# David Purdham

David Purdham (born June 3, 1951) 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 (1991), My Girl 2 (1994), Coronado (2003), and Fracture (2007).
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 (1987), Babylon 5 (1997), Port Charles (2000), JAG (1997, 2001), The Young and the Restless (2006), General Hospital (2010–11), and more. He has also guest-starred in countless TV programs, such as the cult science fiction series, Alien Nation (1990) as Marc Guerin, reprising the role for the 1994 TV movie, Alien Nation: Dark Horizon; crime shows Matlock (1994), Diagnosis Murder (1997), Boston Legal (2005) and Perception (2015); and comedies Seinfeld (1996) and George Lopez (2004).
Purdham has also starred in several plays—a 1982 production of The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (1982), 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
| Year | Title | Role |
| 1984 | Lily in Love | Young Actor |
| 1991 | Defending Your Life | Peter |
| 1994 | My Girl 2 | Mr Owett |
| 1997 | Looking for Lola | Perry Monahan |
| 2003 | Shade | Detective |
| 2003 | Coronado | Ambassador Hurrie |
| 2007 | Because I Said So | Uncle Philip |
| 2007 | Fracture | Burt Wooton |
| 2018 | Dead Men | Caleb Riggs |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1980 | The Edge of Night | Bobby Burroughs | 3 episodes |
| 1981 | Nurse | Ben | Episode: Hear My Hands |
| 1981–85 | Ryan's Hope | Father Emmerich | 7 episodes |
| 1987 | Kate & Allie | Dennis | 3 episodes |
| 1987–88 | All My Children | Mort | 2 episodes |
| 1990 | Murphy Brown | Pete | Episode: On the Road Again |
| 1990 | Alien Nation | Marc Guerin | Episode: Green Eyes |
| 1992 | Picket Fences | Walden | Episode: The Green Bay Chopper |
| 1993 | Judgment Day: The John List Story | Gene Syfert | TV movie |
| 1993 | L.A. Law | Mr Pike | Episode: F.O.B |
| 1994 | Dead at 21 | Dr Aaron | Episode: Brain Salad |
| 1994 | Matlock | Bruce Parmelee | Episode: The Scandal |
| 1994 | Alien Nation: Dark Horizon | Marc Guerin | TV movie |
| 1995 | ER | Dr Kallis | Episode: House of Cards |
| 1995 | Naomi & Wynonna: Love Can Build a Bridge | Michael Ciminella | TV movie |
| 1996 | NYPD Blue | Dr Barkley | Episode: Auntie Maimed |
| 1996 | Seinfeld | Dr Resnick | Episode: The Package |
| 1996 | 7th Heaven | Bob Jackson | Episode: Now You See Me |
| 1997 | Sliders | Dr Bolivar | Episode: Murder Most Foul |
| 1997 | Beverly Hills, 90210 | Conway Holland | Episode: Jobbed |
| 1997 | Diagnosis Murder | Dr Greg Nordoff | Episode: A History of Murder |
| 1997 | Babylon 5 | Captain James | 3 episodes |
| 1997 | JAG | Captain Ray Hubbard | Episode: Against All Enemies |
| 1998 | Silk Stalkings | Leo Previn | Episode: Total Eclipse |
| 1998 | Air America | Ardell Huchenson | Episode: Rebound |
| 1998 | L.A. Doctors | Dr Rudman | Episode: Nate Expectations |
| 1999 | Santa and Pete | Rev. Bogart | TV movie |
| 1999 | It's Like, You Know... | Dr Mnumonroe | Episode: Memories of Me |
| 1999 | Nash Bridges | Bayard Eldon Whitaker | Episode: Kill Switch |
| 2000 | Chicago Hope | Dr Jules Forman | Episode: Letting Go |
| 2000 | The Practice | Attorney Matthew Stone | 3 episodes |
| 2000 | Port Charles | Martin Barrows | 6 episodes |
| 2001 | The X Files | Dr Lev | 2 episodes |
| 2001 | JAG | Captain Ray Hubbard | 2 episodes |
| 2002 | The Chronicle | Lionel Carson | Episode: The Stepford Cheerleaders |
| 2002 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Ray-Ray Varney's Lawyer | Episode: The Accused Is Entitled |
| 2003 | Crossing Jordan | Anthony Winton | Episode: Cruel & Unusual |
| 2004 | George Lopez | Father Rick | Episode: God Needles George |
| 2004 | Joan of Arcadia | Doctor at vending machine | Episode: Jump |
| 2005 | Monk | Lyle Peck | Episode: Mr Monk and the Red Herring |
| 2005 | Boston Legal | Judge William Connolly | Episode: It Girls and Beyond |
| 2006 | The Young and the Restless | Dr Campbell | 15 episodes |
| 2007 | The Unit | Mr Green | Episode: Two Coins |
| 2009 | House M.D. | Chef Anthony | Episode: The Greater Good |
| 2009 | The Closer | Mr Evans | Episode: Power of Attorney |
| 2009 | Without a Trace | Dr Ken Buford | Episode: Labyrinths |
| 2010 | Rizzoli & Isles | Senator Sam Conway | Episode: See One, Do One, Teacher One |
| 2010–11 | General Hospital | Agent Bates | 8 episodes |
| 2011 | Harry's Law | Judge Horatio Smithers | Episode: Innocent Man |
| 2015 | Perception | Walter Bosworth | Episode: Meat |
| 2015 | Mistresses | Frank | Episode: Back to the Start |