Purcell studied at The Australian Theatre for Young People and then later enrolled at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, where he studied alongside fellow actor hopeful, Hugh Jackman. In 1997, Purcell landed his first major role in an Australian television series called “Raw FM”, a Generation-X drama set at a radio station. The exposure he received from “Raw-FM” helped Purcell land other television gigs, but his real big break came in 2000, when he was cast in a small role in John Woo’s blockbuster hit “Mission: Impossible 2” starring Tom Cruise. While Purcell’s role in “M:I2” was not a particularly meaty one, the film did set the actor’s career on the right path and was significant enough to garner him the attention of American casting directors, who took notice of the actor’s brooding good looks and strong, able delivery.
Upon moving to Los Angeles, Purcell got his next big break – this time, playing the lead in the short-lived American series, “John Doe” (CBS, 2002). In it, Purcell played a mysterious man who emerges from a deserted island, possessing an encyclopedic knowledge of all things - yet with no memory of what his own name is (hence, the show’s title). Set in Seattle, the series featured Purcell’s character working with police each week, helping them solve bizarre crimes, all the while, continuing on his own quest to discover his true identity. Despite an intriguing premise and initial cult popularity, however, “John Doe” was dropped from the CBS line-up after just one season.
Following “John Doe”’s untimely cancellation, Purcell continued working in features, turning up most notably in 2004’s “Blade: Trinity” (also known as “Blade 3”.) In that film, Purcell played Drake, a modern-day reincarnation of the legendary vampire lord, Dracula. This time, however, Purcell’s performance fall a bit flat, thanks in part to a poor script and a derivative storyline. To no one’s surprise, this lackluster final installment in the “Blade” series performed only modestly at the box office, plunging a stake into the heart of the franchise – at least, for the time being. Purcell re-emerged in 2005 no worse for wear, this time cast in the highly anticipated Fox drama, “Prison Break” (2005 - ). In it, Purcell played Lincoln Burrows, a wrongly accused death-row inmate whose younger brother (Wentworth Miller) has also been incarcerated in the same facility. One of the most hyped new shows of the 2005-06 season, “Prison Break” premiered to strong critical praise and highly respectable ratings.