# Lee Purcell

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American actress (born 1947)

Lee Purcell Purcell in 2017 Born Lee Jeune Williams (1947-06-15) June 15, 1947 (age 79) Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, U.S.[1] Occupation Actress Years active 1969–present Spouses Robert Gibson ​ ​ (m. 1968; div. 1972)​ Kenneth Gerbino ​ ​ (m. 1975; div. 1981)​ Gary A. Lowe ​ ​ (m. 1982; div. 1995)​ Bob Dahlquist ​ (m. 2014)​ Website www.leepurcell.com

**Lee Purcell** (born **Lee Jeune Williams**; June 15, 1947)[2] is an American actress[3] who worked primarily in the 1970s and 1980s.

## Early life

Purcell was born Lee Jeune Williams at the [Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point](/source/Marine_Corps_Air_Station_Cherry_Point) (North Carolina), the elder daughter of Major Frank D. Williams Jr., a decorated Marine Corps pilot who was killed while on active duty when she was two months old.[4] Her mother, Lee ([née](/source/Birth_name#Maiden_and_married_names) McKnight) Williams, remarried, to Donald Purcell, a U.S. Navy doctor assigned to the Marine Corps.[5] Lee Purcell has a younger sister.[6]

She graduated from [Paragould High School](/source/Paragould%2C_Arkansas) in 1965[6] and briefly attended [Stephens College](/source/Stephens_College) in [Columbia, Missouri](/source/Columbia%2C_Missouri) as a dance and theatre student until she was expelled.[*[why?](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Please_clarify)*][7][8][9][10]

## Career

Purcell in 1970

She moved to California in 1967[11] and studied acting. Purcell supported herself by working in commercials[10] and selling clothes at a disco.[12]

In 1969, Purcell was selected for her first feature film by [Steve McQueen](/source/Steve_McQueen) in his company's production of *[Adam at Six A.M.](/source/Adam_at_Six_A.M.)*, co-starring [Michael Douglas](/source/Michael_Douglas).[13] Asked to explain why he chose Purcell from nearly 500 other available actresses, McQueen said, "It wasn't easy. We kept narrowing down the field over a period of weeks until it came to giving screen tests to six of them. All of them were good, but Lee seemed to jump right out of the screen."[14]

Purcell at the 1994 Emmy Awards

Her television work included roles as [Billie Dove](/source/Billie_Dove) and [Olivia de Havilland](/source/Olivia_de_Havilland) in two biopic TV movies: *[The Amazing Howard Hughes](/source/The_Amazing_Howard_Hughes)* (1977)[15] and *[My Wicked, Wicked Ways: The Legend of Errol Flynn](/source/My_Wicked%2C_Wicked_Ways)* (1985).[16]

She was nominated for two [Emmy Awards](/source/Emmy_Awards). In 1991, she was nominated as Outstanding Lead Actress for *Long Road Home*[17] and in 1994 as Outstanding Supporting Actress for *Secret Sins of the Father*. She was co-producer, and starred in the 1998 low-budget cable-TV movie *Malaika* (alternate title *Tons of Trouble*).[18]

Purcell's film career wound down in 1983 and she has only had five motion picture credits since, the last in 2015. She has continued to do television projects.

## Personal life

In December 2010, Purcell launched an interactive fashion and beauty website, BoomerBabes, geared towards [Baby Boomer](/source/Baby_Boomer) women. The website gained few visitors[19] and BoomerBabes stopped updating in 2014.[20]

Purcell is a member of the [Church of Scientology](/source/Church_of_Scientology).[21]

## Filmography

### Feature films

Year Film Role Director 1970 Adam at Six A.M. Jerri Jo Hopper Robert Scheerer 1972 Dirty Little Billy Berle Stan Dragoti Stand Up and Be Counted Karen Hammond Jackie Cooper Necromancy Priscilla Bert I. Gordon 1973 Kid Blue Molly Ford James Frawley 1974 Mr. Majestyk Wiley Richard Fleischer 1978 Big Wednesday Peggy Gordon John Milius Almost Summer Christine Alexander Martin Davidson 1980 Stir Crazy Susan Sidney Poitier 1982 Airplane II: The Sequel Mrs. Seluchi (Deleted Scene) Ken Finkleman Homework Ms. Jackson James Beshears 1983 Eddie Macon's Run Jilly Buck Jeff Kanew Valley Girl Beth Brent Martha Coolidge 1985 Space Rage Maggie Conrad E. Palmisano 1996 Movies, Money, Murder Lilah Stephen Eckelberry, Arthur Webb 1998 Dizzyland Dennis Hackin 2005 The Unknown aka Clawed: The Legend of Sasquatch Doris Winslow Karl Kozak 2015 Kids vs Monsters Francine Gingerfield 2019 Carol of the Bells Lilliane

