Biography
Jim Dale, also credited as James Smith, is an English actor, narrator, singer and songwriter. Born on 15 August 1935 in Rothwell, Northamptonshire, he trained as a dancer before making his stage debut as a comic in 1951. He later joined Laurence Olivier's National Theatre Company.
Dale appeared in eleven Carry On films between 1963 and 1992, including Carry On Cabby (1963), Carry On Cleo (1964), Carry On Cowboy (1965), Carry On Screaming! (1966) and Carry On Doctor (1967). In the United States he performed on Broadway, winning a Tony Award for Barnum (1980), and provided the voice of the narrator for the ABC series Pushing Daisies (2007–2009).
He is also known for narrating the US Harry Potter audiobook series, for which he received two Grammy Awards. Dale was appointed MBE in 2003 for services to children's literature.
