Paul Copley
Acting
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.
TV Shows(67)
Rose Ayling-Ellis: Old Hands, New Tricks
Narrator (voice)
2025
DI Ray
Terry Hunter
2022
On the Edge
Ray
2018
Broken
Joe Kerrigan
2017
The Coroner
John Roxwell
2015
Code of a Killer
Sidney Jeffreys
2015
Inside No. 9
Ernie
2014
Father Brown
Mr Feste
2013
Carved with Love: The Genius of British Woodwork
Narrator
2013
Last Tango in Halifax
2012
White Heat
Alan (present day)
2012
Call the Midwife
Tommy Smith
2012
Vera
Malcolm Kenrich
2011
Downton Abbey
Mr. Mason
2010
Moving On
Ronnie
2009
Survivors
Ted
2008
Inspector George Gently
2008
Kingdom
Vincent Straker
2007
Torchwood
Clement McDonald
2006
The Street
2006
Johnny and the Bomb
Sgt. Bourke
2006
Life on Mars
Reg Cole
2006
Dead Man Weds
Blind Man
2005
Shameless
Norman Owens
2004
New Tricks
Pat the Rat
2004
How Clean Is Your House?
2003
Burn It
Terry Grimshaw
2003
The Afternoon Play
Dave
2003
The Royal
Nesbitt
2003
Nice Guy Eddie
2002
Born and Bred
Hubert Gough
2002
Waking the Dead
2001
Messiah
Ian Fleet
2001
Queer as Folk
Roy Maloney
1999
The Worst Witch
Algernon Rowan-Webb
1998
Hornblower
Matthews
1998
The Lakes
Peter Quinlan
1997
Midsomer Murders
Frank Dewar
1997
This Life
Jerry Cook
1996
Dalziel & Pascoe
1996
Silent Witness
1996
Roughnecks
Ian
1994
Cracker
Pathologist
1993
Harry
Thomas Thomas
1993
Peak Practice
Tim Shardlow
1993
Heartbeat
Dick Radcliffe
1992
Stay Lucky
1989
The Paradise Club
Mousey Pavitt
1989
Young Charlie Chaplin
Chimnery Sweep
1989
Casualty
Frederick Chambers
1986
The Bright Side
1985
The Bill
1984
Big Deal
Max
1984
The Gathering Seed
Bob Henshaw
1983
Tenko
POW
1981
West End Tales
Herbert
1981
Minder
Palmer
1979
Strangers
Des White
1978
Treasure Island
1977
BBC2 Play of the Week
Finnegan
1977
Secret Army
Eric Finch
1977
Days of Hope
Ben Matthews
1975
Churchill's People
Viventius
1974
Playhouse
Jim
1974
Play for Today
1970
ITV Playhouse
Peter
1967
BBC Play of the Month
1965
Movies(62)
Big Winners
Arthur Thistle
2025
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale
Albert Mason
2025
Ticker
Howard
2023
Downton Abbey: A New Era
Mason
2022
The Infectious Imagination of Henry Bramble
Great Uncle Geoffrey
2021
Enola Holmes
Station Master
2020
Ropeless
Larry Windsor
2020
Reg
Man 2
2016
The Nest Egg
2016
The Sound of Music Live!
Franz
2015
The 12 Days of Christine
Ernie
2015
First Encounter: King Lear
King Lear
2012
The Shadow in the North
Paton
2007
When Kim & Aggie Went To Hospital
Self - Narrator (voice)
2006
Marian, Again
Phillip Walsh
2005
The Key
2003
Hornblower: Duty
Matthews
2003
Hornblower: Loyalty
Matthews
2003
The Many Lives of Albert Walker
Danny Peck
2002
Hornblower: Retribution
Matthews
2001
Hornblower: Mutiny
Mathews
2001
Blow Dry
Ken
2001
Hornblower: The Frogs and the Lobsters
Mathews
1999
Hornblower: The Duchess and the Devil
Matthews
1999
Hornblower: The Examination for Lieutenant
Mathews
1998
Hornblower: The Even Chance
Matthews
1998
Written in Blood
Brian Chappel
1998
Jude
Mr. Willis
1996
A Pinch of Snuff
Charlie Heppelwhite
1994
The Remains of the Day
Harry Smith
1993
How's Business
Jack
1991
Testimony of a Child
Gerry
1989
Theban Plays: Oedipus at Colonus
Local Man
1986
Silas Marner
William Dane
1985
Which Side Are You On?
Narrator (voice)
1985
Bird Fancier
Roy Pearson
1985
Doll’s Eye
Social Worker
1983
Ends and Means
1983
Ghost in the Water
Mr. Reed
1982
P.Q. 17
PO Jordan
1981
A Room for the Winter
Robert
1981
A Brush with Mr. Porter on the Road to El Dorado
Tom
1981
Happy
Vernon
1980
Death of a Princess
Steve Jackson
1980
Cries from a Watchtower
Andy
1979
Black Jack
Narrator
1979
Zulu Dawn
Cpl. Storey
1979
On a Paving Stone Mounted
1978
Travellers
Young William/Middle William/Sales Rep
1978
Mucking Out
Brian Wilson
1978
The Turkey Who Lives on the Hill
Bill
1978
Destiny
Paul McShane
1978
Some Enchanted Evening
Peter
1978
A Christmas Carol
Fred (Scrooge's Nephew)
1977
A Bridge Too Far
Pvt. Wicks
1977
Arnhem: The Story of an Escape
Finnegan
1976
The Chester Mystery Plays
1976
Alfie Darling
Bakey
1975
Diane
Jim
1975
Father Dear Father
Dumbo
1973
Speech Day
Woodwork Master
1973
Dangerous Journey
Narrator