im Dale began his career as a stand-up comic. He sharpened his comedy skills during a stint in the army, where he organized and performed in camp shows. After his discharge he pursued a comedy career, and landed a job as the warm-up comic on a musical variety show. He did so well that the producers gave him a spot on the show as a singer, and he quickly became a recording star. He was signed for a small part in one of the "Carry On" films, Carry on Cabby (1963), but the audience reaction to him was so great the he was soon made a regular member of the cast. Unlike many comics, Dale insisted on performing his own stunts, and in fact injured his arm performing a stunt in Carry on Again Doctor (1969), his last film of the series until 1992. After his departure from the series he returned to the stage, notably in Sir Laurence Olivier's National Theater. In the 1970s Dale moved to the US for film and stage work, achieving success in the Broadway show "Barnum" and in a string of film comedies for Disney. He returned to Britain in 1992 for an appearance in the final "Carry On" film, Carry on Columbus (1992).He became hooked on show business while at school and by the age of 10 he was studying ballet, tap dancing and tumbling, and by 16 he was the youngest stand up comedian on the circuit having been discovered by talent scout Carol Levis', who ran the forerunner of talent shows. Jim worked as a teenage stand up comic then began making a name for himself as a pop singer & tv personality. His record 'Be My Girl' reached no 2 in the charts and his hosting the pop show '6-5 Special' got him instant fame and his film debut in the film version of the show in 1958. His impression of Kenneth Williams in the film 'Raising the Wind in 1961 impressed the Carry on team who invited him to join them which he did in 'Carry on Jack', He returned to the pop scene when he became the compere on the tv show 'Thank Your Lucky Stars' (1962 - 66). He made his West End debut as actor and producer in 1965 in 'The Wayward Way', a musical adaption of 'The Drunkard' and the following year made his Shakespearean debut as Autolycus in 'A Winters Tale' at the Edinburgh Festival which transferred to London and was later made into a film. He wrote the music for the songs in the production. Among his other song writing successes were the lyrics for the title song of the hit film 'Georgy Girl' which was nominated for an Oscar, the lyrics for the songs in the film 'Shalako' (68) and 'Twinky (69) His own recording of'Be My Girl' reached no 2 in the charts While making 'Carry on Doctor' he was also appearing on stage in the evening in the pop version of 'A Midsummer Nights Dream' at the Saville Theatre. His work with the Pop Theatre Group, forerunner of the Young Vic led to the lead role in the National Theatre production of 'The National Health'(70) gaining high praise in both the stage and film versions. He then took the physically demanding lead in 'Scapino' which he helped Frank Dunlop to adapt., from the Moliere original.playing it at the Edinburgh Festival and the Old Vic. which brought him to the attention of Laurence Olivier who invited him to join The National Theatre where he performed in 'The National Health' (recreating his role in the 1973 film version), 'The Merchant of Venice', 'Loves Labours Lost' and 'The Architect and the Emperor of Assyria'- a two hander with Anthony Hopkins. On television he hosted 'Sunday Night at the London Palladium and in the West End starred in 'The Card' and played Spike Milligan in the film 'Adolph Hitler, My Part in His Downfall'(1973) In '73 he went to America repeating his role in 'Scapino' which was a major success in Los Angeles, San Francisco and on Broadway earning him the Drama Desk Award and the Outer Critics Circle Award. This caught the attention of Walt Disney resulting in Jim being signed up and appearing in 'Pete's Dragon' and 'The Spaceman and King Arthur'. In 'Bloodshy'(79) he played twins and their father doing all his own stunts earning him the rare distinction of honorary membership of the Association of Hollywood stuntmen. Over the years He's won many awards for his stage and recording work.In 1980 he was the toast of Broadway when he played the title role of 'Barnum' winning both the Tony and Drama Desk awards. Other on and off Broadway productions include 'Me and My Girl', 'The Comedians', Privates on Parade', 'The Music Man' and 'Joe Egg' In the mid '90's he returned to the London Palladium to play Fagin in 'Oliver' after which it was back to the States playing Scrooge. He is now the voice of Harry Potter in Grammy Award winning recordings of the stories, the 4th instalment, 'Goblet of Fire' saw him entering the record books for the most original voices for one single recording and 127 separate characters.