Bruce Purchase

Bearded, heavy-set New Zealand-born character actor with a booming voice, who went to England to study at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. After repertory experience, he had notable stage appearances with the National Theatre Company (of which he was a founder member) and the Mermaid Theatre, invariably in Shakespearean parts. His portrayals of Balthasar in 'Much Ado About Nothing' (1965) and Sebastian in 'The Tempest' (1970) were particularly well received. He also played Doolittle during a European tour of 'My Fair Lady'.