Paul Copley
Biography
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
All Movies (62)
- Big Winners2025 · as Arthur Thistle
- Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale2025 · as Albert Mason
- Ticker2023 · as Howard
- Downton Abbey: A New Era2022 · as Mason
- The Infectious Imagination of Henry Bramble2021 · as Great Uncle Geoffrey
- Enola Holmes2020 · as Station Master
- Ropeless2020 · as Larry Windsor
- Reg2016 · as Man 2
- The Nest Egg2016
- The Sound of Music Live!2015 · as Franz
- The 12 Days of Christine2015 · as Ernie
- First Encounter: King Lear2012 · as King Lear
- The Shadow in the North2007 · as Paton
- When Kim & Aggie Went To Hospital2006 · as Self - Narrator (voice)
- Marian, Again2005 · as Phillip Walsh
- The Key2003
- Hornblower: Duty2003 · as Matthews
- Hornblower: Loyalty2003 · as Matthews
- The Many Lives of Albert Walker2002 · as Danny Peck
- Hornblower: Retribution2001 · as Matthews
- Hornblower: Mutiny2001 · as Mathews
- Blow Dry2001 · as Ken
- Hornblower: The Frogs and the Lobsters1999 · as Mathews
- Hornblower: The Duchess and the Devil1999 · as Matthews
- Hornblower: The Examination for Lieutenant1998 · as Mathews
- Hornblower: The Even Chance1998 · as Matthews
- Written in Blood1998 · as Brian Chappel
- Jude1996 · as Mr. Willis
- A Pinch of Snuff1994 · as Charlie Heppelwhite
- The Remains of the Day1993 · as Harry Smith
- How's Business1991 · as Jack
- Testimony of a Child1989 · as Gerry
- Theban Plays: Oedipus at Colonus1986 · as Local Man
- Silas Marner1985 · as William Dane
- Which Side Are You On?1985 · as Narrator (voice)
- Bird Fancier1985 · as Roy Pearson
- Doll’s Eye1983 · as Social Worker
- Ends and Means1983
- Ghost in the Water1982 · as Mr. Reed
- P.Q. 171981 · as PO Jordan
- A Room for the Winter1981 · as Robert
- A Brush with Mr. Porter on the Road to El Dorado1981 · as Tom
- Happy1980 · as Vernon
- Death of a Princess1980 · as Steve Jackson
- Cries from a Watchtower1979 · as Andy
- Black Jack1979 · as Narrator
- Zulu Dawn1979 · as Cpl. Storey
- On a Paving Stone Mounted1978
- Travellers1978 · as Young William/Middle William/Sales Rep
- Mucking Out1978 · as Brian Wilson
- The Turkey Who Lives on the Hill1978 · as Bill
- Destiny1978 · as Paul McShane
- Some Enchanted Evening1978 · as Peter
- A Christmas Carol1977 · as Fred (Scrooge's Nephew)
- A Bridge Too Far1977 · as Pvt. Wicks
- Arnhem: The Story of an Escape1976 · as Finnegan
- The Chester Mystery Plays1976
- Alfie Darling1975 · as Bakey
- Diane1975 · as Jim
- Father Dear Father1973 · as Dumbo
- Speech Day1973 · as Woodwork Master
- Dangerous Journey— · as Narrator
All TV Shows (83)
- Play for Today2025 · as Arthur Thistle
- Rose Ayling-Ellis: Old Hands, New Tricks2025 · as Narrator (voice)
- DI Ray2022 · as Terry Hunter
- On the Edge2018 · as Ray
- Trust Me2017 · as Arthur Hardacre
- Broken2017 · as Joe Kerrigan
- The Coroner2015 · as John Roxwell
- Code of a Killer2015 · as Sidney Jeffreys
- Inside No. 92014 · as Ernie
- Father Brown2013 · as Mr Feste
- Carved with Love: The Genius of British Woodwork2013 · as Narrator
- Last Tango in Halifax2012
- Last Tango in Halifax2012 · as Harry
- White Heat2012 · as Alan (present day)
- Call the Midwife2012 · as Tommy Smith
- Vera2011 · as Malcolm Kenrich
- Downton Abbey2010 · as Mr. Mason
- Moving On2009 · as Ronnie
- Survivors2008 · as Ted
- Inspector George Gently2008
- Kingdom2007 · as Vincent Straker
- Torchwood2006 · as Clement McDonald
- The Street2006
- Johnny and the Bomb2006 · as Sgt. Bourke
- Life on Mars2006 · as Reg Cole
- Dead Man Weds2005 · as Blind Man
- Shameless2004 · as Norman Owens
- New Tricks2004 · as Pat the Rat
- How Clean Is Your House?2003
- How Clean Is Your House?2003 · as Self - Narrator (voice)
- Burn It2003 · as Terry Grimshaw
- The Afternoon Play2003 · as Dave
- The Royal2003 · as Nesbitt
- Nice Guy Eddie2002
- Born and Bred2002 · as Hubert Gough
- Waking the Dead2001
- Waking the Dead2001 · as Clifford Day
- Messiah2001 · as Ian Fleet
- Queer as Folk1999 · as Roy Maloney
- The Worst Witch1998 · as Algernon Rowan-Webb
- The Worst Witch1998 · as Algernon Rowan Webb
- Hornblower1998 · as Matthews
- The Lakes1997 · as Peter Quinlan
- Midsomer Murders1997 · as Frank Dewar
- This Life1996 · as Jerry Cook
- Silent Witness1996
- Roughnecks1994 · as Ian
- Cracker1993 · as Pathologist
- Harry1993 · as Thomas Thomas
- Peak Practice1993 · as Tim Shardlow
- Peak Practice1993 · as DS Patrick Hopkins
- Heartbeat1992 · as Dick Radcliffe
- Heartbeat1992 · as Herbie Lloyd
- Heartbeat1992 · as Malcolm Stainsby
- Stay Lucky1989
- The Paradise Club1989 · as Mousey Pavitt
- Young Charlie Chaplin1989 · as Chimnery Sweep
- Casualty1986 · as Frederick Chambers
- Casualty1986 · as Mick McCarthur
- Casualty1986 · as Arthur
- The Bright Side1985
- The Bill1984
- Big Deal1984 · as Max
- The Gathering Seed1983 · as Bob Henshaw
- Tenko1981 · as POW
- West End Tales1981 · as Herbert
- Minder1979 · as Palmer
- After Julius1979 · as Dan
- Strangers1978 · as Des White
- Treasure Island1977
- BBC2 Play of the Week1977 · as Finnegan
- BBC2 Play of the Week1977 · as Bill
- Secret Army1977 · as Eric Finch
- Trinity Tales1975 · as Dave the Joiner
- Days of Hope1975 · as Ben Matthews
- Churchill's People1974 · as Viventius
- Playhouse1974 · as Jim
- Playhouse1974 · as Vernon
- Second City Firsts1973 · as Brian Wilson
- Play for Today1970
- Play for Today1970 · as Andy
- ITV Playhouse1967 · as Peter
- BBC Play of the Month1965