Alan Dale

This article is about the New Zealand/Australian actor. For the singer, see Alan Dale (singer). Alan Dale
Born Alan Hugh Dale
May 6, 1947(1947-05-06) (age 61)
Dunedin, Otago, New ZealandOccupation Actor Years active 1979-present Spouse(s) Claire Dale (1968-1979)
Tracey Pearson (1990-present)

Alan Hugh Dale (born May 6, 1947) is a New Zealand actor. He is best known for his roles as Jim Robinson in Neighbours, Caleb Nichol in The O.C. and Bradford Meade in Ugly Betty. He has also had many guest roles in series, such as Charles Widmore in Lost, Vice President Jim Prescott in 24, NCIS Director Thomas "Tom" Morrow in NCIS, and has also appeared in The West Wing, The X-Files and Torchwood.

1 Early life
2 Career
3 Personal life
4 Filmography
- 4.1 Films
- 4.2 Television
5 References
6 External links

Early life

"When I was 27, I started to get really jumpy and thought, what could I do that would give me the same buzz rugby did? Acting was what came to mind. I told my first wife, "Look, I really can't stand it any more. I'm going to have to go and be an actor." — Dale on why he turned to acting professionally.[1]

Dale was born on May 6, 1947 in Dunedin, New Zealand.[2][3] One of four children, Dale enjoyed his childhood, but his family were relatively poor.[1] Although a very gentle child, Dale was bullied and so had to learn to defend and stand up for himself.[1]

Growing up in New Zealand, without television until the 1960s, Dale developed a love of theatre and amateur dramatics.[4] His first performance was for a school concert, at the age of 13, doing an impression of comedian Shelley Berman. His parents built their own amateur theatre in Auckland called "The Little Dolphin Theatre". Dale often operated the stage equipment used to produce weather effects.[1] Although a skilled rugby player, Dale opted to move into drama instead beause "the acting fraternity didn't like footballers and the footballers didn't like actors. [...] Acting gave me the same buzz and there was the chance of a longer career."[4] He gave up rugby at the age to of 21 because it was not considered a workable career at the time, and he had to support his family.[1] Acting roles were limited in New Zealand so Dale worked in multiple jobs to support his family, working as a car salesman and a realtor. While working as a milkman he heard the disc jockey at his local radio station walk out during a broadcast. Dale went over to the station and told the managers that he could do a better job. They gave him a trial and then signed him up the afternoon show, which lead to him landing his first TV role,[4] and at the age of 27 he decided to become a professional actor.[1]

Career

Dale's first on-screen role was in the New Zealand television drama Radio Waves, which although not sucessful, he described as "nine months of solid work and great fun."[2] In the late 1970s, Dale moved to Australia at the age of 32,[4][1] as there was little acting work in New Zealand. He was soon cast as Dr. John Forrest in the Australian soap opera The Young Doctors, where he remained for three-and-a-half years.[2]

In 1985, Dale was cast in the continuing role of Jim Robinson in the Australian soap opera Neighbours, earning him aclaim across the world, including the United Kingdom. He stayed for eight years before his character died of a heart attack.[4] He found working on Neighbours "exciting" and it enabled him to provide for his sons, but he noted "You were a totally replaceable commodity; [the production company] didn't put any value on any of the people appearing in the show."[1] He expanded: "I didn't like it there, they were not nice people. When we decided that we hated each other, the company and me, one of the things the company did was to market everything they could out of us and pay us nothing."[5]

After Neighbours, Dale struggled to find work in Australia because he was typecast as Jim Robinson.[1] His only regular source of income was voice-overs.[4] In 1999, he was cast in the American TV film First Daughter, which was filmed in Australia. After discovering he could perform a convincing American accent, Dale attended the film's premiere and then moved with his family to the United States permanently in January 2000.[4] Dale, his second wife Tracey, and their then two year old son Nick moved into an "awful little flat" in Los Angeles after deciding to move out there and find an agent. Dale recalled telling his wife in Melbourne that "there's no way this is going to work. But if it does, it proves you can do anything."[1]

