Ian Anthony Dale has spent more than two decades building a dynamic and versatile career in film and television, steadily earning recognition for both his range and on-screen presence. Known for bringing depth and authority to complex characters, he has become a familiar player in some of television’s most recognizable franchises. Over the past decade in particular, Dale has accelerated his momentum, amassing an impressive body of work across major network and streaming platforms.
He is best known for his roles as Adam Noshimuri on CBS’s long-running hit Hawaii Five-0, Secretary of Defense Harris Edwards on Salvation, and Lieutenant Jim Koto on Murder in the First. During his tenure on Hawaii Five-0, Dale appeared in nearly 100 episodes and expanded his creative footprint by stepping into television directing.
Following the series’ conclusion, Dale continued to build a strong presence in high-profile recurring roles, including District Attorney Louis Bravo on All Rise, Tomi—Yumiko’s long-lost brother—on The Walking Dead, Dr. James Yamada on The Resident, Jiro on Accused, and firefighter Sean Harimoto on Rescue: HI-Surf.
His broader television credits include series regular roles on The Event and Surface, along with recurring appearances on 24, Criminal Minds, and Day Break. He has also guest-starred across iconic franchises including American Horror Story, The Mentalist, and all three installments of the CSI franchise.
On the feature side, Dale has appeared in films such as The Hangover, The Bucket List, Mr. 3000, and Wakefield, opposite Bryan Cranston and Jennifer Garner. He also gained a strong following in the digital space portraying the iconic Scorpion in Mortal Kombat: Legacy.
The son of an Olympic hockey player, Dale initially had his sights set on playing baseball professionally before an injury in high school redirected his path toward acting. He went on to earn Best Actor honors upon graduating high school and continued honing his craft at the University of Wisconsin, where he received a BA in Film. After relocating to Los Angeles, he spent two years working as a set builder before transitioning fully into acting.
In addition to his work as an actor and director, Dale is the CEO of 20K, a development and production company focused on creating inclusive, forward-looking content with a strong emphasis on Asian voices both in front of and behind the camera.
Dale splits his time between Hawaii and California with his wife and two children, and outside of his work in entertainment, he channels his creativity into designing and building custom furniture.