Who Is Joseph Purcell? All About ‘Falling for My Bodyguard’ Star & Dominic Purcell’s Son
What To Know
- Joseph Purcell has become a breakout star in viral vertical romance dramas.
- His latest hit is CandyJar’s Falling for My Bodyguard.
- He is the son of actor Dominic Purcell.
You aren’t alone if smartphone-oriented, bite-sized romance shows have started taking over your TikTok. If you’ve fallen down the rabbit hole, you’ve likely seen one of Joseph Purcell’s works at this point. He’s become a go-to actor for CandyJar, one of the leading vertical drama producers. It’s behind Falling for My Bodyguard, Purcell’s latest viral work.
“I didn’t know what I was getting into, really,” Purcell told Variety in February 2026. “I had just heard of verticals, hadn’t even really seen them, and I did it, and I have been working with the same company ever since.”
Though he’s now following in the footsteps of his famous dad (more on that below), Purcell almost took a very different path. Keep reading for everything we know about the breakout vertical actor, including his family and all the other projects you can watch him in.
Who is Joseph Purcell?
The 26-year-old landed his vertical drama gig about a year ago. In February 2025, he sent in a self-submission video on Actors Access. “I had a friend in the space that was doing them,” Purcell explained to Variety. “He was getting paid; he was working as an actor. And that’s kind of a hard thing to do. It’s hard to be a working actor. And I tried it, and I got one.”
Purcell initially wanted to become a professional athlete, but he dropped out of community college to become an actor. Heath Ledger’s performance in The Dark Knight is what inspired him to take the leap.
“The interrogation scene came up,” the Australian-born, Los Angeles-based actor said. “I was floored by it for the first time.” After performing the scene for friends, “I was like, ‘OK, this is what I want to do.’ And I dropped out of school three months later.”
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What has Joseph Purcell been in before?
Purcell’s viral microdrama clips led to director Sarah Shephard casting him in his first non-vertical project and Tubi horror film, Glamping.
You can also watch him in CandyJar’s His Nerd, Rooming With the Devil, and Private Lessons. Purcell’s had a steady output since his first vertical dropped: On average, he films five to 10 scenes daily during a shoot. “If you’re lucky, you get a week, a couple days to prepare, and you’re just doing the best you can with what you have,” he told Variety.
Is Joseph Purcell related to Dominic Purcell?
Prison Break star Dominic Purcell is Joseph’s dad. His father’s career is also what pushed him in the direction of acting. “I was like, well, he can do it,” he reflected to Variety. “He has it. He had it inside of himself. And maybe it runs in the blood.”
The young actor also has a connection to Miley Cyrus. His dad married Cyrus’ mom, Tish Cyrus, in 2023.