At the age of 52 his career was revitalised and he began taking acting classes. He described his age, unknown status and willingness to work for a relatively low fee as being his main assests for getting work in America. His drama teacher told him "that you might want to play great roles, but truth is you will get cast as a specific type. Just work out your type. The others in the class said I was a bit Anthony Hopkins and a bit Sean Connery and that went into my head. I thought if I go for roles those guys would go for I'm more likely to get them."[4] Dale only received a couple of auditions during his first year in America, but his big break came when he was cast as the South African Al Patterson in four episodes of ER.[1] Since then, Dale has been "busier than ever"[4] and has appeared in many well known television series including JAG, The West Wing and NCIS as well as the series finale of The X-Files playing the Toothpick Man. He played the recurring role of Vice President of the United States Jim Prescott for seven episodes of the second season of 24, a part which originally supposed to only be one scene.[1] He also appeared as the Romulan Praetor Hiren in Star Trek Nemesis.

From 2003 to 2005, Dale starred on the Fox TV series, The O.C. playing Caleb Nichol, a wealthy tycoon. The producers saw that the character had further potential, and made his initially recurring role a regular character in the series. Caleb was killed off in the second season episode "The O.Sea". Dale was disappointed in Caleb being killed off and described it as a mistake by the production staff.[6] Dale was cast in the starring role of Bradford Meade, the owner of Meade Publications in the ABC show Ugly Betty.[6] Dale appeared in the second season finale of Lost, as Charles Widmore, a part which has since become a recurring role. Dale's publicist was initially worried that Widmore (who is an integral part of the show's mystery) would become a starring role, meaning it would be hard for Dale to appear in both Lost and Ugly Betty at the same time.[6] As of season 4, Widmore has only ever appeared as a guest star.

In 2008, Dale appeared as Dr. Aaron Copley in the Torchwood episode "Reset", Ray Walsman in the second season of the Australian naval drama Sea Patrol and the minor part of General Ross in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Dale said his script for Kingdom of the Crystal Skull was printed on tin foil so it was impossible to replicate, in order to keep the film's plot a secret.[4]

In March 2008, Dale replaced Peter Davison in the lead role of King Arthur in the London West End production of Monty Python's Spamalot at the Palace Theatre.[7] He was cast in the role after he was told he was being written out of Ugly Betty, was a fan of Monty Python and considered that "life's too short" for him to have turned down a West End part.[4]

Personal life

When he was 21 he married Claire Dale, and had two children, Simon and Matthew Dale.[1] Both are involved in the entertainment industry, as a radio announcer at Kiss 100 and writer, actor and musician respectively. Dale's first marriage ended in divorce in 1979. Then, Dale lived in Auckland but after the divorce moved to Sydney with his sons.[1] Since April 8, 1990 he has been married to the 1986 Miss Australia, Tracey Pearson, who he met at the 1986 Australian Grand Prix, when she was 21 and he was 39. Dake described it as "the most appropriate relationship I've ever had."[1] He has two children from this marriage as well, Daniel and Nick, who "keep him young".[1] He currently lives in Los Angeles and also owns property in Australia and New Zealand.[2] Dale states his life philosophy as being Winston Churchill's quote "Never, never, never give up."[1]

On being a New Zealander or Australian:
"I like both places but I get a lot more respect and recognition from Australia than I do in New Zealand. New Zealanders don't want to know me at all, really. I've been Australian for 20-odd years. Everywhere I went I was the guy from Neighbours so I was Australian. Then when I came here [Hollywood], because I have a New Zealand passport I became a New Zealander again. It's odd."[8]

Filmography

Films

Year Film Role Notes 1989 Houseboat HorrorEvans Direct to video release 2002 Rent Control George Star Trek: NemesisPraetor Hiren 2003 The Extreme Team Richard Knowles Hollywood HomicideCommander Preston 2004 Straight Eye: The Movie Kelly's Dad After the SunsetSecurity Chief 2008 Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal SkullGeneral Ross

