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.
Movies (58)
Big Winners
2025
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale
2025
Ticker
2023
Downton Abbey: A New Era
2022
The Infectious Imagination of Henry Bramble
2021
Enola Holmes
2020
Ropeless
2020
Reg
2016
The Nest Egg
2016
The Sound of Music Live!
2015
The 12 Days of Christine
2015
First Encounter: King Lear
2012
The Shadow in the North
2007
When Kim & Aggie Went To Hospital
2006
Marian, Again
2005
The Key
2003
Hornblower: Duty
2003
Hornblower: Loyalty
2003
The Many Lives of Albert Walker
2002
Hornblower: Retribution
2001
Hornblower: Mutiny
2001
Blow Dry
2001
Hornblower: The Frogs and the Lobsters
1999
Hornblower: The Duchess and the Devil
1999
Hornblower: The Examination for Lieutenant
1998
Hornblower: The Even Chance
1998
Written in Blood
1998
Jude
1996
A Pinch of Snuff
1994
The Remains of the Day
1993
Testimony of a Child
1989
Theban Plays: Oedipus at Colonus
1986
Silas Marner
1985
Which Side Are You On?
1985
Bird Fancier
1985
Doll’s Eye
1983
Ghost in the Water
1982
P.Q. 17
1981
A Brush with Mr. Porter on the Road to El Dorado
1981
Happy
1980
Death of a Princess
1980
Cries from a Watchtower
1979
Black Jack
1979
Zulu Dawn
1979
On a Paving Stone Mounted
1978
Travellers
1978
Mucking Out
1978
The Turkey Who Lives on the Hill
1978
Destiny
1978
A Christmas Carol
1977
A Bridge Too Far
1977
Arnhem: The Story of an Escape
1976
The Chester Mystery Plays
1976
Alfie Darling
1975
Diane
1975
Father Dear Father
1973
Speech Day
1973
Dangerous Journey
TV Shows (76)
Rose Ayling-Ellis: Old Hands, New Tricks
2025
DI Ray
2022
On the Edge
2018
Trust Me
2017
Broken
2017
The Coroner
2015
Code of a Killer
2015
Inside No. 9
2014
Father Brown
2013
Carved with Love: The Genius of British Woodwork
2013
Last Tango in Halifax
2012
Last Tango in Halifax
2012
White Heat
2012
Call the Midwife
2012
Vera
2011
Downton Abbey
2010
Moving On
2009
Survivors
2008
Inspector George Gently
2008
Kingdom
2007
Torchwood
2006
The Street
2006
Johnny and the Bomb
2006
Life on Mars
2006
Dead Man Weds
2005
Shameless
2004
New Tricks
2004
How Clean Is Your House?
2003
How Clean Is Your House?
2003
Burn It
2003
The Afternoon Play
2003
The Royal
2003
Born and Bred
2002
Waking the Dead
2001
Waking the Dead
2001
Messiah
2001
Queer as Folk
1999
The Worst Witch
1998
The Worst Witch
1998
Hornblower
1998
The Lakes
1997
Midsomer Murders
1997
This Life
1996
Silent Witness
1996
Roughnecks
1994
Cracker
1993
Peak Practice
1993
Peak Practice
1993
Heartbeat
1992
Heartbeat
1992
Heartbeat
1992
Stay Lucky
1989
The Paradise Club
1989
Young Charlie Chaplin
1989
Casualty
1986
Casualty
1986
Casualty
1986
The Bill
1984
Big Deal
1984
The Gathering Seed
1983
Tenko
1981
Minder
1979
Strangers
1978
Treasure Island
1977
BBC2 Play of the Week
1977
BBC2 Play of the Week
1977
Secret Army
1977
Trinity Tales
1975
Days of Hope
1975
Churchill's People
1974
Playhouse
1974
Playhouse
1974
Play for Today
1970
Play for Today
1970
ITV Playhouse
1967
BBC Play of the Month
1965