Franz Josef Engel was an actor and a comedian. He was married to Paulina Hermann, who was also born in Vienna. In 1938, Franz Josef Engel moved from London to The Hague, where he performed in venues such as Willy Rosen’s Theater der Prominenten (Theater of Celebrities) in Scheveningen, which always featured well-known foreign guests. In cooperation with the composer and lyricist Rudolf Nelson, he presented a 'Franz Engel revue' at La Gaîté Theatre. In 1941, he and other artists from the Theater der Prominenten performed under the name of Theater van het Lach (Theater of Laughter). A review in Het Joodsche Weekblad (Jewish Weekly) of Willy Rosen’s revue Lunapark, which was performed in the Joodse Schouwburg, said, ‘When Franz Engel and Max Ehrlich appear on stage together, the laughter starts right away and never stops.’
In late 1943 he was transported to Westerbork, where he became part of a cabaret troupe at the camp in March/April and June. In September of that year he was deported to Theresienstadt, and on 17 October 1944 he was murdered in Auschwitz.
Katja B. Zaich, ‘Ich bitte dringend um ein Happyend. Deutsche Bühnenkünstler im niederländischen Exil 1933-1945’, (Frankfurt am Main, 2001), 81 ff, 137 ff, 204
Joodsch Weekblad 1 (1941), no. 32, p. 5
The CD Popülaire Jüdische Künstler. Wien: Musik und Entertainment, 1903-1936 (Trikont, 2001) includes recordings of Franz Engel. This CD is in the collection of the Resource Centre at the Jewish Historical Museum.