Edmund Purdom


Edmund Anthony Cutlar Purdom was an English actor, voice artist, and director. He worked first on stage in Britain, performing various works by Shakespeare, then later in America on Broadway, until making his way to Hollywood, and eventually spent the remainder of his life appearing in Italian cinema. He is perhaps best known for his starring role in 1954's historical epic The Egyptian. By taking over important roles exited by Mario Lanza and Marlon Brando, Purdom was known by the mid-1950s as "The Replacement Star". Between the 1970s and 90s, he was a regular in European genre cinema, working with directors like Juan Piquer Simón, Joe D'Amato, Sergio Martino, Ruggero Deodato
His daughter Lilan Purdom became a journalist for French TV Channel TF1. She is the author of the book Hollywood Garage, which relates the tumultuous career of her father. The book is published in English and in French.

Early life

Purdom was born in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, England and educated at St. Augustine's Abbey School, Ramsgate, Kent, then by the Jesuits at St. Ignatius Grammar School and Welwyn Garden City Grammar School.

Career

He began his acting career in 1946 by joining the Northampton Repertory Company, appearing in productions which included Romeo and Juliet and Molière's The Imaginary Invalid. Followed by two years of military service where he joined the Army's Central Pool of Artists. He then joined the Royal Shakespeare Theatre at Stratford-upon-Avon for two seasons. He was seen by Laurence Olivier who offered Purdom a chance to tour in the US.

USA

In 1951–52, Purdom appeared in small roles with the Laurence Olivier/Vivien Leigh company on Broadway in Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra and Shaw's Caesar and Cleopatra. His good looks brought him to the attention of Hollywood. Warner Bros wanted to test him and offered him $600 advance to come to Hollywood. He did a screen test directed by Michael Curtiz from a scene from Force of Arms but Warners was not interested. Because Purdom had left his play he did not have the fare to return to Britain so he decided to stay in 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 tested him for a role in My Cousin Rachel. MGM offered him a small role in Rhapsody, which he turned down to work at Warner Bros., but Warners lost interest in him.
"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 at MGM. George Cukor recommended him to Charles Brackett for the small role of Charles Lightoller in Titanic. 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. Lilian Burns suggested Purdom for the part, and he did a successful test directed by George Sidney. He was cast opposite Ann Blyth. The film was directed by Richard Thorpe. Purdom lip-synched to Lanza's singing voice.

''The Egyptian''

Advance word on The Student Prince was promising, and when 20th Century Fox needed an actor at the last minute to replace Marlon Brando as the title character in The Egyptian, their most lavish production of 1954, Purdom was cast. He was chosen over John Derek, John Cassavetes and Cameron Mitchell.
MGM's head of production Dore Schary announced they would build up Purdom as a star. He was cast in three films: another MGM musical, Athena; the title role in the biblical epic The Prodigal, MGM's most lavish production of 1955, opposite Lana Turner; and the swashbuckler The King's Thief, in a role originally meant for Stewart Granger. 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 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 leading to him divorcing his first wife. The split was bitter and public, his wife later suing him for child support. Purdom argued for a reduction in child support, as he no longer had his MGM contract worth $40,000 a 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 but did not appear in the final film.
For Allied Artists, Purdom made Strange Intruder with Ida Lupino. In 1957 he remarried, to 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 Wings of the Dove, for Jed Harris. Brooks Atkinson of the New York Times said Purdom "plays the part of the faithless suitor like a cultivated gentleman but his style is heavy." The play did not enjoy a long run.
He went into television, starring as Marco del Monte in Sword of Freedom , a swashbuckler made for ITC Entertainment in Italy.

Europe

Purdom stayed on in Italy, where the film industry was booming. His films included Herod the Great, The Cossacks, The Loves of Salammbo, Suleiman the Conqueror and Nefertiti, Queen of the Nile. He also occasionally worked in England on such films as Malaga and The Comedy Man.
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." Hedda Hopper 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 eventually 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 for many years.
He also had roles in TV movies and miniseries, such as ' and The Winds of War. In 1984, he directed his first and only film, Don't Open till Christmas.
He was also very active as a music recording engineer, including work on the soundtracks of such films as ', as well as many classical concerts in Florence and Vienna. He is also credited for devising a technique transferring monaural sound to stereo.
He narrated a popular short documentary on the life of Padre Pio. He also narrated the Christian documentary, 7 Signs of Christ's Return.
Purdom died from heart failure on 1 January 2009, in Rome.

Personal life

Purdom was married four times and divorced three times. His first three wives, all divorced, were:
In 2000 he married his fourth wife, the photographer Vivienne Purdom. His daughter Lilan Purdom became a journalist with the French television channel TF1.

Selected filmography