Paul Copley
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.
Filmography
Big Winners
as Arthur Thistle
Big Winners
as Arthur Thistle
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale
as Albert Mason
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale
as Albert Mason
Ticker
as Howard
Ticker
as Howard
Downton Abbey: A New Era
as Mason
Downton Abbey: A New Era
as Mason
The Infectious Imagination of Henry Bramble
as Great Uncle Geoffrey
The Infectious Imagination of Henry Bramble
as Great Uncle Geoffrey
Enola Holmes
as Station Master
Enola Holmes
as Station Master
Ropeless
as Larry Windsor
Ropeless
as Larry Windsor
Reg
as Man 2
Reg
as Man 2
The Nest Egg
The Nest Egg
The Sound of Music Live!
as Franz
The Sound of Music Live!
as Franz
The 12 Days of Christine
as Ernie
The 12 Days of Christine
as Ernie
First Encounter: King Lear
as King Lear
First Encounter: King Lear
as King Lear
The Shadow in the North
as Paton
The Shadow in the North
as Paton
When Kim & Aggie Went To Hospital
as Self - Narrator (voice)
When Kim & Aggie Went To Hospital
as Self - Narrator (voice)
Marian, Again
as Phillip Walsh
Marian, Again
as Phillip Walsh
The Key
The Key
Hornblower: Duty
as Matthews
Hornblower: Duty
as Matthews
Hornblower: Loyalty
as Matthews
Hornblower: Loyalty
as Matthews
The Many Lives of Albert Walker
as Danny Peck
The Many Lives of Albert Walker
as Danny Peck
Hornblower: Retribution
as Matthews
Hornblower: Retribution
as Matthews
Hornblower: Mutiny
as Mathews
Hornblower: Mutiny
as Mathews
Blow Dry
as Ken
Blow Dry
as Ken
Hornblower: The Frogs and the Lobsters
as Mathews
Hornblower: The Frogs and the Lobsters
as Mathews
Hornblower: The Duchess and the Devil
as Matthews
Hornblower: The Duchess and the Devil
as Matthews
Hornblower: The Examination for Lieutenant
as Mathews
Hornblower: The Examination for Lieutenant
as Mathews
Hornblower: The Even Chance
as Matthews
Hornblower: The Even Chance
as Matthews
Written in Blood
as Brian Chappel
Written in Blood
as Brian Chappel
Jude
as Mr. Willis
Jude
as Mr. Willis
A Pinch of Snuff
as Charlie Heppelwhite
A Pinch of Snuff
as Charlie Heppelwhite
The Remains of the Day
as Harry Smith
The Remains of the Day
as Harry Smith
How's Business
as Jack
How's Business
as Jack
Testimony of a Child
as Gerry
Testimony of a Child
as Gerry
Theban Plays: Oedipus at Colonus
as Local Man
Theban Plays: Oedipus at Colonus
as Local Man
Silas Marner
as William Dane
Silas Marner
as William Dane
Which Side Are You On?
as Narrator (voice)
Which Side Are You On?
as Narrator (voice)
Bird Fancier
as Roy Pearson
Bird Fancier
as Roy Pearson
Doll’s Eye
as Social Worker
Doll’s Eye
as Social Worker
Ends and Means
Ends and Means
Ghost in the Water
as Mr. Reed
Ghost in the Water
as Mr. Reed
P.Q. 17
as PO Jordan
P.Q. 17
as PO Jordan
A Room for the Winter
as Robert
A Room for the Winter
as Robert
A Brush with Mr. Porter on the Road to El Dorado
as Tom
A Brush with Mr. Porter on the Road to El Dorado
as Tom
Happy
as Vernon
Happy
as Vernon
Death of a Princess
as Steve Jackson
Death of a Princess
as Steve Jackson
Cries from a Watchtower
as Andy
Cries from a Watchtower
as Andy
Black Jack
as Narrator
Black Jack
as Narrator
Zulu Dawn
as Cpl. Storey
Zulu Dawn
as Cpl. Storey
On a Paving Stone Mounted
On a Paving Stone Mounted
Travellers
as Young William/Middle William/Sales Rep
Travellers
as Young William/Middle William/Sales Rep
Mucking Out
as Brian Wilson
Mucking Out
as Brian Wilson
The Turkey Who Lives on the Hill
as Bill
The Turkey Who Lives on the Hill
as Bill
Destiny
as Paul McShane
Destiny
as Paul McShane
Some Enchanted Evening
as Peter
Some Enchanted Evening
as Peter
A Christmas Carol
as Fred (Scrooge's Nephew)
A Christmas Carol
as Fred (Scrooge's Nephew)
A Bridge Too Far
as Pvt. Wicks
A Bridge Too Far
as Pvt. Wicks
Arnhem: The Story of an Escape
as Finnegan
Arnhem: The Story of an Escape
as Finnegan
The Chester Mystery Plays
The Chester Mystery Plays
Alfie Darling
as Bakey
Alfie Darling
as Bakey
Diane
as Jim
Diane
as Jim
Father Dear Father
as Dumbo
Father Dear Father
as Dumbo
Speech Day
as Woodwork Master
Speech Day
as Woodwork Master
Dangerous Journey
as Narrator
Dangerous Journey
as Narrator