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This article is about the New Zealand-born actor. For the singer, see Alan Dale (singer).

Marcus Alan Dale (born May 6 1947) is a New Zealand-born actor. He is well known for several regular and recurring roles in Australian and US television soap operas and drama series.

Biography

Career

Dale first became widely recognised through a three-and-a-half year stint playing the bad tempered and enigmatic Dr. John Forrest in Australian soap opera The Young Doctors. He then played the key role of Jim Robinson in the Australian soap opera Neighbours. Dale continued with the role of Jim for eight years, from 1985 until 1993. In addition to being successful in Australia, both these serials also became popular in the United Kingdom.

In the mid 1990s Dale relocated to Los Angeles, California where he continued his acting career. There he appeared in many well known television series including American Dreams, ER, JAG, The West Wing and NCIS.

In 2002, Dale played the "Toothpick Man" in three episodes of The X-Files, including the series finale. He then took the recurring role of Vice President of the United States Jim Prescott for several episodes of the second season of 24. That year he played the guest role of Romulan Praetor Hiren in Star Trek: Nemesis.

In 2003, Dale guest starred on the FOX summer TV series, The O.C. playing Caleb Nichol, a wealthy tycoon and father of Kirsten Cohen and Hailey Nichol (Kelly Rowan and Amanda Righetti) and grandfather of Seth (Adam Brody). The producers saw that the character had further potential, and was made into a recurring, and then regular character in the series.

After his role in The O.C. ended, Dale appeared in the second season finale of Lost, as the wealthy father of Penny, Desmond's ex-fiance, in one of Desmond's flashbacks. It was revealed that Dale's character had intercepted all of Desmond's letters to Penny from prison in order to cut him out of her life, and he offered Desmond a large sum of money to stay away from her. Desmond in turn refused and entered into a race around the world sponsored by Dale's character. Desmond's boat would crash during the race in a storm on the island. Coincidentally, Desmond's boat is registered in Newport Beach, CA- the posh Orange County township in which Dale's character on "The O.C." lived. As of 2006, he is appearing as the patriarch of the embattled business everyone wants to run on the TV series Ugly Betty.

Personal life

Dale was born in Dunedin, New Zealand. He has three grown-up sons and has been married to former Miss Australia, Tracey Pearson since 1990.

External links

• Biography
• Alan Dale as Jim Robinson at Neighbours Girls and Boys

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