Edmund Anthony Cutlar Purdom (19 December 19241 January 2009) was an English actor,

voice artist Voice acting is the art of performing voice-overs to present a character or provide information to an audience. Performers are called voice actors/actresses, voice artists, dubbing artists, voice talent, voice-over artists, or voice-over talent ...

, and director. He worked first on stage in Britain, performing various works by

Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...

, then in America on Broadway and in Hollywood, and eventually in Italy. He is perhaps best known for his starring role in 1954's historical epic ''

The Egyptian ''The Egyptian'' (''Sinuhe egyptiläinen'', Sinuhe the Egyptian) is a historical novel by Mika Waltari. It was first published in Finnish in 1945, and in an abridged English translation by Naomi Walford in 1949, from Swedish rather than Finnish ...

''. By taking over important roles exited by

Mario Lanza Mario Lanza (, ; born Alfredo Arnold Cocozza ; January 31, 1921 – October 7, 1959) was an American tenor and actor. He was a Hollywood film star popular in the late 1940s and the 1950s. Lanza began studying to be a professional singer at ...

and

Marlon Brando Marlon Brando Jr. (April 3, 1924 – July 1, 2004) was an American actor. Considered one of the most influential actors of the 20th century, he received numerous accolades throughout his career, which spanned six decades, including two Academ ...

, Purdom was known by the mid-1950s as "The Replacement Star". After the failure of his Hollywood career, Purdom returned briefly to the United Kingdom and then settled in Italy, where he spent the remainder of his life appearing in local films. Between the 1970s and 1990s, he was a regular in European genre cinema, working with directors like

Juan Piquer Simón Juan Piquer Simón (16 February, 1935 – 8 January, 2011) was a Spanish film director best known for directing two cult classic horror film, horror exploitation film, exploitation films, ''Pieces (1982 film), Pieces'' (1982) and ''Slugs (1988 f ...

Joe D'Amato Aristide Massaccesi (15 December 1936 – 23 January 1999), known professionally as Joe D'Amato, was an Italian film director, producer, cinematographer, and screenwriter who worked in many genres (westerns, decamerotici, peplum, war films, ...

Sergio Martino Sergio Martino (born 19 July 1938) is an Italian film director and producer, notable for his contributions to the giallo genre. Martino is the brother of the late producer Luciano Martino (who died in 2013). They collaborated frequently in their ...

and

Ruggero Deodato Ruggero Deodato (born 7 May 1939) is an Italian film director, screenwriter, and sometime actor. His career has spanned a wide-range of genres including peplum, comedy, drama, poliziottesco and science fiction, yet he is perhaps best known fo ...

. His daughter, Lilan Purdom, became a journalist for French TV Channel TF1. She is the author of the book ''Hollywood Garage'', about her father's career.

Early life

Edmund Purdom was born in

Welwyn Garden City Welwyn Garden City ( ) is a town in Hertfordshire, England, north of London. It was the second garden city in England (founded 1920) and one of the first new towns (designated 1948). It is unique in being both a garden city and a new town and ...

, Hertfordshire, the youngest of four children of Charles Benjamin Purdom, a London drama critic, and his wife, Lilian Antonia ( Cutlar). Raised Catholic, Purdom was educated by

Jesuits The Society of Jesus ( la, Societas Iesu; abbreviation: SJ), also known as the Jesuits (; la, Iesuitæ), is a religious order (Catholic), religious order of clerics regular of pontifical right for men in the Catholic Church headquartered in Rom ...

at St Ignatius College, Enfield, and, later, by Benedictines at

Downside School Downside School is a co-educational Catholic independent boarding and day school in the English public school tradition for pupils aged 11 to 18. It is located between Bath, Frome, Wells and Bruton, and is attached to Downside Abbey. Originall ...

Career

He began his acting career in 1946 by joining the Northampton Repertory Company, appearing in productions that included ''

Romeo and Juliet ''Romeo and Juliet'' is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare early in his career about the romance between two Italian youths from feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular plays during his lifetim ...

