Tom Purcell

{{Short description|American television writer and executive}} {{About|the television writer|the Australian future bass DJ|Wave Racer}} {{Infobox person | name = Tom Purcell | occupation = Writer, Producer | years_active = 1986–present | notable_works = ''The Colbert Report'' and ''The Late Show with Stephen Colbert''}}

'''Tom Purcell''' is an American television writer and executive who is notable for his work with Stephen Colbert on ''The Colbert Report'' and ''The Late Show with Stephen Colbert''. He is the winner of seven Primetime Emmy Awards.

==Early life and education== Tom Purcell grew up in St. Joseph, Michigan, just north of South Bend, Indiana, and graduated from St. Joseph High School.<ref name="Kavner">{{cite web |last1=Kavner |first1=Lucas |title=Tom Purcell |url=http://thedaysofyore.com/2011/tom-purcell/ |website=The Days of Yore |access-date=7 February 2022}}</ref> While attending St. Josephs', he started writing comedy at 15 years old, having his own comedy column and serving as features editor for his high school comedy newspaper called The Wind Up.<ref name="Kavner"/>

In 1985, Purcell graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Loyola University in Chicago.<ref name="Ettter">{{cite web |last1=Sweeney Etter |first1=Nicole |title=Funny business |url=https://www.luc.edu/features/stories/alumni/tompurcell/ |website=Loyola Magazine |publisher=Loyola University}}</ref>

After college, Purcell took a job at Loyola's law library to pay the bills while working on his comedy routine and attending improvisation classes at The Second City in Chicago.<ref name="Ettter"/>

In the summer of 1987, Purcell wrote and performed with the resident theatre company New Age Vaudeville.<ref name="Kogan">{{citation|periodical=Chicago Tribune|date=May 3, 1987|title=Vaudeville Troupe Takes Leave of City|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1987-05-03-8702030155-story.html|first=Rick|last=Kogan|access-date=October 10, 2018|archive-date=October 11, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181011014033/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1987-05-03-8702030155-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Career== From 1997 to 2000, while living in Los Angeles, Purcell served as story editor and writer for the ''Cosby'' TV series.<ref name="Writer">{{cite web |last1=Archived |title=Tom Purcel |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0700770/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0#writer |website=IMDb |publisher=Amazon |access-date=7 February 2022}}</ref> He went on to write for such television shows as ''Grounded for Life'', ''Run of the House'', and ''The Daily Show''.<ref name="Writer"/>

In 2005, Purcell relocated to New York City, being hired as a writer for ''The Colbert Report'' on Comedy Central and then in 2015 followed his boss to CBS's ''The Late Show with Stephen Colbert''.<ref name="Kavner"/><ref name="Poniewozik2015"/>

Purcell currently serves as an executive producer of ''The Late Show'', where he oversees the show's writers and helps write and polish Colbert's material.<ref name="Writer"/><ref name="Ettter"/> Purcell has said that he often relies on his Catholic, Jesuit education from Loyola University while working for Colbert, who is known for using Catholic humor.<ref name="Writer"/><ref name="Ettter"/>

As of 2021, he is the winner of 7 Primetime Emmy awards.<ref name="Emmy">{{cite web |last1=Archived |title=Tom Purcell |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0700770/awards?ref_=nm_awd |website=IMDb |publisher=Amazon |access-date=8 February 2022}}</ref>

==Awards== * 2013 Emmy, Nominee, Writing for a variety series (Colbert Report)<ref name="nyti_Emmy2013"/> * 2014 Emmy, Winner, Writing for a variety series (Colbert Report)<ref name="nyti_Emmy2014"/> * 2015 Writers Guild of America, Nominee, Comedy/variety (including talk) -- series:(Colbert Report)<ref name="Day2014"/> * 2015 Producers Guild of America, Nominee, Outstanding Producer of Live Entertainment & Talk Television (The Colbert Report)<ref name="Derschowitz2015"/>

== References ==  {{Reflist|1|refs= <ref name="Poniewozik2015">{{Cite web | title = Stephen Colbert and Company Are Already Writing The Late Show | author = James Poniewozik | work = TIME Magazine | date = June 4, 2015 | access-date = 2015-10-21 | url = https://time.com/3908749/stephen-colbert-late-show-podcast/ | quote = says Colbert, gabbing with longtime executive producer Tom Purcell }}</ref> <ref name="nyti_Emmy2014">{{Cite web | title = Emmys 2014: The Nominees and Winners | work = The New York Times | date = 2014-07-10 | access-date = 2015-10-26 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/10/arts/television/emmys-2014-the-nominees.html?_r=0 | quote = WRITING, VARIETY SERIES 'The Colbert Report' (Comedy Central) ... Writers: ... Tom Purcell... [Bold indicates 'winner'] }}</ref> <ref name="nyti_Emmy2013">{{Cite web | title = 2013 Emmy Award Winners and Nominees | work = The New York Times | date = 2013-09-22 | access-date = 2015-10-26 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/22/arts/television/2013-emmy-award-nominees.html | quote = WRITING, VARIETY SERIES 'The Colbert Report' (Comedy Central) ... Moreschi; Writers: ... Tom Purcell, [normal font indicate nominee] }}</ref> <ref name="Derschowitz2015">{{Cite web | title = PGA Awards 2015: Nominees include "Boyhood," "Gone Girl" | first = Jessica | last = Derschowitz | work = CBS News | date = 2015-01-05 | access-date = 2015-10-26 | url = http://www.cbsnews.com/news/producers-guild-awards-2015-nominations-announced/ | quote = Outstanding Producer of Live Entertainment & Talk Television:"The Colbert Report" (Comedy Central)Producers: ... Tom Purcell, ... }}</ref> <ref name="Day2014">{{Cite web | title = 'True Detective,' 'Transparent' among WGA TV nominees | last = Day | first = Patrick Kevin | work = Los Angeles Times | date = 2014-12-04 | access-date = 2015-10-26 | url = http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-true-detective-transparent-wga-tv-nominees-20141204-story.html | quote = "The Colbert Report," writers ... Tom Purcell, ... }}</ref> }}

==External links== * [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0700770/bio Bio at IMDb]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Purcell, Tom}} Category:Living people Category:American television writers Category:American male television writers Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Primetime Emmy Award winners