### Television

Year Title Role Notes 1969 Bracken's World Girl 1970 Marcus Welby, M.D. Cathy Cullen Made a second appearance in 1972, as 'Carol Lockett' Bonanza Angie The Young Rebels Maggie Todd 1972 Medical Center Liza 1973 Cannon Marian Luke Made two additional appearances in 1975, various characters Hijack Eileen Noonan TV movie 1974 ABC Wide World Mystery Donna The Rockford Files Susan Parsons S1 E13, "The Dexter Files" 1975 The Waltons Bobby Strom Played a “wing walker” Insight Tracy Barnaby Jones Kathy Cooper Made a second appearance in 1977, as 'Peggy Giroux' 1976 Hawaii Five-O Molly Taggert Made a second appearance in 1977, same character Jigsaw John Virginia Sand 1977 The Amazing Howard Hughes Billie Dove TV movie The Streets of San Francisco Carol Revson 1978 Stranger in Our House Julia Trent TV movie (aka Summer of Fear) 1979 Murder in Music City Samantha Hunt TV movie (aka The Country Western Murders) A Man Called Sloane Michele Blake 1980 Kenny Rogers as The Gambler Jennie Reed TV movie My Wife Next Door Lisa Pallick Pilot for proposed TV series The Secret War of Jackie's Girls Casey McCann TV movie 1981 The Girl, the Gold Watch & Dynamite Bonnie Lee Beaumont TV movie and pilot for proposed TV series Killing at Hell's Gate Jane Pasco TV movie 1982 The Phoenix Cindy Houghton 1985 Magnum, P.I. Goldie Morris Murder, She Wrote Joanna Benson Made four additional appearances in 1986, 1989 and 1994, various characters My Wicked, Wicked Ways: The Legend of Errol Flynn Olivia de Havilland TV movie Hollywood Beat Maggie 1986 Betrayed by Innocence Sharon DeLeon TV movie 1987 Matlock Andrea Colter MacGyver Shadow 1988 To Heal a Nation Sandie TV movie The Incredible Hulk Returns Dr. Maggie Shaw TV movie Jake and the Fatman Pamela Parker 1989 Simon & Simon Colleen Huntley/Missy Taylor 1990 Shades of LA Alex Taylor 1991 Long Road Home Bessie Robertson TV movie. Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress 1994 Secret Sins of the Father Ann Thielman TV movie. Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress 1995 Due South Louise St. Laurent Made five additional appearances in 1995 and 1996, same character Dazzle Red TV movie The Magic of Christmas Herself Holiday special 1997 Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction Dr. Kim O'Farrell Segment: "The Unknown Patient" 1998 Promised Land Beth Hixon Malaika Molly DeMornay TV movie (aka Tons of Trouble) 2010 Persons Unknown Eleanor Sullivan Mini-series. Five appearances 2016 J.L. Family Ranch Mable Ritter TV film 2017 Love at First Glance Susan TV film 2018 Sick Gretchen TV film

### Special projects

Year Title Role Notes 1987 A Woman's Guide to Firearms Herself Instructional video Your First Gun- A Family Guide To Shooting The mother Instructional video 1992 The Joke Jane 35mm short 1997 This World, Then the Fireworks ADR work (additional dialogue recording) 2006 White Picket Fence Bonnie Durley Super 16mm short