'' and

Molière Jean-Baptiste Poquelin (, ; 15 January 1622 (baptised) – 17 February 1673), known by his stage name Molière (, , ), was a French playwright, actor, and poet, widely regarded as one of the greatest writers in the French language and world ...

's ''

The Imaginary Invalid ''The Imaginary Invalid'', ''The Hypochondriac'', or ''The Would-Be Invalid'' ( French title ''Le Malade imaginaire'', ) is a three- act ''comédie-ballet'' by the French playwright Molière with dance sequences and musical interludes (H.495, H. ...

''. After two years of military service where he joined the Army's Central Pool of Artists, he joined the

Royal Shakespeare Theatre The Royal Shakespeare Theatre (RST) (originally called the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre) is a grade II* listed 1,040+ seat thrust stage theatre owned by the Royal Shakespeare Company dedicated to the English playwright and poet William Shakespe ...

at Stratford-upon-Avon for two seasons.

Laurence Olivier Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier (; 22 May 1907 – 11 July 1989) was an English actor and director who, along with his contemporaries Ralph Richardson and John Gielgud, was one of a trio of male actors who dominated the Theatre of the U ...

saw Purdom and offered him a chance to tour in the U.S.

United States

In 1951–1952, Purdom appeared in small roles with the

Vivien Leigh Vivien Leigh ( ; 5 November 1913 – 8 July 1967; born Vivian Mary Hartley), styled as Lady Olivier after 1947, was a British actress. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress twice, for her definitive performances as Scarlett O'Hara in ''Gon ...

company on Broadway in

's ''

Antony and Cleopatra ''Antony and Cleopatra'' (First Folio title: ''The Tragedie of Anthonie, and Cleopatra'') is a tragedy by William Shakespeare. The play was first performed, by the King's Men, at either the Blackfriars Theatre or the Globe Theatre in around ...

'' and Shaw's '' Caesar and Cleopatra''. His good looks brought him to the attention of Hollywood. Universal tested him for the part of the leading girl's brother in '' The Mississippi Gambler'' but decided he was too British.

20th Century Fox 20th Century Studios, Inc. (previously known as 20th Century Fox) is an American film production company headquartered at the Fox Studio Lot in the Century City area of Los Angeles. As of 2019, it serves as a film production arm of Walt Dis ...

tested him for a role in ''

My Cousin Rachel ''My Cousin Rachel'' is a Gothic novel written by English author Daphne du Maurier, published in 1951. Bearing thematic similarities to her earlier and more famous novel '' Rebecca'', it is a mystery-romance, set primarily on a large estate in ...

''. MGM offered him a small role in ''

Rhapsody Rhapsody may refer to: * A work of epic poetry, or part of one, that is suitable for recitation at one time ** Rhapsode, a classical Greek professional performer of epic poetry Computer software * Rhapsody (online music service), an online m ...

'', which he turned down. He made a screen test at Warner Brothers, directed by

Michael Curtiz Michael Curtiz ( ; born Manó Kaminer; since 1905 Mihály Kertész; hu, Kertész Mihály; December 24, 1886 April 10, 1962) was a Hungarian-American film director, recognized as one of the most prolific directors in history. He directed cla ...

, from a scene from ''

Force of Arms ''Force of Arms'' (reissued under the title ''A Girl for Joe'') is a 1951 romantic war drama film set in the Italian theater of World War II. It reteamed William Holden and Nancy Olson in the third of their four movies together (''Sunset Boul ...

'' but Warners were not interested. As Purdom had left his play, he did not have the fare to return to Britain, so he decided to stay in Hollywood. "I was so broke", Purdom recalled, "that I couldn't afford to pay the doctor's bill when my daughter was born. I had no money for bus fare. I had to walk from studio to studio looking for a job. Once we were evicted for not paying the rent."

MGM

He managed to get a small part in ''

Julius Caesar Gaius Julius Caesar (; ; 12 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC), was a Roman general and statesman. A member of the First Triumvirate, Caesar led the Roman armies in the Gallic Wars before defeating his political rival Pompey in a civil war, and ...

'' at MGM.

