Der eingebildete Kranke
He began his acting career in 1946 by joining the Northampton Repertory Company, appearing in productions that included "Romeo and Juliet" and Molière's "The Imaginary Invalid". After two years of military service where he joined the Army's Central Pool of Artists, he joined the Royal Shakespeare Theatre at Stratford-upon-Avon for two seasons. Laurence Olivier saw Purdom and offered him a chance to tour in the U.S.