Paul Copley
Acting
Paul is a long established and much respected British actor and voiceover artist. Born in Denby Dale, West Riding of Yorkshire, on 25th November 1944 he grew up beside a dairy farm. His father, Harold, was involved with local amateur dramatic productions, as were the rest of his family. He went to Penistone Grammar School, then the Northern Counties College of Education in Newcastle upon Tyne, where he received an Associate of the Drama Board (ADB) in Drama. He taught English and Drama in Walthamstow, before he joined the Leeds Playhouse Theatre-in-education Company in 1971. In 1976, Paul won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a New Play for his role in John Wilson's For King and Country. With many and varied roles to follow, Paul soon established himself as one of the UK's leading stage, film, television and radio actors. In 2011-2015 Paul gained worldwide recognition appearing in 16 episodes of the hugely popular television series Downton Abbey playing the popular role of farmer Mr Mason. Paul is married to the actress Natasha Pyne. They married in 1972, after both performing in a Leeds Playhouse production of Frank Wedekind's Lulu, adapted by Peter Barnes, directed by Bill Hays in 1971.
Known for
Acting135
movieBig Winners
2025
Arthur Thistle
tvPlay for Today
2025
Arthur Thistle
movieDownton Abbey: The Grand Finale
2025
Albert Mason
tvRose Ayling-Ellis: Old Hands, New Tricks
2025
Narrator (voice)
movieTicker
2023
Howard
tvDI Ray
2022
Terry Hunter
movieThe Infectious Imagination of Henry Bramble
2021
Great Uncle Geoffrey
movieEnola Holmes
2020
Station Master
movieRopeless
2020
Larry Windsor
tvTrust Me
2017
Arthur Hardacre
tvBroken
2017
Joe Kerrigan
movieReg
2016
Man 2
tvThe Coroner
2015
John Roxwell
tvCode of a Killer
2015
Sidney Jeffreys
tvInside No. 9
2014
Ernie
tvFather Brown
2013
Mr Feste
movieFirst Encounter: King Lear
2012
King Lear
tvWhite Heat
2012
Alan (present day)
tvCall the Midwife
2012
Tommy Smith
tvVera
2011
Malcolm Kenrich
tvDownton Abbey
2010
Mr. Mason
tvMoving On
2009
Ronnie
tvKingdom
2007
Vincent Straker
tvTorchwood
2006
Clement McDonald
movieWhen Kim & Aggie Went To Hospital
2006
Self - Narrator (voice)
tvJohnny and the Bomb
2006
Sgt. Bourke
tvLife on Mars
2006
Reg Cole
movieMarian, Again
2005
Phillip Walsh
tvDead Man Weds
2005
Blind Man
tvShameless
2004
Norman Owens
tvNew Tricks
2004
Pat the Rat
tvHow Clean Is Your House?
2003
Self - Narrator (voice)
tvBurn It
2003
Terry Grimshaw
tvThe Royal
2003
Nesbitt
movieHornblower: Duty
2003
Matthews
movieHornblower: Loyalty
2003
Matthews
tvBorn and Bred
2002
Hubert Gough
movieThe Many Lives of Albert Walker
2002
Danny Peck
tvWaking the Dead
2001
Clifford Day
tvMessiah
2001
Ian Fleet
movieHornblower: Retribution
2001
Matthews
movieHornblower: Mutiny
2001
Mathews
tvQueer as Folk
1999
Roy Maloney
tvThe Worst Witch
1998
Algernon Rowan-Webb / Algernon Rowan Webb
tvHornblower
1998
Matthews
movieWritten in Blood
1998
Brian Chappel
tvThe Lakes
1997
Peter Quinlan
tvMidsomer Murders
1997
Frank Dewar
tvThis Life
1996
Jerry Cook
movieJude
1996
Mr. Willis
movieA Pinch of Snuff
1994
Charlie Heppelwhite
movieThe Remains of the Day
1993
Harry Smith
tvCracker
1993
Pathologist
Harry
1993
Thomas Thomas
tvPeak Practice
1993
Tim Shardlow / DS Patrick Hopkins
tvHeartbeat
1992
Dick Radcliffe / Herbie Lloyd / Malcolm Stainsby
tvThe Paradise Club
1989
Mousey Pavitt
tvYoung Charlie Chaplin
1989
Chimnery Sweep
tvCasualty
1986
Frederick Chambers / Mick McCarthur / Arthur
movieSilas Marner
1985
William Dane
movieWhich Side Are You On?
1985
Narrator (voice)
movieBird Fancier
1985
Roy Pearson
tvThe Gathering Seed
1983
Bob Henshaw
movieDoll’s Eye
1983
Social Worker
movieGhost in the Water
1982
Mr. Reed
movieP.Q. 17
1981
PO Jordan
tvTenko
1981
POW
movieHappy
1980
Vernon
movieDeath of a Princess
1980
Steve Jackson
tvMinder
1979
Palmer
movieBlack Jack
1979
Narrator
movieZulu Dawn
1979
Cpl. Storey
movieTravellers
1978
Young William/Middle William/Sales Rep
tvStrangers
1978
Des White
movieMucking Out
1978
Brian Wilson
movieDestiny
1978
Paul McShane
movieA Christmas Carol
1977
Fred (Scrooge's Nephew)
Premiere
1977
Young William
tvBBC2 Play of the Week
1977
Finnegan / Bill
tvSecret Army
1977
Eric Finch
movieA Bridge Too Far
1977
Pvt. Wicks
tvTrinity Tales
1975
Dave the Joiner
tvDays of Hope
1975
Ben Matthews
tvChurchill's People
1974
Viventius
tvPlayhouse
1974
Jim / Vernon
Second City Firsts
1973
Brian Wilson
movieSpeech Day
1973
Woodwork Master
tvITV Playhouse
1967
Peter
movieDangerous Journey
Narrator
Writing1
moviePillion
1979
Writer