Dick Purcell
Richard Gerold Purcell Jr. was an American actor best known for playing Marvel Comics' Captain America in the 1944 film serial, co-starring with Lorna Gray and Lionel Atwill. Purcell also appeared in films such as Tough Kid, Accidents Will Happen, Heroes in Blue, Irish Luck, The Bank Dick, and King of the Zombies.
Early life
Purcell was born in Greenwich, Connecticut in 1905. One of 5 children, he attended Catholic grade school and high school, before enrolling as a student at Fordham University in The Bronx in New York City.
Career
Purcell began his acting career on the stage in New York, appearing in at least three plays: Men in White, Sailor, Beware! and Paths of Glory. A talent scout saw Purcell's performance in Paths of Glory which led to a small role in the film Ceiling Zero. In his next film, Man Hunt, Purcell had a larger role as a newspaper reporter. Purcell appeared in eleven films in 1936 alone.
Purcell got the title role in the 1944 Republic serial film Captain America despite being somewhat overweight. The script was loosely based on the comic book character Captain America. The serial has Captain America, whose everyday identity is District Attorney Grant Gardner, thwarting the attempts of The Scarab, the villainous alter ego of museum curator Dr. Cyrus Maldor, to acquire a pair of super weapon devices, the "Dynamic Vibrator" and "Electronic Firebolt".
The serial, which would go on to be box office success, would be Republic's most expensive to make but also its last one about a superhero.
Personal life
Purcell eloped to Las Vegas with the actress Ethelind Terry. The two married on March 3, 1942, only to divorce on August 26, 1942.
Death
Shortly after he completed the Captain America film serial, and just before its general release, Purcell collapsed and died in the locker room of a Hollywood country club on 10 April 1944, shortly after playing a round of golf. His remains were interred at Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City. Film historian Raymond Stedman speculated that the strain of filming Captain America was too much for his heart.
Selected filmography
The Doorway to Hell - Minor Role The Strange Love of Molly Louvain - Jimmy's College Friend Ceiling Zero - SmileyFreshman Love - Radio Announcer Man Hunt - Skip McHenryBrides Are Like That - Dr. Randolph JenkinsSnowed Under - Bert Times Square Playboy - Wally CalhounThe Law in Her Hands - MartyBullets or Ballots - Ed Driscoll Public Enemy's Wife - LouieBengal Tiger - Nick DeLargoJailbreak - Ed SlaydenThe Case of the Velvet Claws - CrandalThe Captain's Kid - George ChesterKing of Hockey - Gabby DuganNavy Blues - Russell J. 'Rusty' GibbsMen in Exile - Jimmy CarmodyMelody for Two - Mel LynchDraegerman Courage - Trapped Draegerman Slim - TomPublic Wedding - Joe TaylorReported Missing - Paul WayneWine, Women and Horses - George MayhewAlcatraz Island - 'Harp' SantellMissing Witnesses - 'Bull' ReganDaredevil Drivers - Bill FosterOver the Wall - Ace ScanlonAccidents Will Happen - Jim FaberFlight into Nowhere - Bill KelloggAir Devils - Percy 'Slats' HarringtonMystery House - Lance O'LearyPenrod's Double Trouble - Tex BoydenValley of the Giants - CreelGarden of the Moon - Rick FultonBroadway Musketeers - Vincent 'Vince' MorrellNancy Drew... Detective - KeifferTough Kid - 'Red' MurphyBlackwell's Island - Terry WalshStreets of New York - T.P. 'Tap' KeenanIrish Luck - Steve LanahanHeroes in Blue - Terry MurphyOutside the Three-Mile Limit - Agent Melvin PierceNew Moon - AlexanderPrivate Affairs - Dick CartwrightArise, My Love - PinkThe Bank Dick - Mackley Q. GreeneFlight Command - Lieut. 'Stichy' PayneKing of the Zombies - James McCarthyTwo in a Taxi - Bill GrattonBullets for O'Hara - WicksFlying Blind - Bob FullerThe Pittsburgh Kid - Cliff HallidayNo Hands on the Clock - Red HarrisTorpedo Boat - Ralph AndrewsIn Old California - Joe DawsonI Live on Danger - Norm ThompsonThe Old Homestead - Scarf LenninPhantom Killer - Edward Arlington ClarkX Marks the Spot - Police Lt. William 'Bill' DeckerReveille with Beverly - Andy AdamsNo Place for a Lady - Rand BrookeIdaho - Duke SpringerAerial Gunner - Pvt. Lancelot 'Gadget' BlaineHigh Explosive - DaveMystery of the 13th Guest - Johnny SmithTimber Queen - Milt HolmesCaptain America - Grant Gardner / Captain America Trocadero - Spike Nelson Leave It to the Irish - Pat Burke