Early Life and Family Background

James Badgett Dale, known professionally as James Badge Dale, was born on May 1, 1978, in New York City. He was born into a family deeply rooted in the performing arts. His father, Grover Dale, born in 1935, is a respected actor, dancer, and choreographer. His mother, Anita Morris, was a singer and actress whose career spanned from the early 1970s until her passing in 1994. Inspired by his parents' involvement in the entertainment industry, Dale showed an early interest in acting.

At the age of 10, he landed his first acting role in the 1990 film adaptation of William Golding’s novel Lord of the Flies. He was selected from his class at Wonderland Avenue Elementary School in Los Angeles for the part. After completing the filming, he returned to school, continuing with a relatively normal childhood before reentering the industry later in life.

Career in Film

Dale returned to acting in the early 2000s, beginning with the film Nola in 2003. He followed that with roles in Cross Bronx (2004) and The Naked Brothers Band: The Movie (2005). In 2006, he had a supporting role in the critically acclaimed film The Departed, directed by Martin Scorsese.

In 2010, he continued to build his film career, appearing in NoNAMES and Polish Bar. The following year, he played roles in Shame and The Conspirator. His most active film year was 2013, with major roles in blockbuster movies including Iron Man 3, World War Z, The Lone Ranger, and Parkland. In 2014, he appeared in Miss Meadows and Stretch.

In 2015, Dale starred in The Walk, and in 2016, he appeared in the action war film 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi. He was also cast in the science fiction film Spectral, which was in post-production at the time. His consistent presence in film has contributed to his reputation as a versatile and dedicated actor. As of recent estimates, James Badge Dale’s net worth is reported to be in the range of several million dollars.