Alan Hugh Dale (born 6 May 1947) is a New Zealand actor. As a child, Dale developed a love of theatre and also became a rugby player. After retiring from the sport he took on a number of professions to support his family, before deciding to become a professional actor at the age of 27. With work limited in New Zealand, Dale moved to Australia, where he played Dr. John Forrest in The Young Doctors from 1979 to 1982. He later appeared as Jim Robinson in Neighbours, a part he played for eight years. He left the series when he fell out with the producers over the pay he and the rest of the cast received.After leaving Neighbours, Dale became typecast as Robinson in Australia and struggled to find work. His career was revitalised after he relocated to the United States in 2000. Since then he has had roles in many American series including prominent parts in The O.C. (as Caleb Nichol) and Ugly Betty (as Bradford Meade), as well as recurring and guest roles in Lost, 24, NCIS, ER, The West Wing, The X-Files, Entourage and Once Upon a Time. Dale has also appeared in minor roles in films such as Star Trek Nemesis, Hollywood Homicide, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, as well as the London West End production of Spamalot. Dale has been married to former Miss Australia Tracey Pearson since 1990 and has four children.
Graduate of Brooklyn's Lafayette High School and long-time resident of Sheepshead Bay, Bklyn.
2
Started his career at age 9 when he ran up on stage to sing when open invitation to audience was offered.
3
Only child of Agatha and father Aristide, who was a comedian in Italian theaters in New York.
4
One of Dale's great allies was record producer (and husband of singer Teresa Brewer) Bob Thiele. In his book, "What a Wonderful World: A Lifetime of Recordings", Thiele writes admiringly about Dale, and offers his theory of why his career crashed. He said that Dale was adamant in refusing to accept "help" from mobsters, who not only owned a large number of nightclubs but also influenced record sales through their control of the jukebox industry, among other means. Thiele lists several other Italian singers who had hit records partly due to mob influence. Dale was not only stubbornly independent, but outspoken in his disrespect toward these would-be mentors. Thiele claims that a 1960 incident at the Latin Quarter nightclub in which Dale was attacked by an unknown assailant,and sent hurtling through the club's plate-glass window, was no accident. Fortunately, Dale's reflexes were quick; he raised his hands over his face and was spared more serious injury]. However, this headlined incident sent a message to all the other nightclubs: To avoid trouble, stay away from Alan Dale.
5
In 1953 gossip columns reported that Universal Pictures was floating the idea of teaming Dale with his pal Buddy Hackett, as its answer to Paramount's box-office sensations Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. Nothing came of the idea because Dale preferred to remain a solo act.
6
In 1955 he was approached by producers who were planning a film on the life of legendary crooner Russ Columbo, who was a major romantic idol in the early 1930s. Columbo was in the midst of a well publicized romance with Carole Lombard (which her studio was said to be strongly against) when he was killed in a bizarre shooting "accident" at the age of 26. Dale's voice had a quality reminiscent of the ill-fated singer's, and in view of the dramatic facts of Columbo's life, a picture about him seemed a good bet. For some unknown reason the project never materialized.
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Cauliflower Cupids
1970
Honest John Bradley
Don't Knock the Rock
1956
Arnie Haines
Opera vs. Jazz
1953
TV Series
Regular
Actors Hotel
1951
TV Series
Uncle Antonio
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
Don't Knock the Rock
1956
performer: "I Cry More", "Don't Knock the Rock"
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Alan Dale Show
1948
TV Series
Himself / Host
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1965
TV Series
Himself - Guest
The Jack Paar Tonight Show
1961
TV Series
Himself
The Garry Moore Show
1960
TV Series
Himself
The Ed Sullivan Show
1949-1960
TV Series
Himself / Himself - Singer
The Steve Allen Plymouth Show
1958
TV Series
Himself
The Big Record
1958
TV Series
Himself
The Arlene Francis Show
1957
TV Series
Himself
Max Liebman Spectaculars
1956
TV Series
Himself
Texaco Star Theatre
1950-1955
TV Series
Himself - Singer
Cavalcade of Stars
1951-1952
TV Series
Himself - Guest Vocalist / Himself
Songs for Sale
1951
TV Series
Himself
Sing It Again
1950
TV Series
Himself - Singer (1951)
Known for movies
The Alan Dale Show (1948) as Himself / Host
Sing It Again (1950) as Himself - Singer (1951)
Don't Knock the Rock (1956) as Arnie Haines
Cavalcade of Stars (1951-1952) as Himself - Guest Vocalist / Himself
$3 Million