George Cukor George Dewey Cukor (; July 7, 1899 – January 24, 1983) was an American film director and film producer. He mainly concentrated on comedies and literary adaptations. His career flourished at RKO when David O. Selznick, the studio's Head of ...

recommended him to

Charles Brackett Charles William Brackett (November 26, 1892 – March 9, 1969) was an American screenwriter and film producer. He collaborated with Billy Wilder on sixteen films. Life and career Brackett was born in Saratoga Springs, New York, the son of ...

for the small role of

Charles Lightoller Charles Herbert Lightoller, (30 March 1874 – 8 December 1952) was a British mariner and naval officer. He was the second officer on board the and the most senior member of the crew to survive the ''Titanic'' disaster. As the officer in ch ...

in ''

Titanic RMS ''Titanic'' was a British passenger liner, operated by the White Star Line, which sank in the North Atlantic Ocean on 15 April 1912 after striking an iceberg during her maiden voyage from Southampton, England, to New York City, United ...

'' (1953). This brought Purdom to the attention of executives at MGM who signed him to a long-term contract.

''The Student Prince''

was fired from the lead role in a new version of ''

The Student Prince ''The Student Prince'' is an operetta in four acts with music by Sigmund Romberg and book and lyrics by Dorothy Donnelly. It is based on Wilhelm Meyer-Förster's play '' Old Heidelberg''. The piece has a score with some of Romberg's most enduri ...

'' (1954). Purdom was suggested for the part and he did a successful test, directed by

George Sidney George Sidney (October 4, 1916May 5, 2002) was an American film director and producer who worked primarily at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. His work includes cult classics ''Bye Bye Birdie'' (1963) and ''Viva Las Vegas'' (1964). With an extensive backgro ...

. He was cast opposite

Ann Blyth Ann Marie Blyth (born August 16, 1928) is an American retired actress and singer. For her performance as Veda in the 1945 Michael Curtiz film ''Mildred Pierce'', Blyth was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She is one of ...

. The film was directed by

Richard Thorpe Richard Thorpe (born Rollo Smolt Thorpe; February 24, 1896 – May 1, 1991) was an American film director best known for his long career at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Biography Born Rollo Smolt Thorpe in Hutchinson, Kansas, Richard Thorpe began his en ...

. Purdom lip-synched to Lanza's singing voice.

''The Egyptian''

Advance word on ''The Student Prince'' was promising, and when

needed an actor at the last minute to replace

as the title character in ''

'', its most lavish production of 1954, Purdom was cast over

John Derek John Derek (born Derek Delevan Harris; August 12, 1926 – May 22, 1998) was an American actor, director, screenwriter, producer and photographer.John Cassavetes John Nicholas Cassavetes ( ; December 9, 1929 – February 3, 1989) was an American actor, film director, and screenwriter. First known as a television and film actor, Cassavetes also helped pioneer American independent cinema, writing and dire ...

and Cameron Mitchell. MGM's head of production

Dore Schary Isadore "Dore" Schary (August 31, 1905 – July 7, 1980) was an American playwright, director, and producer for the stage and a prolific screenwriter and producer of motion pictures. He directed just one feature film, '' Act One'', the film bio ...

announced the studio would build up Purdom as a star. He was cast in three films: another MGM musical, ''

Athena Athena or Athene, often given the epithet Pallas, is an ancient Greek goddess associated with wisdom, warfare, and handicraft who was later syncretized with the Roman goddess Minerva. Athena was regarded as the patron and protectress of ...

''; the title role in the biblical epic ''

The Prodigal ''The Prodigal'' is a 1955 Eastmancolor biblical epic CinemaScope film made by MGM starring Lana Turner and Edmund Purdom. It was based on the New Testament parable about a selfish son who leaves his family to pursue a life of pleasure. The f ...

'', MGM's most lavish production of 1955, opposite

Lana Turner Lana Turner ( ; born Julia Jean Turner; February 8, 1921June 29, 1995) was an American actress. Over the course of her nearly 50-year career, she achieved fame as both a pin-up model and a film actress, as well as for her highly publicized per ...

; and the swashbuckler ''

The King's Thief ''The King's Thief'' is a 1955 swashbuckling CinemaScope adventure film directed by Robert Z. Leonard, who replaced Hugo Fregonese during filming. Released on August 5, 1955, the film takes place in London at the time of Charles II and stars A ...

