Dick Purcell

Dick Purcell
Publicity photograph with Dick Purcell, Mantan Moreland, and Patricia Stacey in King of the Zombies (1941)
Born	Richard Gerald Purcell, Jr. (1908-08-06)August 6, 1908 Greenwich, Connecticut, U.S.
Died	April 10, 1944(1944-04-10) (aged 35) Hollywood, California, U.S.
Cause of death	Heart Attack
Nationality	American
Education	Fordham University
Occupation	Actor
Spouse(s)	Ethelind Terry (1942-1942) (divorced)

Richard Gerald "Dick" Purcell Jr. (August 6, 1908 – April 10, 1944) was an American actor best known for playing Marvel Comics' Captain America in the 1943 film serial, co-starring with Lorna Gray and Lionel Atwill. Purcell also appeared in films such as Tough Kid (1938), 'Accidents Will Happen' (1938), Heroes in Blue (1939), Irish Luck (1939) and King of the Zombies (1941),

Purcell was born in Greenwich, Connecticut. An only child, he attended Catholic grade school and high school, before enrolling as a student at Fordham University in The Bronx in New York City.

While in New York City, Dick Purcell began his acting career in theatre, appearing in at least three plays: Men in White, Sailor, Beware! and Paths of Glory. During his time acting in Paths of Glory, a talent scout spotted Purcell and this led to a small role in the film Ceiling Zero (1936). His next film was Man Hunt (1936), in which Purcell had a larger role as a newspaper reporter. Purcell appeared in eleven films in 1936 alone.

Captain America (1944) is a Republic serial film loosely based on the comic book character Captain America. It was the last Republic serial made about a superhero. It also has the distinction of being the most expensive serial that Republic ever made.