SF’s Serial Guest Stars

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2. ALAN DALE

To us, he’s forever known as Alan “It’s Jim off of Neighbours!” Dale, and yet our fond memories of his work on Australia’s finest soap opera haven’t affected this New Zealander’s career in the slightest. One minute he’s being all smarmy on Torchwood and the next he’s chatting away to Indiana bloody Jones in Crystal Skull – surely he has the most adventurous agent in the world. And yet he never seems to take on a duff role, and so we’re wondering if his agent is, in fact, the Devil, and they’ve sold their soul to him for the cream of the acting crop.

The thing is, soap-opera origins aside, Dale is always good. Which is why he keeps getting so much work. From playing the nefarious Charles Widmore on Lost to the sinister “Toothpick Man” on The X-Files (they sure don’t name characters like that any more), Dale never lets you down, always (well, usually) summoning up a pitch-perfect accent, too. There’s something comforting about his presence on a show, as though the fact he’s in it has leant it some weight. He’s not limited himself to sci-fi, either, which stints on everything from from 24 to The West Wing and Entourage.

Dale’s come a long way since his time on Ramsey Street. Each time we see him breathing the same air as Harrison Ford or being diabolical on a desert island, it’s like seeing your Uncle Jim shaking hands with the Queen. The guy done good!

TV shows: Space: Above And Beyond, The Lost World, The Lone Gunmen, The X-Files, Torchwood, Lost
Movies: Star Trek: Nemesis, Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull

Watch him discussing working in America in this fun little clip:

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