'' (1955), in a role originally meant for

Stewart Granger Stewart Granger (born James Lablache Stewart; 6 May 1913 – 16 August 1993) was a British film actor, mainly associated with heroic and romantic leading roles. He was a popular leading man from the 1940s to the early 1960s, rising to fame thr ...

. There was also some talk he would appear in the remake of ''Ben Hur''. ''The Student Prince'' was released and became a hit. Purdom was called "the most promising new star in Hollywood".

Hedda Hopper Hedda Hopper (born Elda Furry; May 2, 1885February 1, 1966) was an American gossip columnist and actress. At the height of her influence in the 1940s, her readership was 35 million. A strong supporter of the House Un-American Activities Committ ...

called Purdom "the most surprising and notable figure this year in Hollywood...a fine actor in the great romantic tradition."

Leaving MGM

Schary later wrote in his memoirs that "Lanza's recordings were the prime ingredient for the picture's success, and that success went to Purdom's head. He believed he was responsible for the happy result. He asked for a new contract. We denied it. He asked for a release. We granted it." Another contributing factor may have been that while ''The Student Prince'' had been a hit, ''The Egyptian'' was a box-office disappointment. ''Athena'', ''The Prodigal'' and ''The King's Thief'' were all flops. There was more bad publicity when he had an affair with

Linda Christian Linda Christian (born Blanca Rosa Henrietta Stella Welter Vorhauer; November 13, 1923 – July 22, 2011) was a Mexican film actress, who appeared in Mexican and Hollywood films. Her career reached its peak in the 1940s and 1950s. She played Mara ...

(when she was married to

Tyrone Power Tyrone Edmund Power III (May 5, 1914 – November 15, 1958) was an American actor. From the 1930s to the 1950s, Power appeared in dozens of films, often in swashbuckler roles or romantic leads. His better-known films include '' Jesse James'', ...

) leading to him divorcing his first wife. The split was bitter and public, and his wife later sued him for child support. Purdom argued for a reduction in child support because he no longer had his MGM contract worth $40,000 per year. He told the court he had renegotiated it in order to seek more money by freelancing and that he was in debt for $11,500. He said MGM had an option on his services for three films over three years. "It is my greatest desire to get back in front of the camera at the present time," he said. He was announced for ''

Loser Takes All ''Loser Takes All'' is a 1955 novella by British author Graham Greene. In his dedication Greene said he had not written "this little story" to encourage "adultery, the use of pyjama tops, or registry office weddings. Nor is it meant to discour ...

'' (1956) but did not appear in the final film. For Allied Artists, Purdom made '' Strange Intruder'' (1956) with

Ida Lupino Ida Lupino (4 February 1918Recorded in ''Births Mar 1918'' Camberwell Vol. 1d, p. 1019 (Free BMD). Transcribed as "Lupine" in the official births index – 3 August 1995) was an English-American actress, singer, director, writer, and producer. T ...

. In 1957, he married Alicia Darr, who later got in a brawl with Christian. He continued to be sued for debts by his ex-wife and his lawyers. Purdom returned to Broadway, appearing in ''Child of Fortune'', an adaptation of

Henry James Henry James ( – ) was an American-British author. He is regarded as a key transitional figure between literary realism and literary modernism, and is considered by many to be among the greatest novelists in the English language. He was the ...

's ''

The Wings of the Dove ''The Wings of the Dove'' is a 1902 novel by Henry James. It tells the story of Milly Theale, an American heiress stricken with a serious disease, and her effect on the people around her. Some of these people befriend Milly with honourable ...

'', for

Jed Harris Jed Harris (born Jacob Hirsch Horowitz; February 25, 1900 – November 15, 1979) was an Austrian-born American theatrical producer and director. His many successful Broadway productions in the 1920s and 1930s include ''Broadway (play), Broadway' ...

