About Jim Dale
Jim Dale is beloved by millions of listeners for bringing the Harry Potter audiobooks to life through his playful character voices. His performances have captured the heart of even Queen Elizabeth II, who named him an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in 2003 for his work on Harry Potter and for “promoting English Children’s literature.” Dale’s numerous honors also include multiple Audie Awards, Earphones Awards, Grammy Awards, and even a Tony Award and an Oscar nomination.
The magic that Jim Dale adds to the already-magical Harry Potter series helps account for why the perennial favorites in print are also among the best-selling audiobooks of all time. He tends to gravitate towards British children’s favorites such as The Hundred Acre Woods, Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland, and A Christmas Carol, and has also ventured into YA territory with his performance of Erin Morgenstern’s bewitching fantasy The Night Circus. He says he loves the strange voices and fantastical creatures that these otherworldly stories allow him to create.
Dale is the one-time Guinness World Record holder for the greatest number of characters voiced in a single audiobook, and he has indeed voiced hundreds of characters in the Harry Potter series alone. Given a new world to voice, Dale is able to create an entire cast of characters that are distinct from the voices that he’s created in the past. And his instincts serve him well—moments into his performance of The Hundred Acre Woods, he is said to have swapped the voices of Piglet and Pooh because it just felt right.
In addition to his world-famous audiobook performances, Jim Dale has enjoyed a rich and varied stage and screen career dating back to the 1960s. He has starred in numerous award-winning performances on and off Broadway including his memorable turn as Scrooge in a musical production of A Christmas Carol at Madison Square Garden Theater and has appeared in popular TV and film productions such as Pushing Daises and Pete’s Dragon.
Listener Favorites
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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Book 1
- By: J.K. Rowling
- Narrated by: Jim Dale
- Length: 8 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 199,692
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 175,339
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 174,825
Harry Potter has never even heard of Hogwarts when the letters start dropping on the doormat at number four, Privet Drive. Addressed in green ink on yellowish parchment with a purple seal, they are swiftly confiscated by his grisly aunt and uncle. Then, on Harry's eleventh birthday, a great beetle-eyed giant of a man called Rubeus Hagrid bursts in with some astonishing news: Harry Potter is a wizard, and he has a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. An incredible adventure is about to begin!
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5 out of 5 stars
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A great reading of the wrong book
- By P on 11-24-15
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Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Book 2
- By: J.K. Rowling
- Narrated by: Jim Dale
- Length: 9 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 138,078
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 120,748
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 120,327
Harry Potter's summer has included the worst birthday ever, doomy warnings from a house-elf called Dobby, and rescue from the Dursleys by his friend Ron Weasley in a magical flying car! Back at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for his second year, Harry hears strange whispers echo through empty corridors - and then the attacks start. Students are found as though turned to stone... Dobby's sinister predictions seem to be coming true.
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5 out of 5 stars
-
Jim Dale is wonderful!
- By ladigolfer on 12-31-15
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Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Book 3
- By: J.K. Rowling
- Narrated by: Jim Dale
- Length: 11 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 128,304
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 112,527
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 112,123
When the Knight Bus crashes through the darkness and screeches to a halt in front of him, it's the start of another far from ordinary year at Hogwarts for Harry Potter. Sirius Black, escaped mass-murderer and follower of Lord Voldemort, is on the run - and they say he is coming after Harry. In his first ever Divination class, Professor Trelawney sees an omen of death in Harry's tea leaves... But perhaps most terrifying of all are the Dementors patrolling the school grounds, with their soul-sucking kiss...
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5 out of 5 stars
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Jim Dale at his best
- By rottndachs on 01-12-16
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Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Book 4
- By: J.K. Rowling
- Narrated by: Jim Dale
- Length: 20 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 123,231
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 108,161
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 107,785
The Triwizard Tournament is to be held at Hogwarts. Only wizards who are over seventeen are allowed to enter - but that doesn't stop Harry dreaming that he will win the competition. Then at Hallowe'en, when the Goblet of Fire makes its selection, Harry is amazed to find his name is one of those that the magical cup picks out. He will face death-defying tasks, dragons and Dark wizards, but with the help of his best friends, Ron and Hermione, he might just make it through - alive!
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5 out of 5 stars
-
“Harreeeeeeeeee”
- By D.S.G. on 01-06-18
-
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Book 1
- By: J.K. Rowling
- Narrated by: Jim Dale
- Length: 8 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 199,692
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 175,339
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 174,825
Harry Potter has never even heard of Hogwarts when the letters start dropping on the doormat at number four, Privet Drive. Addressed in green ink on yellowish parchment with a purple seal, they are swiftly confiscated by his grisly aunt and uncle. Then, on Harry's eleventh birthday, a great beetle-eyed giant of a man called Rubeus Hagrid bursts in with some astonishing news: Harry Potter is a wizard, and he has a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. An incredible adventure is about to begin!
