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