Brooks Atkinson Justin Brooks Atkinson (November 28, 1894 – January 14, 1984) was an American theatre critic. He worked for ''The New York Times'' from 1922 to 1960. In his obituary, the ''Times'' called him "the theater's most influential reviewer of his ...

of ''The New York Times'' stated Purdom "plays the part of the faithless suitor like a cultivated gentleman but his style is heavy." The play closed after 23 performances.

Europe

In 1958, Purdom went back to the UK, where he played the lead role in ''

Sword of Freedom ''Sword of Freedom'' was a 1958 drama adventure series for a family audience. Like several of its predecessors (most notably ''The Adventures of Robin Hood''), it was produced by Sapphire Films for ITC Entertainment and fitted into the same sw ...

'' (also known as ''Marco the Magnificent''), a swashbuckler television series made for

ITC Entertainment The Incorporated Television Company (ITC), or ITC Entertainment as it was referred to in the United States, was a British company involved in production and distribution of television programmes. History Incorporated Television Programme Compan ...

. He then went to

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...

, where the film industry was booming and there was a demand for English-speaking actors in order to ensure international distribution for the films. Purdom eventually settled permanently in Italy. His films included ''

Herod the Great Herod I (; ; grc-gre, ; c. 72 – 4 or 1 BCE), also known as Herod the Great, was a Roman Jewish client king of Judea, referred to as the Herodian kingdom. He is known for his colossal building projects throughout Judea, including his renov ...

'' (1959), '' The Cossacks'' (1960), ''

The Loves of Salammbo ''The Loves of Salammbo'' ( it, Salambò, french: Salammbô) is a 1960 historical drama directed by Sergio Grieco. It is loosely based on the novel ''Salammbô'' by Gustave Flaubert. Cast * Jacques Sernas: Mathos * Jeanne Valérie: Salammbò * ...

'' (1960), ''Suleiman the Conqueror'' (1961) and ''Nefertiti, Queen of the Nile'' (1961). He also occasionally worked in England on films such as '' Malaga'' (1960) and ''

The Comedy Man ''The Comedy Man'' is a 1964 British kitchen sink realism drama film directed by Alvin Rakoff and starring Kenneth More, Cecil Parker, Dennis Price and Billie Whitelaw. It depicts the life of a struggling actor in Swinging London. More later ...

'' (1964). In 1962, he said "I couldn't stand Hollywood. The people, their status, symbols and public image were too much. I walked out. Perhaps I should have been more patient."

wrote in response to this: "the truth is he did his best to become a star here, but he didn't make the grade – even with Mario Lanza's voice; but he did walk out on his wife and family and start gallivanting around with Linda Christian. I'll bet he'll come hopping back if anyone crooked a finger." He married Christian in 1962, but they divorced the following year. He continued to work extensively in Italian B-films, on television and as a

voice dubbing actor Dubbing (re-recording and mixing) is a post-production process used in filmmaking and video production, often in concert with sound design, in which additional or supplementary recordings are lip-synced and "mixed" with original production sou ...

for many years (recording dialogue translated from Italian into English for sales of Italian films in English-speaking countries). He had roles in TV movies and miniseries, such as '' Sophia Loren: Her Own Story'' (as

Vittorio De Sica Vittorio De Sica ( , ; 7 July 1901 – 13 November 1974) was an Italian film director and actor, a leading figure in the neorealist movement. Four of the films he directed won Academy Awards: ''Sciuscià'' and ''Bicycle Thieves'' (honorary) ...

) and ''

The Winds of War ''The Winds of War'' is Herman Wouk's second book about World War II (the first being ''The Caine Mutiny''). Published in 1971, ''The Winds of War'' was followed up seven years later by ''War and Remembrance''; originally conceived as one volume, ...

''. In 1984, he came back to his native country to direct the horror film ''

Don't Open till Christmas ''Don't Open Till Christmas'' is a 1984 British slasher film directed by Edmund Purdom, and starring Purdom, Alan Lake, Belinda Mayne, and Gerry Sundquist. Written by Derek Ford and Alan Birkinshaw, the film follows a mysterious killer murderi ...

''. He narrated a popular short documentary on the life of

Padre Pio Francesco Forgione, OFM Cap., better known as Padre Pio and as Saint Pius of Pietrelcina ( it, Pio da Pietrelcina; 25 May 188723 September 1968), was an Italian Franciscan Capuchin friar, priest, stigmatist, and mystic. He is venerated as a s ...

