David Angell: Eight Emmy wins

The writer will receive the Valentine Davies award, which recognises those who have "brought dignity and honour to the profession of writing".

The award is named after the writer of the classic Christmas film, Miracle on 34th Street.

The 54-year-old sitcom writer wrote for Frasier and the show which spawned it, Cheers, winning eight Emmy awards for writing and producing for both series.

His former writing partners, Peter Casey and David Lee, will accept the honour.

'Inspiration'

Angell created Frasier and another TV series, Wings, with both of them.

"In life, David Angell was a real gentleman, bringing a kindness and warmth to his scripts, his shows and his staff," said WGA president Victoria Riskin.

"In death, he has become an inspiration to many who never knew him personally."

Angell got his break in writing by sending scripts to Taxi and Cheers creator Les Charles, who invited Angell to pitch some story ideas to him.

Charles recalled: "He started to read his first idea from a typed page: It had a plot, two subplots, various set pieces, dialogue, jokes, camera angles, and stage directions. He'd done everything but compose music."

It took another two years of trying before Angell was hired as a script writer for Cheers.

Popular

Frasier is one of the most popular and critically-acclaimed sitcoms in recent times.

It stars Kelsey Grammer as a radio psychiatrist forever tormented by his own nerouses and has won more than 20 Emmy awards, becoming the first TV series in history to win five consecutive Emmys in its main category.

Last November Bill Gates, Microsoft founder and the world's richest man, made a cameo appearance for Frasier's 2,000th fictional radio phone-in.