Frederick Lee Engel
A native of Los Angeles, Engel graduated from USC and served four years in the U.S. Navy. Following his tour of duty, he took a classic career path of securing a job in the mailroom at the MCA Agency and drove a car for Lew Wasserman between 1953-1955. He later worked for the Ashley/Steiner Agency, where he became a literary agent for writers and directors including Mel Brooks and William Inge. While there, he became involved on the production end of the Sidney Poitier starrer "Lilies of the Field."
From "Lilies," Engel produced Once a Thief" (1965) for MGM. The following year he produced "Duel at Diablo" for United Artists. In 1967, he and Walter Seltzer produced "Will Penny" for Paramount.
After producing the features "A Twist of Sand" (1968) and "Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came" (1969), he and his family moved to Melbourne, Australia, where he served as a TV producer for Crawford Prods. He later produced several segments of the "McCloud" TV series starring Dennis Weaver as well as the Disney film "Ride a Wild Pony" and the feature "Sidecar Racers."
He is survived by a son, Brien Frederick Engel, a daughter, Christina Bayles, three granddaughters and an uncle.
Family suggests donations in his name be made to the Motion Picture Home in Woodland Hills.
