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After captivating both coasts with his fierce intelligence, unique sense of humor and shiny bald pate, James Engel is thrilled to have arrived in the Midwest.

Born and raised in New York City, James spent the last five years in Los Angeles, where he worked in TV, film and commercials. The highlight was his role on the sitcom Stacked where he told Pamela Anderson, “Exactly which twenty percent to take off.” He also was a frequent voice contributor to shows on Premiere Radio, impersonating the likes of Larry King, Dick Vitale and Ray Romano.

Onstage, James, a graduate of The Upright Citizens Brigade and IO Improv Training programs became a featured performer/ writer in the weekly sketch comedy show, Big News at the IOWest. The brainchild of former SNL writer Michael McCarthy, the show won critical acclaim across the Southland, with the LA Times calling it “A marathon of mockery… that shows no sign of slowing down.”

James’ smarmy sports anchor character, Steve Stevens, was twice named the LA Times “Critics’ Pick”, and was the only Big News character to spin off into his own show – Steve Stevens’ Superbowl Shuffle.

Prior to his California jaunt, James was on a house “Harold” team at the UCB Theatre and put in his time on the Off -Broadway stage and in independent films, most notably Oscar nominee Noah Baumbach’s Mr. Jealousy. He also did two summers upstate at Shakespeare on the Hudson, with comic turns in Much Ado and The Tempest, among others.

James is also an accomplished singer and Bass Guitar player. He toured with the rock band “Job” for three years, and still performs acoustic and novelty songs.

James received his Bachelor of Arts in Drama from Vassar College, and from age 3 through graduation attended the prestigious Dalton School, or as it is often known – “The School for Gifted Parents”.