Jim Dale embarked on a career as a stand-up comedian, honing his comedic skills during his stint in the army where he organized and performed in camp shows. Upon his discharge, he pursued a comedy career, landing a job as the warm-up comic on a musical variety show. His impressive performance earned him a spot on the show as a singer, catapulting him to stardom as a recording artist. He was subsequently signed for a small role in the film Carry on Cabby (1963),but his electrifying stage presence garnered such immense audience acclaim that he was soon promoted to a regular cast member in the "Carry On" series. In a remarkable display of commitment to his craft, Jim Dale insisted on performing his own stunts, resulting in an injury to his arm during the filming of Carry on Again Doctor (1969),his last film in the series until 1992.
After departing the "Carry On" franchise, Jim Dale returned to the stage, making a notable appearance in Sir Laurence Olivier's National Theater. In the 1970s, he relocated to the United States, achieving significant success in the Broadway production of "Barnum" and a string of Disney film comedies. Fifteen years later, Jim Dale returned to Britain in 1992 for a memorable appearance in the final "Carry On" film, Carry on Columbus (1992).