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Noel Purcell

Noel Purcell

Actor · Died March 3, 1985, aged 84 · Dublin, Ireland

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 mother's 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 Dublin's Gaiety Theatre. Later, he toured Ireland in a vaudeville act with Jimmy O'Dea. 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 Ahab's crew in Moby Dick (1956), Dan O'Flaherty 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 Milestone's Mutiny on the Bounty. He played a taciturn Irish in-law to Lebanese American entertainer Danny Thomas's character Danny Williams in a 1963 episode of The Danny Thomas Show. In 1971, he played the caring rabbi in the children's 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 don't 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, who'd written it. No contract or anything, so I never got a fee or any payments." In 1981 (on YouTube it's 1974) he recorded a spoken word version of Pete St. John's "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.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
December 23, 1900
Died
March 3, 1985 (aged 84)
From
Dublin, Ireland
Works as
Actor
Titles
29 on MovieCove · 62 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 9% in 30 days

What are Noel Purcell's films like?

Across their 16 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Comedy7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 45th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Adventure3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 84th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 53rd percentile
: browse their Action movies
Drama2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 66th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
33%
Morality
20%
Power
16%
Self
12%
Society
8%
Survival
7%
Ideas
3%
Romantic love7 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFreedom3 titles, browse their movies with this themeObsession2 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption2 titles, browse their movies with this themeClass2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 16 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 9 · Serious 3 · Dark 4

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 8 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 3

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 6 · Charged 4 · Intense 6

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 7 · Shifting 5 · Whiplash 4

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 6 · Some laughs 5 · Funny 5

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

A split, not a type: Slow burn 9 · Even-paced 7 · Relentless 0

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 8 · Engaged 8 · Full focus 0

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 7 · Affecting 5 · Heavy 4

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 13 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

4 analyzed roles

Usually the Mentor: 2 of 4 analyzed roles.

Mentor
2 of 4
Hero
1 of 4
Threshold guardian
1 of 4

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
8
Joyful
6
Melancholic
5
Warm
4
Romantic
4
Other
14

How their films linger

Feel-good8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy8
  • Bittersweet3
  • Tragic5

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Noel Purcell's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 15 of their 29 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (9).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Noel Purcell's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

62 credits, 29 with a MovieCove page.

  • The Irish R.M. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The MacKintosh Man(1973)

    as O'Donovan

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Onedin Line (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Hennessy

  • Flight of the Doves (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Rabbi

  • The McKenzie Break(1970)

    as Ferry Captain

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Never Say Die (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 6 episodes · as Mr. Finucane

  • Where's Jack? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Leatherchest

  • Sinful Davey(1969)

    as Jock

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • The Violent Enemy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as John Michael Leary

  • Arrivederci, Baby!(1966)

    as Capt. Daniel O'Flannery

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Carnaby, M.D.(1966)

    as O'Malley

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Lord Jim(1965)

    as Captain Chester

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • The Ceremony(1963)

    as Finigan

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • The Running Man(1963)

    as Miles Bleeker

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • The Iron Maiden (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    as Admiral Sir Digby Trevelyan

  • The List of Adrian Messenger(1963)

    as Countryman (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Nurse on Wheels (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    as Abel Worthy

  • Mutiny on the Bounty(1962)

    as Seaman William McCoy

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • The Saint (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 1 episode · as Brendan Cullin · as Mike Kelly

  • Three Spare Wives (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Sir Hubert

  • Johnny Nobody (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Brother Timothy

  • Double Bunk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as O'Malley

  • The Avengers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · as Jonah Barnard

  • No Kidding (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    as Tandy

  • Man in the Moon(1960)

    as Prosecutor

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • The Millionairess(1960)

    as Professor Merton

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Watch Your Stern (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    as Adm. Sir Humphrey Pettigrew

  • Make Mine Mink (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    as Burglar

  • The Night Fighters(1960)

    as Father Sheehy (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Tommy the Toreador (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Captain

  • Ferry to Hong Kong(1959)

    as Joe Skinner

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Shake Hands with the Devil(1959)

    as Liam O'Sullivan

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Rockets Galore (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as Father James

  • The Key(1958)

    as Hotel Clerk

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Merry Andrew(1958)

    as Matthew Larabee

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Rooney (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as Tim Hennessy

  • The Rising of the Moon(1957)

    as Dan O'Flaherty (segment 'The Majesty of the Law')

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Doctor at Large (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Padre

  • The Buccaneers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · as Pat

  • Lust for Life(1956)

    as Anton Mauve

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • The Adventures of Sir Lancelot(1956)

    Show 1 episode · as Liam

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

  • Moby Dick(1956)

    as Ship's Carpenter

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Jacqueline(1956)

    as Mr. Owen, the Parson

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Doctor at Sea(1955)

    as Corble

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Mad About Men (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    as Percy

  • Svengali (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    as Patrick O'Farrell

  • The Seekers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    as Paddy Clarke

  • Doctor in the House(1954)

    as Padre (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Grand National Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Philip Balfour

  • Decameron Nights(1953)

    as Father Francisco

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • The Pickwick Papers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Roker

  • The Crimson Pirate(1952)

    as Pablo Murphy

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Father's Doing Fine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Shaughnessy

  • Appointment with Venus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Trawler Langley

  • Encore(1951)

    as Tom, Captain

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Talk of a Million (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Matty McGrath

  • No Resting Place (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Guard Mannigan

  • Saints and Sinners (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Flaherty

  • The Blue Lagoon(1949)

    as Paddy Button

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Captain Boycott (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Daniel McGinty

  • Odd Man Out(1947)

    as Tram Conductor (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Ireland's Border Line (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Garda Sergeant Hogan

Career shape

Star power in the 93rd percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 62 titles from 1938 to 1983; peak year 1962.

Biggest box office

The Crimson Pirate (1952)

$8K worldwide

Highest rated

Moby Dick (1956)

Midcredits 90th

Film career

19381983

Peak 1962 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting62 of 62: 62 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score62nd

By decade

1930s1 · acting1940s4 · acting1950s28 · acting1960s23 · acting1970s5 · acting1980s1 · acting

Billing

usually 12th · top billed in 0% of 16 roles
4757

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Noel Purcell's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 63rd percentile, the median of all 28; across their 16 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 62nd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

62ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Approval · how many liked their films

66thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Reach · how many have seen their films

51stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Midcredits score across 29 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up6
  • 50th to 74th12
  • 25th to 49th6
  • Below 25th5

Shape of the crowd

16 of their 29 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Crowd Pleaser16
  • Broadly Agreed9
  • Mixed3

Most divisive · actor

The Blue Lagoon (1949)

51st percentile spread · 16% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Odd Man Out (1947)

Midcredits 95th · 82% liked

Reviewers score the acting 70/100 in their films, across 16 reviewed titles; fans 78, detractors 46. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Noel Purcell's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 3 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Sex & Nudity3 titlesmedian 22 · mildMedian of all films: 32

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Noel Purcell work with?

People who share at least 2 of Noel Purcell's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Carol Reed shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles