James "Jim" Dale, MBE (born 15 August 1935), is an English actor, voice artist, and singer-songwriter. He is best known in the United Kingdom for his many appearances in the Carry On series of films and in the US for narrating the Harry Potter audiobook series, for which he received two Grammy Awards, and the ABC series Pushing Daisies, as well as starring in Pete's Dragon. In the 1970s, Dale was a member of the National Theatre Company.

Biography

Early years
Dale was born to William Henry Smith and Miriam Jean Wells in Rothwell, Northamptonshire. He was educated at the Kettering Grammar School. He trained as a dancer for six years before his debut as a stage comic in 1951, when, at the age of seventeen and a half, he became the youngest professional comedian on the British stage. He performed two years' national service in the Royal Air Force.


Later years
Dale has lived in New York City since 1980. He was married to Patricia from 1957 until their divorce in 1977. They had four children. The eldest boy, Murray, was briefly a successful actor in the 1970s children's television series Boy Dominic. Middle son Adam, a successful aerial cameraman, is the winner of the Golden Arrow Award for Best Helicopter Cameraman. His youngest son, Toby, is, in his father's words, "a brilliant actor". All three live in London. Dale has five grandchildren. His only daughter, Belinda, died of leukaemia in December 1995. His first wife, Patricia, died in March 1977, after a long battle with cancer. In 1980, Dale married Julie Schafler, the owner of Madison Avenue's Julie: Artisan's Gallery.

Best films