Joseph Purcell Says Stepmom Tish Cyrus Now Manages His Acting Career

Joseph Purcell says his acting career has picked up momentum since his work in short-form vertical dramas began attracting online attention. The 27-year-old actor, son of Dominic Purcell, told Us Weekly that the early success of His Nerd did not immediately change his day-to-day life, but it did help him land larger auditions. Purcell has appeared in microdramas for CandyJar, including His Nerd and Falling for My Bodyguard, as well as projects on Inkitt’s streaming app. He says he is not looking to leave the format behind, and that his choices depend on the strength of each script and character. He added that the latest two scripts he worked on are among his favorite projects so far. His newest role is Cade in Haunted, a 40-episode vertical series about a high school student who can see and speak with ghosts. Cade becomes a murder suspect because his father is a notorious serial killer. Purcell said he had room to shape the character’s backstory and approached the part seriously, describing the role as personally meaningful. The actor also said he remains interested in writing, the creative path he originally wanted to pursue, and has not ruled out working behind the camera. He has not produced a project yet, but continues to write. Purcell credited his family with supporting his developing career. His father, actor Dominic Purcell, has four children with his former wife Rebecca Williamson. Dominic married Tish Cyrus in 2023, and Joseph said Cyrus is involved professionally as well as being part of the family: she is now managing him. The comments offer a glimpse of the practical support behind his efforts to build a career in a fast-growing corner of online entertainment.