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.