David Purdham


David Purdham is an American character actor who has appeared in approximately one hundred films, television series and theatre productions throughout his career.

Career

Purdham was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas. His first film role was in 1984, in Lily in Love. Other film credits include Defending Your Life, My Girl 2, Coronado, and Fracture.
Purdham has appeared in many television shows since 1980. He played Father Emmerich in the soap opera, Ryan's Hope, from 1981 to 1985, and from 1991 to 1992 he portrayed Fred Porter in the soap opera, One Life to Live. He has had recurring roles in Kate & Allie, Babylon 5, Port Charles, JAG, The Young and the Restless, General Hospital, and more. He has also guest-starred in countless TV programs, such as the cult science fiction series, Alien Nation as Marc Guerin, reprising the role for the 1994 TV movie, ; crime shows Matlock, Diagnosis Murder, Boston Legal and Perception ; and comedies Seinfeld and George Lopez.
Purdham has also starred in several plays—a 1982 production of The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, a 1991 production of Absent Friends, and a 1993 production of The Seagull.
Purdham's voice acting includes video games and audiobooks.

Partial filmography

Film
YearTitleRole
1984Lily in LoveYoung Actor
1991Defending Your LifePeter
1994My Girl 2Mr Owett
1997Looking for LolaPerry Monahan
2003ShadeDetective
2003CoronadoAmbassador Hurrie
2007Because I Said SoUncle Philip
2007FractureBurt Wooton
2018Dead MenCaleb Riggs

Television
YearTitleRoleNotes
1980The Edge of NightBobby Burroughs3 episodes
1981NurseBenEpisode: Hear My Hands
1981–85Ryan's HopeFather Emmerich7 episodes
1987Kate & AllieDennis3 episodes
1987–88All My ChildrenMort2 episodes
1990Murphy BrownPeteEpisode: On the Road Again
1990Alien NationMarc GuerinEpisode: Green Eyes
1992Picket FencesWaldenEpisode: The Green Bay Chopper
1993'Gene SyfertTV movie
1993L.A. LawMr PikeEpisode: F.O.B
1994Dead at 21Dr AaronEpisode: Brain Salad
1994MatlockBruce ParmeleeEpisode: The Scandal
1994'Marc GuerinTV movie
1995ERDr KallisEpisode: House of Cards
1995'Michael CiminellaTV movie
1996NYPD BlueDr BarkleyEpisode: Auntie Maimed
1996SeinfeldDr ResnickEpisode: The Package
19967th HeavenBob JacksonEpisode: Now You See Me
1997SlidersDr BolivarEpisode: Murder Most Foul
1997Beverly Hills, 90210Conway HollandEpisode: Jobbed
1997Diagnosis MurderDr Greg NordoffEpisode: A History of Murder
1997Babylon 5Captain James3 episodes
1997JAGCaptain Ray HubbardEpisode: Against All Enemies
1998Silk StalkingsLeo PrevinEpisode: Total Eclipse
1998Air AmericaArdell HuchensonEpisode: Rebound
1998L.A. DoctorsDr RudmanEpisode: Nate Expectations
1999Santa and PeteRev. BogartTV movie
1999It's Like, You Know...Dr MnumonroeEpisode: Memories of Me
1999Nash BridgesBayard Eldon WhitakerEpisode: Kill Switch
2000Chicago HopeDr Jules FormanEpisode: Letting Go
2000The PracticeAttorney Matthew Stone3 episodes
2000Port CharlesMartin Barrows6 episodes
2001The X FilesDr Lev2 episodes
2001JAGCaptain Ray Hubbard2 episodes
2002The ChronicleLionel CarsonEpisode: The Stepford Cheerleaders
2002'Ray-Ray Varney's LawyerEpisode: The Accused Is Entitled
2003Crossing JordanAnthony WintonEpisode: Cruel & Unusual
2004George LopezFather RickEpisode: God Needles George
2004Joan of ArcadiaDoctor at vending machineEpisode: Jump
2005MonkLyle PeckEpisode: Mr Monk and the Red Herring
2005Boston LegalJudge William ConnollyEpisode: It Girls and Beyond
2006The Young and the RestlessDr Campbell15 episodes
2007The UnitMr GreenEpisode: Two Coins
2009House M.D.Chef AnthonyEpisode: The Greater Good
2009The CloserMr EvansEpisode: Power of Attorney
2009Without a TraceDr Ken BufordEpisode: Labyrinths
2010Rizzoli & IslesSenator Sam ConwayEpisode: See One, Do One, Teacher One
2010–11General HospitalAgent Bates8 episodes
2011Harry's LawJudge Horatio SmithersEpisode: Innocent Man
2015PerceptionWalter BosworthEpisode: Meat
2015MistressesFrankEpisode: Back to the Start