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [Lee Purcell](https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/lee-purcell-4111/), Encyclopediaofarkansas.net. Accessed November 29, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [Lee Purcell](https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/lee-purcell-4111/), Encyclopediaofarkansas.net. Accessed November 29, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Lee McKnight Purcell Obituary"](https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/628508/Lee-McKnight-Purcell). *tributearchive.com*. Retrieved 2022-02-11.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Frank Dunn Williams"](https://lfeldhaus.tripod.com/holthousefamilygenealogy/id20.html).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Dr. Donald I. Purcell"](http://www.memorialsolutions.com/memsol.cgi?user_id=1509644). *memorialsolutions.com*. Retrieved November 29, 2022.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Usgennet.org_Paragould_Took_Hats_Off_For_Lee_Purcell_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Usgennet.org_Paragould_Took_Hats_Off_For_Lee_Purcell_6-1) ["Paragould Took Hat Off For Lee Purcell"](http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ar/county/greene/paragoulleepurcell.htm). *usgennet.org*. Retrieved November 29, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-:0_7-0)** ["Schenectady Gazette - Google News Archive Search"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1917&dat=19690926&id=qeNKAAAAIBAJ&sjid=rOkMAAAAIBAJ&pg=742,5827006).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Columbia Missourian Newspaper 1967-01-15 :: Columbia Missourian (1967 -- Oct 1968)"](http://cdm.sos.mo.gov/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=/colmo2&CISOPTR=729&REC=1&CISOSHOW=1098).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** [“Adam Travels to Excelsior Springs”](http://cdm.sos.mo.gov/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=%2Fcolmo3&CISOPTR=38816&REC=1&CISOBOX=adam+travels+excelsior)[*[permanent dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*], *Columbia Missourian*, September 21, 1969; accessed June 14, 2015.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Columbia_Missourian_November_11,_1972_Success_for_Lee_Purcell_10-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Columbia_Missourian_November_11,_1972_Success_for_Lee_Purcell_10-1) [Columbia Missourian November 26, 1972 "Success for Lee Purcell"](http://cdm.sos.mo.gov/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=/colmo4&CISOPTR=97631&CISOSHOW=97920&REC=9), cdm.sos.mo.gov; accessed June 14, 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** The Sumter Daily Item-Dec 26, 1969

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Daily_News,_Bowling_Green,_KY_May_8,_1981_12-0)** [Profile](https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1696&dat=19810508&id=GL8aAAAAIBAJ&sjid=NkcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6612,1741353), Daily News (Bowling Green, KY), May 8, 1981.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Mentored By the Biggest Star in the World: Inside Steve McQueen's 'Adam at 6 A.M.'—Interview by Jeremy Roberts for Medium"](https://medium.com/@jeremylr/mentored-by-the-biggest-star-in-the-world-inside-steve-mcqueens-adam-at-6-a-m-2525489bc4ef). 13 April 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** [Profile](https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JrIiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OLMFAAAAIBAJ&pg=721,6513573&dq=), *Beaver County Times*, September 25, 1969.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** [Profile](https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yCYsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=EMcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1698,1929238&dq=lee+purcell+billie+dove&hl=en), *Times Daily*, April 11, 1977.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** [Profile](https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=G7lNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4PsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4750,1875342&dq=lee+purcell+olivia+de+havilland&hl=en), *Lakeland Ledger*, January 20, 1985.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** [Profile](https://archive.today/20120707180824/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1991-07-19/features/9101260788_1_comedy-series-drama-series-northern-exposure/3), *Sun Sentinel*, July 19, 1991.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** [Profile](https://web.archive.org/web/20121103104633/http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/181154/Tons-of-Trouble/credits), *New York Times*; accessed April 8, 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** ["boomerbabes.com Traffic Analytics & Market Share"](https://www.similarweb.com/website/boomerbabes.com/). *Similarweb*. Retrieved 2022-02-11.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** ["BoomerBabes"](http://boomerbabes.com/).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** Kent, Stephen A.; Raine, Susan (2017). *Scientology in Popular Culture*. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 144. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9798216142621](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9798216142621).

## External links

Media related to [Lee Purcell](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Lee_Purcell) at Wikimedia Commons

- [Official website](http://www.leepurcell.com)

- [Lee Purcell](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002517/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier))

Authority control databases International VIAF WorldCat National United States Israel Other SNAC

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Lee Purcell](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Purcell) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Purcell?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.