Dominic Purcell Honors 'Heroic' Father Joseph for His 'Strength' and 'Humility' as He Announces His Death

In his Instagram tribute, the 'Prison Break' actor also raved about the "connection and deep love" between his wife, Tish Cyrus, and his late father, Joseph Purcell

Dominic Purcell is mourning the loss of his father.

The Prison Break star, 54, announced the death of his father, Joseph Purcell, on Instagram on Monday, April 8. In confirming that Joseph had died that same day in Ireland, Dominic thanked the medical staff at Beaumont Hospital for their “wonderful care and gentle manner” in his father’s final days.

“For what’s it’s worth…..As a father I believe the greatest gift he can receive from his child is the knowing he is deeply loved. Deeply respected. Surely a fathers only wish for his child is to grow, flourish and better him. That was his wish. It came true,” Dominic began in the lengthy caption, which was accompanied by a photo of himself, his wife Tish Cyrus and his father.

"I know very clearly I can not better him but I can try and be like him," he continued. "To his tribe of many grandchildren - he adored and loved you all so very much. Pass on his memory."

Related: Tish Cyrus Says There Are 'Definitely Issues' in Her Marriage to Dominic Purcell but She's Had 'Crazy' Growth

Dominic then pivoted to give his wife a shoutout as he acknowledged the relationship she formed with his late father.

“To my beautiful wife. It’s very easy to love you. It’s a simple thing,” he wrote of Cyrus, 56, whom he wed in August. “The connection and deep love you had for my dad, and he for you, (the both of you) was magnificent. As he said. ‘What did I do to deserve these two beautiful angels.’”

Dominic thanked his wife for her “beautiful gesture” as he wrote, “The songs were perfect. They brought him peace in his final hours.”

He concluded his post, “Watching my dad confront his own mortality was a lesson in courage and dignity. His stoicism in the face of great pain was heroic. A lesson. A last lesson from him to me. From me to my own children.”

"Let the bloodline continue in his honor with strength, dignity and above all else," he added. "Humility. Let us all be grateful, if not. It is a life not realized."

Related: Tish Cyrus Details How Husband Dominic Purcell Empowers Her: 'He Just Encourages Me to Fly' (Exclusive)

In a comment on Dominic’s post, Cyrus recalled the moment of the trio captured in the photo he shared as “one of the best days of my life,” writing, “Dom and I got our marriage license and then walked down sunset blvd with Joe…. He was so happy and full of life. It’s a day I’ll never forget.”

She added of her husband’s late father, “To know Joe was to love him…. The kindest most gentle soul I will ever know. Being loved by him is something I’ll never take for granted. ❤️ RIP Joe ❤️.”

Earlier this month, Cyrus shared her own post on Instagram dedicated to her father-in-law, who she revealed had gotten sick “about 4 weeks ago,” as of April 1.

Joseph was “now in the process of leaving this world behind and headed for some place way more beautiful,” she said, before expanding on the relationship she’d developed with him.

“Getting to know and love him has been an honor and a privilege. I can honestly say that he is one of the most beautiful humans I will ever know,” she wrote.

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In the post, she shared three photos of Joseph: one solo shot and two photos of her with her late father-in-law, including one of him escorting her in her wedding dress at her wedding to Dominic in Malibu last year.

“Love hearing his stories and soaking in everything he is still teaching us. He is truly one of a kind. The most selfless, gentle man that Im honored to call ‘Dad.’ I will cherish the memories we have made in the last few years for the rest of my life,” she continued. “I love and admire you Joe with all my heart and soul. ❤️ xx Tish.”

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