Meet Joseph Purcell, The Micro Drama Heartthrob Women Across Social Media Are Swooning Over

If you don’t know who he is, give me five minutes and I’ll tell you everything about him. The 26-year-old actor is the son of Dominic Purcell—best known for playing Lincoln Burrows in Prison Break—and is also the stepbrother of Miley Cyrus. But these days, Joseph is making a name for himself.

I’m just going to call it—I think Joseph Purcell is going to be the next big breakout actor within the next year. And I know what you’re thinking: Why should you trust me on this? So instead of taking my word for it, let’s see what the internet has to say.

One user wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter), “I have, against my better judgement, my best intentions, become very fond of Joseph Purcell.”

Is this a safe space? I have a confession to make. I have, against my better judgment against my best of intentions, become very fond of Joseph Purcell and I’m going to EAT this short drama up tonight! pic.twitter.com/xVVbdCbkvC

— EM 🖤🐝 | Sherlock is alive! (@livelaughconrad) March 14, 2026

Via x.com

Another wrote, “Joseph Purcell is going to be booked soon trust! Hollywood isn’t ready for him!”

joseph purcell gonna be booked soon trust! hollywood isnt ready for him! pic.twitter.com/pEzap8xtZd

— diya (@bellblakesho3) March 18, 2026

Via x.com

Micro dramas have completely taken over my social media feeds, and it’s not hard to see why. The episodes are short, the plots are ridiculous in the best way possible, and people can’t stop watching. The genre’s audience is overwhelmingly female, and it’s their enthusiasm that’s helped turn actors like Joseph Purcell into internet sensations. Every reel, edit, recommendation, and comment thread has helped spread his name far beyond the apps themselves.

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A huge part of the reason people keep talking about him is that he’s ridiculously good-looking. The man has the kind of face that seems genetically engineered for close-up shots, and judging by the comments under pretty much every clip of him, I’m clearly not the only person who thinks so.

But enough about his face for a second. Plenty of attractive people exist on the internet. What really sold me on Joseph Purcell was the fact that he can actually act, which is arguably a useful skill when your job is being an actor.

If you’ve somehow made it this far without seeing him in action, don’t worry, I’m about to bless your eyes. Feel free to thank me in the comments afterward.

There’s a clear level of commitment in his work that goes beyond simply being the good-looking lead in a romance. Purcell has spoken about being inspired by actors like Heath Ledger, and you can tell he approaches acting as more than just a stepping stone to internet fame.

He told Variety that he entered the micro-drama world in February 2025 after learning that a friend was finding steady acting work in the space. Purcell submitted himself for a supporting role through Actors Access, only to be offered the lead instead. At the time, he barely knew anything about vertical dramas, but he took the opportunity anyway.

And while micro dramas may have introduced him to a wider audience, he hasn’t stayed confined to that world. Purcell has already started branching out into other projects, including the horror film Glamping, a Tubi original. For someone who only entered the vertical-drama space a little over a year ago, that’s a pretty quick expansion beyond the genre that first put him on people’s radar.

Over the past year, Purcell’s fanbase has grown at an impressive pace, with clips of his performances regularly racking up hundreds of thousands of views across social media.

At this point, it feels like every other reel on my feed is either a clip of Joseph Purcell or someone talking about Joseph Purcell. People are making edits, sharing their favorite scenes, and trying to convince their friends to watch his dramas. And if you don’t believe me, the reels speak for themselves. 

If you want to start watching him ASAP, I’d suggest my personal favorite of his—Private Lessons on CandyJar. If you’re wondering why so many people seem to be developing a sudden Joseph Purcell obsession, it’s a pretty good place to start. A jock falling for an intelligent, reserved, plus-size nerd? Sign me the fuck up.

And as much as I’ve enjoyed watching him in vertical dramas, I’d love to see what he does next. Maybe a year from now I’ll be pointing back to this piece and saying, “See, I told you so.” If his trajectory so far is anything to go by, it might not be long before we’re seeing Joseph Purcell on screens that are a lot wider than our phones.