. He also narrated the 1997 documentary, ''7 Signs of Christ's Return''. His last role was in '' The Knights of the Quest'' (2001).

Death

Purdom died from heart failure on 1 January 2009 in Rome. He was survived by his fourth wife, Vivienne, a photographer, and his two daughters by his first wife.

Personal life

Purdom was married four times and divorced three times. * Anita "Tita" Phillips, the mother of his daughters, Lilan (born 11 October 1952) and Marina Ann (born 8 July 1954); they married in a Catholic wedding at the

Brompton Oratory Brompton Oratory is a large neo-classical Roman Catholic church in the Knightsbridge area of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London. Its full name is the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, or as named in its Grade II* archite ...

in London on 5 January 1951 and divorced on 5 March 1956 * Alicia Darr ( Barbara Kopczyńska; married/divorced 1957) *

(married in 1962; divorced in 1963) * Vivienne Purdom, photographer (married from 2000 until his death in 2009)

Children

His elder daughter, Lilan Purdom, became a journalist with the French television channel TF1.Décès à Rome de l'acteur britannique Edmund Purdom
Lalibre.be (2 January 2009).

Selected filmography

*''

Goodyear Playhouse ''Goodyear Television Playhouse'' is an American anthology series that was telecast live on NBC from 1951 to 1957 during the first Golden Age of Television. Sponsored by Goodyear, Goodyear alternated sponsorship with Philco, and the ''Philco Tel ...

'' (1952, TV series) – episode "The Medea Cup" * ''

'' (1953) – Second Officer Lightoller (uncredited) * ''

'' (1953) – Strato * ''

'' (1954) – Prince Karl * ''

'' (1954) – Sinuhe * ''

'' (1954) – Adam Calhorn Shaw * ''

'' (1955) – Micah * ''

'' (1955) – Michael Dermott * '' Strange Intruder'' (1956) – Paul Quentin * '' Trapped in Tangier'' (1957) – John Milwood * ''

'' (1957–1958, TV series) – Marco del Monte * ''

'' (1959) – Erode / Herodes * ''

The Diary of Anne Frank ''The Diary of a Young Girl'', also known as ''The Diary of Anne Frank'', is a book of the writings from the Dutch-language diary kept by Anne Frank while she was in hiding for two years with her family during the Nazi occupation of the Netherl ...

'' (1959) – British Radio Announcer (voice, uncredited) * ''

Tales of the Vikings ''Tales of the Vikings'' is an American first-run syndicated television series, first telecast on 8 September 1959 and ran through June 2, 1960. The series was produced by Kirk Douglas' production company, Brynaprod. Plot Set in tenth century Sca ...

'' (1959–1960, TV series) – Egil / King Lawrence * '' Moment of Danger'' (1960, aka ''Malaga'') – Peter Carran * '' The Cossacks'' (1960) – Shamil, the Sheik * ''

'' (1960) – Narr Havas * ''

The Night They Killed Rasputin ''The Night They Killed Rasputin'' ( it, L'ultimo zar, french: Les nuits de Raspoutine), also known as ''Nights of Rasputin'', is a 1960 Italian-French historical adventure film co-written and directed by Pierre Chenal, and starring Edmund Pur ...

'' (1960) – Rasputin * ''

Fury of the Pagans ''Fury of the Pagans'' ( it, La furia dei barbari, also known as ''The Fury of the Barbarians'' and ''Toryok''), is a 1960 Italian adventure film directed by Guido Malatesta. Cast * Edmund Purdom: Toryok * Rossana Podestà: Leonora * Livi ...

'' (1960) – Toryok * ''

Big Request Concert ''Big Request Concert'' (german: Das große Wunschkonzert) is a 1960 Austrian family film directed by Arthur Maria Rabenalt. It was entered into the 2nd Moscow International Film Festival The 2nd Moscow International Film Festival was held f ...