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
A great reading of the wrong book
- By P on 11-24-15
-
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Book 2
- By: J.K. Rowling
- Narrated by: Jim Dale
- Length: 9 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 138,078
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 120,748
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 120,327
Harry Potter's summer has included the worst birthday ever, doomy warnings from a house-elf called Dobby, and rescue from the Dursleys by his friend Ron Weasley in a magical flying car! Back at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for his second year, Harry hears strange whispers echo through empty corridors - and then the attacks start. Students are found as though turned to stone... Dobby's sinister predictions seem to be coming true.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Jim Dale is wonderful!
- By ladigolfer on 12-31-15
-
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Book 3
- By: J.K. Rowling
- Narrated by: Jim Dale
- Length: 11 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 128,304
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 112,527
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 112,123
When the Knight Bus crashes through the darkness and screeches to a halt in front of him, it's the start of another far from ordinary year at Hogwarts for Harry Potter. Sirius Black, escaped mass-murderer and follower of Lord Voldemort, is on the run - and they say he is coming after Harry. In his first ever Divination class, Professor Trelawney sees an omen of death in Harry's tea leaves... But perhaps most terrifying of all are the Dementors patrolling the school grounds, with their soul-sucking kiss...
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Jim Dale at his best
- By rottndachs on 01-12-16
-
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Book 4
- By: J.K. Rowling
- Narrated by: Jim Dale
- Length: 20 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 123,231
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 108,161
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 107,785
The Triwizard Tournament is to be held at Hogwarts. Only wizards who are over seventeen are allowed to enter - but that doesn't stop Harry dreaming that he will win the competition. Then at Hallowe'en, when the Goblet of Fire makes its selection, Harry is amazed to find his name is one of those that the magical cup picks out. He will face death-defying tasks, dragons and Dark wizards, but with the help of his best friends, Ron and Hermione, he might just make it through - alive!
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
“Harreeeeeeeeee”
- By D.S.G. on 01-06-18
-
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Book 5
- By: J.K. Rowling
- Narrated by: Jim Dale
- Length: 26 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 114,794
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 100,816
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 100,380
Dark times have come to Hogwarts. After the Dementors' attack on his cousin Dudley, Harry Potter knows that Voldemort will stop at nothing to find him. There are many who deny the Dark Lord's return, but Harry is not alone: a secret order gathers at Grimmauld Place to fight against the Dark forces. Harry must allow Professor Snape to teach him how to protect himself from Voldemort's savage assaults on his mind. But they are growing stronger by the day and Harry is running out of time...
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5 out of 5 stars
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Jim Dale is the BEST!
- By Leigh on 07-03-19
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Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Book 6
- By: J.K. Rowling
- Narrated by: Jim Dale
- Length: 18 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 107,498
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 94,556
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Story5 out of 5 stars 94,162
When Dumbledore arrives at Privet Drive one summer night to collect Harry Potter, his wand hand is blackened and shrivelled, but he does not reveal why. Secrets and suspicion are spreading through the wizarding world, and Hogwarts itself is not safe. Harry is convinced that Malfoy bears the Dark Mark: there is a Death Eater amongst them. Harry will need powerful magic and true friends as he explores Voldemort's darkest secrets, and Dumbledore prepares him to face his destiny...
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5 out of 5 stars
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Masterful Narration Continues
- By Gina on 05-13-16
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Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Book 7
- By: J.K. Rowling
- Narrated by: Jim Dale
- Length: 21 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 148,409
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 131,902
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 131,367
As he climbs into the sidecar of Hagrid's motorbike and takes to the skies, leaving Privet Drive for the last time, Harry Potter knows that Lord Voldemort and the Death Eaters are not far behind. The protective charm that has kept Harry safe until now is broken, but he cannot keep hiding. The Dark Lord is breathing fear into everything Harry loves and to stop him Harry will have to find and destroy the remaining Horcruxes. The final battle must begin - Harry must stand and face his enemy...
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5 out of 5 stars
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I'm so sad it's over!!
- By Erin on 05-19-16
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The Night Circus
- A Novel
- By: Erin Morgenstern
- Narrated by: Jim Dale
- Length: 13 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 29,894
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 26,875
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 26,873
The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night. But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway - a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Dreamlike Experience to Savor
- By Suzn F on 09-18-11
Performance Highlights
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Book 7
- The Night Circus
- Peter and the Starcatchers