Television

Year Series Role Notes 1979-1982 The Young DoctorsDr. John Forrest 1985-1992 Neighbours Jim RobinsonMain cast member; longest-running role 1986 The Far CountryDave Marshall Two-part TV film 1994 JanusRichard Issacs Recurring role Time TraxMr. Bergdorf Episode "The Crash" 1995 Plainclothes Mitch Mitchell Space: Above and BeyondColonial Governor Borman Episode "Pilot" 1997 FrontlineDave Episode "Dick on the Line" Blue HeelersRod Wright Episode "Off the Air" 1997-1998 State CoronerDudley Mills Recurring role; appeared in eight episodes 1999 Alien Cargo Eichhorn, Explorer Dolphin TV film First DaughterDaly TV film 2000 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost WorldPhelan Episode "The Chosen One" 2000-2001 ERAl Patterson Recurring role; appeared in four episodes 2001 The Lone GunmenMichael Wilhelm Episode "Eine Kleine Frohike" PhillyBruce Frohman Episode "Loving Sons" 2002 The X-Files Toothpick ManAppeared in three episodes including the series finale American DreamsUnnamed character Episode "Soldier Boy" The PracticeJudge Robert Brenford Episodes "Silent Partners" and "The Good Fight" 2002-2003 The West WingSecretary of Commerce Mitch Bryce Episodes "Twenty Five" and "20 Hours in America, Part I" 2003 JAG Tom MorrowEpisodes "Meltdown" and "Ice Queen" CSI: MiamiCanadian Consulate General Dubay Episode "Blood Brothers" 2003-2004 24 Vice President Jim PrescottRecurring role; appeared in eight episodes 2003-2005 The O.C.Caleb NicholMain cast member NCISTom Morrow Recurring role; reprised character from JAG, appeared in seven episodes 2004 Crossing JordanCarl Logan Episode "Slam Dunk" 2005 E-RingMetcalfe Appeared in three episodes 2006- Lost Charles WidmoreRecurring guest star;
has appeared in six episodes beginning with "Live Together, Die Alone" 2006-2008 Ugly Betty Bradford MeadeMain cast member 2008 TorchwoodDr. Aaron Copley Episode "Reset" Midnight ManDonald Hagan Parts 1 and 3 Sea PatrolRay Walsman In production

References

^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Alan Dale. "In My Own Words", The Sunday Telegraph Magazine, 2008-06-01, p. 013. Retrieved on 2008-06-04.
^ a b c d Roger Foss. "20 Questions With ... Alan Dale", What's on Stage, 2008-03-10. Retrieved on 2008-04-24.
^ "Celebrity birthdays", The Hamilton Spectator, 2008-05-06, p. G02. Retrieved on 2008-05-18.
^ a b c d e f g h i j k Bruce Dessau. "Alan Dale: the journey from Neighbours to king of Spamalot", The Times, 2008-03-08. Retrieved on 2008-05-17.
^ "Alan Dale slams Neighbours", news.com.au. Retrieved on 2007-03-01.
^ a b c Eric Goldman. "IGN Interview: Alan Dale", IGN, 2006-08-23. Retrieved on 2008-05-20.
^ Ugly Betty Star Alan Dale Headed for London Spamalot, Broadway.com, 21 Feb 08
^ Alan Dale shares his Hollywood highs and heartbreak

External links

Alan Dale at the Internet Movie Database
Alan Dale at TV.com
Alan Dale article at Memory Alpha, a Star Trek wiki

PersondataNAME Dale, Alan ALTERNATIVE NAMES SHORT DESCRIPTION Actor DATE OF BIRTH May 6, 1947PLACE OF BIRTH Dunedin, New ZealandDATE OF DEATH PLACE OF DEATH