Patrick Joseph Noel Purcell (23 December 1900 – 3 March 1985) was a distinguished Irish actor on stage, screen, and television. He appeared in the 1956 film Moby Dick and the 1962 film Mutiny on the Bounty.Patrick Joseph Noel Purcell was the son of Dublin auctioneer Pierce Purcell and his second wife Catherine (née Hoban), an antique dealer. He was born at 11a, Lower Mercer Street, one of two houses owned by his mothers family.Purcell was educated at Synge Street CBS. He lost the tip of his right index finger while making cigarette vending machines, and was also missing his entire left index finger due to a different accident while he was an apprentice carpenter, a feature which he exploited for dramatic effect in the film Mutiny on the Bounty (1962).Purcell began his show business career at the age of 12 in Dublins Gaiety Theatre. Later, he toured Ireland in a vaudeville act with Jimmy ODea. Stage-trained in the classics in Dublin, Purcell moved into films in 1934. He appeared in Captain Boycott (1947) and as the elderly sailor whose death marooned the lovers-to-be in the first sound film version of The Blue Lagoon (1949). He played a member of Captain Ahabs crew in Moby Dick (1956), Dan OFlaherty in episode one, The Majesty of the Law, of The Rising of the Moon (1957), a gamekeeper in The List of Adrian Messenger (1963), and a barman in The Mackintosh Man (1973); the last two films were directed by John Huston. In 1955, he was an off-and-on regular on the British filmed TV series The Buccaneers (released to American TV in 1956). He narrated a Hibernian documentary, Seven Wonders of Ireland (1959). In 1962, he portrayed the lusty William McCoy in Lewis Milestones Mutiny on the Bounty. He played a taciturn Irish in-law to Lebanese American entertainer Danny Thomass character Danny Williams in a 1963 episode of The Danny Thomas Show. In 1971, he played the caring rabbi in the childrens musical drama Flight of the Doves. He was the subject of This Is Your Life in 1958 when he was surprised by Eamonn Andrews at the BBC Television Theatre. Purcell also gained some recognition as a singer. Shortly after the Second World War, songwriter Leo Maguire composed The Dublin Saunter for him. He performed the song live for many years and later recorded it for the Glenside label. However, the recording was not a hit. As Purcell recalled many years later, I dont think one person in the world bought it. However, over time it became one of the most favorite songs about Dublin, receiving countless air plays on radio programs. In his later years, Purcell was asked by RTÉ journalist Colm Connolly whether he had received many royalties down the years. Purcell replied Not a penny. I recorded it as a favor for a pal, Leo Maguire, whod written it. No contract or anything, so I never got a fee or any payments.In 1981 (on YouTube its 1974) he recorded a spoken word version of Pete St. Johns Dublin in the Rare Old Times.In June 1984, Purcell was given the Freedom of the City of Dublin. Nine months later, he died in his native city at the age of 84.On 7 July 1941, Purcell married former child actress Eileen Marmion. They had four sons.
Professor Merton
Film 1960
Patrick O'Farrell
Film 1954
Seaman William McCoy
Film 1962
Corbie
Film 1955
Rabbi
Film 1971
Matthew Larabee
Film 1958
John Michael Leary
Film 1967
Prosecutor
Film 1960
Tandy
Film 1960
Joe Skinner
Film 1959
Adm. Sir Humphrey Pettigrew
Film 1960
Philip Balfour
Film 1953
Captain
Film 1959
Trawler Langley
Film 1951
Admiral Sir Digby Trevelyan
Film 1963
Garda Sergeant Hogan
Film 1938
Father James
Film 1958
Sir Hubert
Film 1962
Shaughnessy
Film 1952
Dan O'Flaherty (segment 'The Majesty of the Law')
Film 1957
Paddy Button
Film 1949
Mr. Owen, the Parson
Film 1956
Hotel Clerk
Film 1958
O'Malley
Film 1961
Capt. Daniel O'Flannery
Film 1966
Matty McGrath
Film 1951
Abel Worthy
Film 1963
Padre (uncredited)
Film 1954
Padre
Film 1957
Countryman (uncredited)
Film 1963
Leatherchest
Film 1969
Ferry Captain
Film 1970
Father Francisco
Film 1953
Brother Timothy
Film 1961
Tim Hennessy
Film 1958
Roker
Film 1952
Flaherty
Film 1949
Burglar
Film 1960
Guard Mannigan
Film 1951
Tram Conductor (uncredited)
Film 1947
Tv 1983
Tv 1970
Hennessy
Tv 1971
Jonah Barnard
Tv 1961