James' father, Grover Dale, has been nominated for a Broadway's Tony Award twice in his career. In 1970 as Best Choreographer for Billy, and in 1975 as Best Director for The Magic Show.
James Badge Dale(on auditioning for 24): When the first audition came by, I read it and I knew it was a very good show. But when I read it, I just thought, I'm too young for this, I'm not right for this, they're not going to cast me, they're going to go for something different.
James Badge Dale: I worked off and on in construction for six years, I was doing other things intermittently in between that. I went to college for a while, I played hockey for a while. I was never a—I guess most actors work in restaurants or bars and I'm just not built that way—I don't know, construction was fun for me. I'm not good at it, I'm horrible, but there's a romanticism about it when you're standing on top of a building and the sun is shining and you feel good at the end of the day.
James Badge Dale(on 24): It's a nine-month run. You've got to be ready to show up for nine months and come to work. It's taught me a lot; as a person and as an actor about responsibility, suiting up and showing up and being ready.