Jim Dale was born on James Smith; 15 August 1935 and is an English actor, composer, director, narrator, singer and songwriter.
31 Facts About Jim Dale
2.
Jim Dale narrated the US audiobooks for all seven novels in the Harry Potter series, for which he won two Grammy Awards.
3.
Jim Dale appeared in the ABC series Pushing Daisies ; he starred in the Disney film Pete's Dragon.
4.
Jim Dale was nominated for a BAFTA Award for portraying a young Spike Milligan in Adolf Hitler: My Part in His Downfall.
5.
Jim Dale was born James Smith, to William Henry and Miriam Jean Smith in Rothwell, Northamptonshire.
6.
Jim Dale trained as a dancer for six years before his debut as a stage comic in 1951.
7.
Jim Dale completed two years of national service in the Royal Air Force.
8.
At the age of 22, Jim Dale became the first pop singer to work with Parlophone head George Martin.
9.
Jim Dale wrote lyrics for the title songs of the films The Winter's Tale, Shalako, Twinky and Joseph Andrews.
10.
Jim Dale wrote and recorded the song "Dick-a-Dum-Dum ", which became a hit for Des O'Connor in 1969.
11.
Jim Dale next appeared in Six Five Special, a spin-off from the BBC TV series of the same title.
12.
Jim Dale then had a tiny role in the comedy Raising the Wind as a trombone player who thwarts orchestral conductor Kenneth Williams.
13.
Jim Dale's Carry On career began in small roles: first as an expectant father in Carry On Cabby, which was followed by Carry On Jack.
14.
Jim Dale played Harold, the policeman in the 1965 comedy film The Big Job with two of his regular Carry On co-stars, Sidney James and Joan Sims.
15.
Jim Dale was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles for his performance.
16.
Jim Dale played Dr Terminus in Walt Disney's Pete's Dragon.
17.
At the age of 17, Jim Dale became one of the youngest professional comedians in Britain, touring all the variety music halls.
18.
In 1970 Sir Laurence Olivier invited Jim Dale to join the National Theatre Company in London, then based at the Old Vic.
19.
Jim Dale appeared in The Winter's Tale as Autolycus and A Midsummer Night's Dream as Bottom at the Edinburgh Festivals in 1966 and 1967 for Frank Dunlop's Pop Theatre.
20.
Jim Dale played Mister Peacham and won a Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics' Award, The Richard Seff Award and a Tony Award nomination.
21.
Jim Dale played the part of Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol: The Musical at the Theater at Madison Square Garden, New York City, from 28 November to 27 December 2003.
22.
In November 2006 Jim Dale starred as Charlie Baxter in a one-night only concert version of the Sherman brothers musical Busker Alley alongside Glenn Close.
23.
Jim Dale wrote and appeared in his one-man show, Just Jim Dale, looking back over nearly sixty years in show business.
24.
Jim Dale opened every episode of the ABC drama Pushing Daisies as the unseen narrator.
25.
Jim Dale narrates the Harry Potter video games and many of the interactive "extras" on the Harry Potter DVD releases.
26.
Jim Dale holds one current and two former Guinness World Records.
27.
Jim Dale holds one current record for occupying the first six places in the Top Ten Audio Books of America and Canada 2005.
28.
Jim Dale opened every episode of the ABC drama Pushing Daisies as the unseen narrator.
29.
Jim Dale narrated the Peter and the Starcatchers audio book, and its three sequels.
30.
In 2018, Jim Dale narrated SPIN: The Rumpelstiltskin Musical by Edelman and Fishman, noted as being the first audiobook musical of its kind.
31.
In 2003, Jim Dale was awarded the MBE, as part of the Queen's Birthday Honours List, for his work in promoting children's English literature.