and screenwriter. He was a writer and producer for the American sitcoms The Jeffersons and Cheers, as well as being a co-creator, writer and director for Wings and Frasier...
, of the comedy series Frasier
Frasier
Frasier is an American sitcom that was broadcast on NBC for eleven seasons, from September 16, 1993, to May 13, 2004. The program was created and produced by David Angell, Peter Casey, and David Lee in association with Grammnet and Paramount Network Television.A spin-off of Cheers, Frasier stars...
. Angell and his wife Lynn both died aboard American Airlines Flight 11
American Airlines Flight 11
American Airlines Flight 11 was American Airlines' daily scheduled morning transcontinental flight from Logan International Airport, in Boston, Massachusetts, to Los Angeles International Airport, in Los Angeles, California...
, the first plane to hit the World Trade Center, during the September 11 attacks.
Early life and career
Angell was born in West Barrington, Rhode IslandBarrington, Rhode Island
Barrington is a town in Bristol County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 16,310 at the 2010 census.In July 2005, CNN/Money and Money magazine ranked Barrington sixth on its list of the 100 best places to live in the United States.-History:...
to Henry Angell and Mae (nee Cooney). He received a bachelor's degree in English Literature from Providence College
Providence College
Providence College is a private, coeducational, Catholic university located about two miles west of downtown Providence, Rhode Island, United States, the state's capital city. With a 2010–2011 enrollment of 3,850 undergraduate students and 735 graduate students, the College specializes in academic...
. He entered the army upon graduation and served at the Pentagon
The Pentagon
The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington County, Virginia. As a symbol of the U.S. military, "the Pentagon" is often used metonymically to refer to the Department of Defense rather than the building itself.Designed by the American architect...
until 1972. He then moved to Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
and worked as a methods analyst at an engineering company and later at an insurance firm in Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
.
His brother, Kenneth Anthony Angell
Kenneth Anthony Angell
Kenneth Anthony Angell is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Burlington from 1992 to 2005.-Biography:...
, is the former Roman Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
bishop of Burlington, Vermont
Burlington, Vermont
Burlington is the largest city in the U.S. state of Vermont and the shire town of Chittenden County. Burlington lies south of the U.S.-Canadian border and some south of Montreal....
.
Career
Angell moved to Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
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
Archie Bunker's Place
Archie Bunker's Place is an American sitcom originally broadcast on the CBS network, conceived in 1979 as a spin-off and continuation of All in the Family. While not as popular as its predecessor, the show maintained a large enough audience to last for four seasons, until its cancellation in 1983...
. In 1983, he joined Cheers
Cheers
Cheers is an American situation comedy television series that ran for 11 seasons from 1982 to 1993. It was produced by Charles/Burrows/Charles Productions, in association with Paramount Network Television for NBC, and was created by the team of James Burrows, Glen Charles, and Les Charles...
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
Grub Street Productions
Grub Street Productions is an American production company founded by David Angell, Peter Casey and David Lee that was once affiliated with Paramount Television. The company is most notable for creating the popular television sitcom Frasier, which aired on NBC from 1993 to 2004, as well as the...
. 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 11American Airlines Flight 11
American Airlines Flight 11 was American Airlines' daily scheduled morning transcontinental flight from Logan International Airport, in Boston, Massachusetts, to Los Angeles International Airport, in Los Angeles, California...
.
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
Kelsey Grammer
Allen Kelsey Grammer is an American actor and comedian. He is most widely known for his two-decade portrayal of psychiatrist Dr. Frasier Crane on the sitcoms Cheers and Frasier...
and Ted Danson
Ted Danson
Edward Bridge “Ted” Danson III is an American actor best known for his role as central character Sam Malone in the sitcom Cheers, and his role as Dr. John Becker on the series Becker. He also plays a recurring role on Larry David's HBO sitcom Curb Your Enthusiasm and starred alongside Glenn Close...
also spoke at the funeral.
Legacy
On the Frasier series finale in 2004, the characters DaphneDaphne Moon
Daphne Crane is a fictional character on the American television sitcom Frasier, played by Jane Leeves....
and Niles
Niles Crane
Niles Crane, M.D., Ph.D., A.P.A. is a fictional character on the American sitcom Frasier, a spin-off of the popular show Cheers. He was portrayed by David Hyde Pierce. Niles is the younger brother of Dr. Frasier Crane, the son of Det. Martin Crane and Dr. Hester Crane, husband of Daphne Moon,...
had a son, named David (in dedication to Angell).
In 2006, a film based on the attacks on the WTC, World Trade Center
World Trade Center (film)
World Trade Center is a 2006 American disaster-drama film directed by Oliver Stone and based on the September 11 attacks at the World Trade Center. It stars Nicolas Cage, Maria Bello, Michael Peña, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Michael Shannon. The film was shot from October 19, 2005 - February 10, 2006...
, was released by Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
, whose television division
Paramount Television
Paramount Television was an American television production/distribution company that was active from January 1, 1968 to August 27, 2006.Its successor is CBS Television Studios, formerly CBS Paramount Television...
had produced Cheers, Frasier, and Wings.
The American Screenwriters Association gives out an annual David Angell Humanitarian Award
David Angell Humanitarian Award
The David Angell Humanitarian Award, in honor of David Angell, is an award is given individuals in the entertainment industry who contribute to global well-being through donations of time, expertise or other support to improve the human condition....
, 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.
At the National 9/11 Memorial, Angell is memorialized at the North Pool, on Panel N-1.