Alan Dale
The New Zealand actor who evolved from a beloved Aussie soap patriarch into American television's go-to authoritative figure, commanding boardrooms and secret agencies.
Born 1947 (age 79)·New Zealand actor·Birthday: May 6·Baby Boomers
Biography
Alan Dale's path to acting was anything but conventional. A former rugby player from New Zealand, he decided to pursue performance professionally in his late twenties, moving to Australia on a whim. His big break came as the stern but kind-hearted Jim Robinson on the soap opera 'Neighbours', a role he inhabited for nearly a decade and which made him a household name. Tired of being typecast, Dale made a bold move to the United States in his fifties, where he systematically dismantled his soap star image. He became a familiar, imposing presence in American television, specializing in roles of cold authority: CEOs, generals, and government officials. From 'The O.C.' and 'Ugly Betty' to '24' and 'Lost', his deep voice and commanding demeanor made him the perfect actor to portray men who wield power, often with a hidden agenda. His career is a testament to successful reinvention on a global scale.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Alan was born in 1947, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Alan Was Born
The biggest hits of 1947
#1 Movie
The Egg and I
Best Picture
Gentleman's Agreement
Alan's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1947Born
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1952Started school
Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,350Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Blue Tango" — Leroy AndersonBest Picture: The Greatest Show on Earth
1960Became a teenager
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1963Could drive
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1965Could vote
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1968Turned 21
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1977Turned 30
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1987Turned 40
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1997Turned 50
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2007Turned 60
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 70
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 79 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played the iconic role of Jim Robinson on the Australian soap opera 'Neighbours' from 1985 to 1993, becoming one of its most recognizable characters.
- Successfully transitioned to a major U.S. television career in his 50s, appearing in over 20 American series.
- Portrayed Vice President Jim Prescott on the thriller series '24' during its fourth season.
- Played the mysterious businessman Charles Widmore on the hit series 'Lost', a pivotal antagonist.
Did You Know?
He was a champion rugby player in New Zealand before a knee injury ended his sports career.
Dale left 'Neighbours' after a dispute over pay for the cast, famously stating the producers were 'penny-pinching'.
He is a skilled pianist and often played the instrument in his scenes as Jim Robinson.
He holds the rare distinction of having appeared in three different 'Jurassic Park' franchise projects: 'Jurassic Park III', 'The Lost World' video game, and the TV series 'Terra Nova'.
“I went from being the father of a nation in Australia to being the bad guy of the universe in America. It's been wonderful.”
