Whenever I think about entertainment troupers who are still with us, I automatically point to the wonderful Dick Van Dyke.
But, thanks to the latest issue of The Oldie magazine, I am reminded of another exceptional entertain, Jim Dale - actor, composer, director, narrator and singer/songwriter.
The mag features an interview with him, now 87, and still performs his one-man show in America. Jim was born in Northamptonshire and has lived in New York for a long time.
At 22, he was spotted by the head of Parlophone records, one George Martin, who moulded him into a teen idol pop star. His biggest UK single was Be My Girl which reached number two in the charts. That phase of his career lasted a couple of years. But, of note, he wrote the song Georgy Girl for the 1966 film of the same name. The song was a bit hit record for The Seekers.
Jim's film career includes ten appearances in the silly but often farcically funny Carry On films, as well as Disney's Pete's Dragon, amongst others.
His theatre career started with his stint as a touring music hall comedian but fate changed his ambitions somewhat in 1970 when Sir Laurence Olivier invited him to join the National Theatre at the Old Vic. Evolving, he performed in Shakespeare plays and nailed the part of Fagin in Oliver! at the London Palladium in 1995.
He was proclaimed the Toast of Broadway for his starring role in Barnum, which earned him a Tony Award.
On and off Broadway, Jim scored big hits in performances in Me and My Girl, Candide, Travels with My Aunt, The Taming of the Shrew, The Music Man and A Christmas Carol: The Musical.
He narrated hugely successful audiobooks of all the Harry Potter volumes, earning himself two Grammy Awards along the way.
Jim Dale is a marvel and quite rightly his award and trophy shelves must be creaking with the many accolades that have been bestowed on him over the years. His non-winning nominations are impressive too.
Big ovation to a superb entertainment trouper.
No comments:
Post a Comment