
About
Paul Copley
Overview
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
Acting |
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2025 | Downton Abbey 3 | Actor | Albert Mason | N/A N/A |
2023 | Ticker | Actor | Howard | N/A N/A |
2022 | Downton Abbey: A New Era | Actor | Mason | 65 Fair |
2021 | The Infectious Imagination of Henry Bramble | Actor | Great Uncle Geoffrey | N/A N/A |
2020 | Enola Holmes | Actor | Station Master | 71 Good |
2020 | Ropeless | Actor | Larry Windsor | 59 Average |
2017 | Broken | Actor | Joe Kerrigan | 69 Fair |
2016 | Reg | Actor | 58 Average |
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2016 | The Nest Egg | Actor | 59 Average |
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2015 | Downton Abbey: The Finale | Actor | Mr. Mason | N/A N/A |
2015 | The Sound of Music Live! | Actor | Franz | 59 Average |
2015 | Code of a Killer | Actor | Sidney Jeffreys | 70 Good |
2015 | The 12 Days of Christine | Actor | Ernie | N/A N/A |
2015 | The 12 Days of Christine | Actor | Ernie | N/A N/A |
2013 | Carved with Love: The Genius of British Woodwork | Actor | Narrator | N/A N/A |
2012 | Last Tango in Halifax | Actor | Harry | 70 Good |
2012 | First Encounter: King Lear | Actor | King Lear | N/A N/A |
2012 | White Heat | Actor | Alan (present day) | 67 Fair |
2011 | Downton Abbey: Christmas at Downton Abbey | Actor | Mr. Mason | 60 Fair |
2007 | The Shadow in the North | Actor | Paton | 59 Average |
2006 | Johnny and the Bomb | Actor | Sgt. Bourke | 69 Fair |
2005 | Marian, Again | Actor | Phillip Walsh | 59 Average |
2005 | Dead Man Weds | Actor | Blind Man | 69 Fair |
2003 | The Key | Actor | N/A N/A |
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2003 | How Clean Is Your House? | Actor | Self - Narrator (voice) | 69 Fair |
2003 | Hornblower: Duty | Actor | Matthews | 59 Average |
2003 | Hornblower: Loyalty | Actor | Matthews | 59 Average |
2002 | The Many Lives of Albert Walker | Actor | Danny Peck | N/A N/A |
2001 | Hornblower: Retribution | Actor | Matthews | 59 Average |
2001 | Hornblower: Mutiny | Actor | Mathews | 59 Average |
2001 | Blow Dry | Actor | Ken | 58 Average |
1999 | Hornblower: The Frogs and the Lobsters | Actor | Mathews | 59 Average |
1999 | Hornblower: The Duchess and the Devil | Actor | Matthews | 59 Average |
1998 | Hornblower: The Examination for Lieutenant | Actor | Mathews | 59 Average |
1998 | Hornblower: The Even Chance | Actor | Matthews | 60 Fair |
1998 | Hornblower | Actor | Matthews | 70 Good |
1998 | Written in Blood | Actor | Brian Chappel | 58 Average |
1997 | The Lakes | Actor | Peter Quinlan | 70 Good |
1996 | Jude | Actor | Mr. Willis | 59 Average |
1994 | Roughnecks | Actor | Ian | 69 Fair |
1994 | A Pinch of Snuff | Actor | Charlie Heppelwhite | N/A N/A |
1993 | The Remains of the Day | Actor | Harry Smith | 69 Fair |
1991 | How's Business | Actor | Jack | N/A N/A |
1989 | Testimony of a Child | Actor | Gerry | N/A N/A |
1986 | Theban Plays: Oedipus at Colonus | Actor | Local Man | N/A N/A |
1985 | Silas Marner | Actor | William Dane | 58 Average |
1985 | The Bright Side | Actor | 69 Fair |
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1985 | Which Side Are You On? | Actor | Narrator (voice) | 59 Average |
1985 | Bird Fancier | Actor | Roy Pearson | N/A N/A |
1983 | Doll’s Eye | Actor | Social Worker | N/A N/A |
1983 | Ends and Means | Actor | N/A N/A |
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1982 | Ghost in the Water | Actor | Mr. Reed | N/A N/A |
1981 | P.Q. 17 | Actor | PO Jordan | N/A N/A |
1981 | A Room for the Winter | Actor | Robert | 59 Average |
1981 | A Brush with Mr. Porter on the Road to El Dorado | Actor | Tom | N/A N/A |
1980 | Happy | Actor | Vernon | N/A N/A |
1980 | Death of a Princess | Actor | Steve Jackson | 59 Average |
1979 | Cries from a Watchtower | Actor | Andy | N/A N/A |
1979 | Black Jack | Actor | Narrator | 59 Average |
1979 | Zulu Dawn | Actor | Cpl. Storey | 59 Average |
1978 | On a Paving Stone Mounted | Actor | N/A N/A |
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1978 | Travellers | Actor | Young William/Middle William/Sales Rep | N/A N/A |
1978 | Mucking Out | Actor | Brian Wilson | N/A N/A |
1978 | The Turkey Who Lives on the Hill | Actor | Bill | N/A N/A |
1978 | Destiny | Actor | Paul McShane | N/A N/A |
1978 | Some Enchanted Evening | Actor | Peter | N/A N/A |
1977 | A Christmas Carol | Actor | Fred (Scrooge's Nephew) | 59 Average |
1977 | Treasure Island | Actor | 69 Fair |
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1977 | A Bridge Too Far | Actor | Pvt. Wicks | 67 Fair |
1976 | Arnhem: The Story of an Escape | Actor | Finnegan | 58 Average |
1975 | Days of Hope: 1926: General Strike | Actor | Ben Matthews | N/A N/A |
1975 | Days of Hope: 1924: A Miracle | Actor | Ben Matthews | N/A N/A |
1975 | Days of Hope: 1921: Every Pit In Britain Is Idle | Actor | Ben Matthews | N/A N/A |
1975 | Days of Hope: 1916: Joining Up | Actor | Ben Matthews | N/A N/A |
1975 | Days of Hope | Actor | Ben Matthews | 69 Fair |
1975 | Alfie Darling | Actor | Bakey | 58 Average |
1975 | Diane | Actor | Jim | 58 Average |
1973 | Father Dear Father | Actor | Dumbo | 58 Average |
1973 | Speech Day | Actor | Woodwork Master | N/A N/A |
Dangerous Journey | Actor | Narrator | N/A N/A |
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Writing |
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1979 | Pillion | Writing | Writer | N/A N/A |