Actor
Son of an artist/critic; he attended Douai, St. Ignatius and Downside schools in England, UK.
Won the lead role in The Student Prince after Mario Lanza s weight gain forced him out of the part; won the lead role in The Egyptian after Marlon Brando turned it down in favor of playing Napoleon in Dsire .
He was long based in Rome.
He worked extensively as a voice dubbing actor for many years - dubbing numerous European (mostly Italian) films into English.
Began acting on stage in 1945.
Father of Lilan Purdom, a French television journalist.
Was typecast wearing togas in Hollywood costume dramas and European sword and sandal epics, from the time he appeared on Broadway in "Caesar and Cleopatra" and "Antony and Cleopatra", respectively in 1951 and 1952.
First acted in repertory theatre in 1945.
Former brother-in-law of Ariadna Welter. Former stepfather of Romina Power and Taryn Power.
Holds the distinction of being the only personality to have their hand/footprints removed from the TCL (formerly Graumans) Chinese Theater walkway. Purdom received the honor only six days after the premiere of The Egyptian , which was only his third credited film (the first two being Julius Caesar and The Student Prince ). Industry outcry was so great that his prints were swiftly removed, the space later occupied by the prints of Yul Brynner. Purdoms prints have since vanished, their whereabouts unknown to date.