'' (1960) – Harry Mell * '' The Last of the Vikings'' (1961) – King Sveno * '' La Fayette'' (1961) – Silas Deane * ''Nefertiti, Queen of the Nile'' (1961) – Tumos, Scultore * ''

White Slave Ship ''White Slave Ship'' is a 1961 film directed by Silvio Amadio and starring Pier Angeli and Edmund Purdom. Titled ''L'ammutinamento'' on its original Italian release, it was released in the United States in 1962.The Last Ride to Santa Cruz ''The Last Ride to Santa Cruz'' (german: Der Letzte Ritt nach Santa Cruz) is a 1964 West German-Austrian Western film directed by Rolf Olsen and starring Edmund Purdom, Mario Adorf, and Marianne Koch. The film was shot at the Spandau Studios, ...

'' (1964) – Rex Kelly * ''

The Beauty Jungle ''The Beauty Jungle'' (also known as Contest Girl) is a 1964 British film directed by Val Guest. Plot Shirley lives in Bristol. While on a seaside holiday at Butlins holiday camp a young typist Shirley Freeman ( Janette Scott) is persuaded by ...

'' (1964) – Rex Carrick * ''

'' (1964) – Julian Baxter * ''

The Yellow Rolls-Royce ''The Yellow Rolls-Royce'' is a 1964 British dramatic composite film written by Terence Rattigan, produced by Anatole de Grunwald, and directed by Anthony Asquith, the trio responsible for '' The V.I.P.s'' (1963). Apparently adapting an idea fr ...

'' (1964) – John Fane * ''

Heroes of Fort Worth ''Heroes of Fort Worth'' or ''Gli eroi di Fort Worth'' is a 1965 Italian Spaghetti Western film directed by Alberto De Martino. Story After the Civil War a band of Southerners with the aid of an Indian tribe, try to defeat a Union command whil ...

'' (1965) – Patterson * ''

The Man Who Laughs ''The Man Who Laughs'' (also published under the title ''By Order of the King'' from its subtitle in French) is a novel by Victor Hugo, originally published in April 1869 under the French title ''L'Homme qui rit''. It takes place in England beg ...

'' (1966) – Cesare * '' Sweden: Heaven and Hell'' (1968) – Narrator (English version) * ''

Blackie the Pirate ''Blackie the Pirate'' ( it, Il corsaro nero) is a 1971 comedy film with Terence Hill and Bud Spencer, unusual in that the popular team has little screen time together. Story In the late 17th century, Captain Blackie (Terence Hill) is a notoriou ...

'' (1971) – Viceroy * ''

The Fifth Cord ''The Fifth Cord'' (Italian: ''Giornata nera per l'ariete'', lit. "Black Day for Aries") is a 1971 Italian giallo film directed by Luigi Bazzoni. The film's Italian title reprises Dario Argento's practice of using animals in the titles of his th ...

'' (1971) – Edouard Vermont * '' Lucifera: Demon Lover'' (1972) – Gunther * ''

Il Boss ''Il Boss'' (En. ''The Boss'', also known as ''Murder Inferno'') is a poliziottesco- noir film written and directed by Fernando Di Leo in 1973. It is the final part of Di Leo's ''Milieu Trilogy'', also consisting of '' Milano calibro 9'' and ''La ...

'' (1973) – Avvocato Rizzo (English version, voice, uncredited) * '' The Big Family'' (1973) – Giovanni Lutture * ''

High Crime ''High Crime'' ( it, La polizia incrimina la legge assolve, es, La policía detiene, la ley juzga) is a 1973 Italian-Spanish ''poliziottesco'' film directed by Enzo G. Castellari. The film stars Franco Nero, James Whitmore, Delia Boccardo and ...

'' (1973) – Franco (English version, voice, uncredited) * '' Frankenstein's Castle of Freaks'' (1974) – Prefect * ''

The Perfume of the Lady in Black ''The Perfume of the Lady in Black'' ( it, Il profumo della signora in nero) is a 1974 giallo-horror film directed by Francesco Barilli. The film had nothing to do with the similarly-titled novel by Gaston Leroux. Plot Silvia ( Mimsy Farmer) is ...

