- Often cast in films where most of the action takes place in the ocean.
- Originally cast as King David in the Biblical epic Solomon and Sheba (1959), opposite Tyrone Power and George Sanders. After Power died in mid-production and was replaced by Yul Brynner, Purcell was not available to re-shoot his scenes and was replaced in the role of David by Finlay Currie.
- Noel Purcell Walk, a road built near to his birthplace in the City of Dublin, was officially opened by the Lord Mayor of Dublin and Eileen Purcell, widow of the actor, in 1991.
- Purcell was conferred with the Freedom of the City of Dublin in June 1984. To-date (April 2010) only seventy four people have received this award.
- Got his first job at the age of 12, when he was hired as a stage hand by Dublin's Gaiety Theatre. Subsequently worked as a carpenter on stage design, which led to further interest in the acting profession.
- Father of Patrick, Michael Purcell and Glynn Purcell.
- Lost the tip of his right index finger while making cigarette vending machines -- a feature that was used as element of a sailor's physicality in his role in Mutiny on the Bounty (1962).
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