James Smith, better known as Jim Dale, MBE is an English actor, lyricist, singer, comedian, and voice actor, who, for Disney, played Doc Terminus in Pete's Dragon, Jasper Bloodshy and his sons: Wild Billy and Eli in Hot Lead and Cold Feet, and Sir Mordred in Unidentified Flying Oddball. He was considered the role as Bert in Mary Poppins, along with other several actors that were considered, but the role was later given to Dick Van Dyke. He was also considered to play Barnaby in Babes in Toyland, but that role was given to Ray Bolger.
Dale was born in Rothwell, Northamptonshire and educated at Kettering Grammar School. He trained as a dancer for six years before his debut as a stage comic in 1951. He did two years of national service in the Royal Air Force.
His film appearances include Break-In, Six Five Special, Raising the Wind, The Big Job, Digby: The Biggest Dog in the World, Adolf Hitler: My Part in His Downfall, Follow That Camel, Scandalous, and as various in the British comedy film series Carry On. Dale also had a prominent stage career in both the U.S. and U.K. with shows, like The Card, The Taming of the Shrew, Scapino, The Winter's Tale, Oliver!, Barnum, Joe Egg, Me and My Girl, Candide, The Threepenny Opera, Travels with My Aunt, Comedians, The Music Man, The Invisible Man, A Christmas Carol: The Musical, and the Sherman Brothers' Busker Alley.
Dale's career spans not only in performing, but in songwriting. He worked with George Martin who produced his songs, such as "Be My Girl", "Just Born (To Be Your Baby)", "Crazy Dream", "Dick-a-Dum-Dum (King's Road)", and "Sugartime". He is best remembered as the lyricist for the film theme "Georgy Girl", for which he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song and the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song in 1966. He also wrote lyrics for the title songs and/or music for the films The Winter's Tale (1967), Shalako, Twinky, and Joseph Andrews.
Also a prolific voiceover artist, Dale is best known for narrating all seven Harry Potter books, two of which won Grammy Awards (2001, 2008). He also narrates its various video games and "extras" media. His other audiobook narrations include SPIN: The Rumpelstiltskin Musical, Puss In Boots a Musical, and Peter and the Starcatchers and its three sequels. Dale also opened every episode of the ABC drama Pushing Daisies as the unseen narrator.
Roles[]
(Hot Lead and Cold Feet)
(Hot Lead and Cold Feet)
(Hot Lead and Cold Feet)
(Unidentified Flying Oddball)