Fred Engel Biography

A literary agent for Mel Brooks and William Inge who later segued into film production, Frederick Lee Engel was noted for his work on such films as Duel at Diable (1966) and Will Penny (1968).Born in L.A. in 1930, Engel graduated from the University of Southern California before enrolling in the Navy. Later into the MCA Agency and the Ashley/Steiner agency, Engel's production instincts were sparked by his involvement with the 1963 Sidney Portier film Lilies of the Valley. Taking his first credit for producer two years later with Once a Thief, he followed up with Duel at Diablo and Will Penny shortly before relocating to Melbourne, Australia, with his family. Engel worked mostly in television while down under, producing such efforts as McCloud in addition to such Disney efforts as Ride a Wild Pony (1976).Following a lengthy battle with hydrocephalus, Frederick Lee Engel died in Woodland Hills, CA, on November 28, 2001. He was 71. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi