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