'' (1974) – Andy (English version, voice, uncredited) * ''

What Have They Done to Your Daughters? ''What Have They Done to Your Daughters?'' ( it, La polizia chiede aiuto , lit=The police ask for help) is a 1974 Italian ''giallo'' and ''poliziotteschi'' film directed by Massimo Dallamano. Plot Police officers investigated the death of 14-yea ...

'' (1974) – Prof. Beltrame (English version, voice, uncredited) * '' The Suspects'' (1974) – Le journaliste américain * '' The Cursed Medallion'' (1975) – Doctor * ''Povero Cristo'' (1976) – Uomo in frac (man in tailcoat) * '' A Matter of Time'' (1976) – (uncredited) * ''

Mister Scarface ''Mister Scarface'' ( it, I padroni della città) is a 1976 '' noir'' -''action'' film directed by Fernando Di Leo and starring Jack Palance. Plot Tony (Harry Baer) is a mob loan collector who is unsatisfied with his position in life, and con ...

'' (1976) – Luigi Cherico * ''

The Concorde Affair ''Concorde Affaire '79'' ( it, Affare Concorde), also known as ''The Concorde Affair'', is a 1979 Italian action thriller directed by Ruggero Deodato and written by Ernesto Gastaldi and Renzo Genta. Released in the same year as '' The Concorde . ...

'' (1979) – Danker * ''Pensieri Morbosi'' (English title: ''Deep Thoughts'') (1980) - The Pianist * '' Absurd'' (1981) – Father * '' Pieces'' (1982) – The Dean * ''

Ator, the Fighting Eagle ''Ator, the Fighting Eagle'' ( it, Ator l'invincibile; translated: "Ator the Invincible") is a 1982 Italian adventure- fantasy film directed by Joe D'Amato, and the first film to feature the character Ator (played by Miles O'Keeffe). Plot As th ...

'' (1982) – Griba * '' Amok'' (1983) – Jaarsveld * ''

2019, After the Fall of New York ''2019, After the Fall of New York'', also known simply as ''After the Fall of New York'' ( it, 2019 - Dopo la caduta di New York) is a 1983 Italian science fiction film directed by Sergio Martino in both English language, English and Italian lang ...

'' (1983) – President of the Pan American Confederacy * '' Champagne in paradiso'' (1983) – Paola's Father * ''

'' (1984) – Inspector Ian Harris * ''

The Assisi Underground ''The Assisi Underground: The Priests Who Rescued Jews'' is a 1978 novel written by Alexander Ramati based on a true-life account, told by Father Rufino Niccacci, of events surrounding the Assisi Network, an effort to hide 300 Jews in the town of ...

'' (1985) – Cardinal Della Costa * '' Who Is Afraid of Dracula?'' (1985) – Count Dracula * ''

Don Bosco John Melchior Bosco ( it, Giovanni Melchiorre Bosco; pms, Gioann Melchior Bòsch; 16 August 181531 January 1888), popularly known as Don Bosco , was an Italian Catholic priest, educator, writer and saint of the 19th century. While working ...

'' (1988) – Urbano Rattazzi * '' The Rift'' (1990) – CEO Steensland * ''

Un orso chiamato Arturo ''Un orso chiamato Arturo'' (released in some international territories as ''A Bear Named Arthur'') is a 1992 Italian film directed by Sergio Martino. A spy comedy in both English and Italian, it starred George Segal as a successful film composer ...

'' (1992) * '' A Ray of Sun'' (1997) – voice of Renzo Rossellini * '' Titanic: The Legend Goes On'' (2001) – voice of Jeremy McFlannel * '' The Knights of the Quest'' (2001) – Hugh of Clarendon

Theatre credits

*''The Last of Mrs Cheyney'' (1950) *''Anthony and Cleopatra'' (1951) *''Caesar and Cleopatra'' (1951)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Purdom, Edmund 1924 births 2009 deaths English expatriates in Italy English male film actors English male stage actors English male voice actors People educated at Downside School People educated at St Ignatius' College, Enfield People from Welwyn Garden City Male Spaghetti Western actors Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer contract players Male actors from Hertfordshire Burials in the Protestant Cemetery, Rome British expatriate male actors in the United States 20th-century British Army personnel